Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 CATE courses

Spring and Summer 2010 CATE Newsletter

Fall and Winter 2009-2010 CATE Newsletter

Curriculum, Aesthetics, and Teacher Education (CATE) Division

Students and faculty in Curriculum, Aesthetics, and Teacher Education (CATE) have a major focus in one or more of the three primary areas: curriculum, aesthetics, and teacher education, and choices within several sub-areas: Early, middle, and high school education and social studies education.

While each of these is a distinct area of study, most faculty and students have affiliations with more than one area.  In addition, there are several shared interests and commitments to interdisciplinary, integrated approaches rather than one disciplinary focus.  These include the importance of:

1. Reflexivity in teaching,
2. Inquiry as an approach to teaching and learning to teach,
3. Diversity broadly defined to include socially constructed categories of difference,
4. International and global issues.

Our course offerings and research interests highlight these themes. In addition, the division offers courses in research methodology, serving the college as a whole, and in many cases drawing in students from across the university.

Curriculum

The study of planning, developing and evaluating curriculum; curriculum development in clinical settings; school reform; curriculum as anti-racist, critical studies of what is taught in schools.  Faculty; Susan Noffke, Bekisizwe Ndimande, Liora Bresler, Mark Dressman

Aesthetic Education

The study of aesthetic aspects as they relate to curriculum and pedagogy, informed by traditional and contemporary theories.  Aesthetics is used to explore the arts in communities, art centers, schools, and cultural contexts using qualitative inquiry. Faculty: Liora Bresler, Marilyn Johnston-Parsons

Teacher Education

The study of teacher education at both the preserivce and inservice levels; theory, programs, curricula, evaluation, and research; questions of equity and diversity; global comparisons, critical perspectives and innovative options.  Faculty: Marilyn Johnston-Parsons, Bekisizwe Ndimande, Susan Noffke, Mark Dressman

Other areas of study: 

PreK-12 Education

The study of school programs; methods of teaching; program evaluation; policy making; professional development.  Faculty: Early Childhood, Margery Osborne and Liora Bresler; Elementary/Middle, Susan Noffke, Marilyn Johnston-Parsons; Middle/High School, Mark Dressman, Bekisizwe Ndimande

Social Studies Education

The study of the social studies curriculum, methods and materials in elementary; middle and/or secondary schools.  Faculty: Susan Noffke, Bekisizwe Ndimande, Marilyn Johnston-Parsons, Liv Thorstensson Davila