Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Develop a variety of formative and summative assessment instruments.
2. Use effective communication techniques with K-12 students, parents, and educators.
3. Self-reflect on developing professional practices and develop plans for continuous professional improvement.
4. Create instructional plans to promote and enhance critical thinking capabilities.
5. Create instructional plans that accommodate diverse needs of the birth - age 4 and age 3 - grade 3 learners.
6. Demonstrate adherence to Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct specified by the State of Florida.
7. Develop instructional plans based on current child development and learning theories.
8. Teach subject matter through integration of content to other disciplines and application to real-world settings as endorsed by the National Association of Educators of Young Children (NAEYC).
9. Create a classroom management plan and maintain a positive learning environment.
10. 10. Plan, implement, and evaluate effective instruction in a variety of early childhood environments.
11. Demonstrate collaborative relationships with educators, parents, and community groups.
12. Use technology appropriate to the teaching and learning situations.

Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through the following:

1. Benchmark Assessments - Each course in the program has one or more assignments that provide opportunities to demonstrate growth and competency on multiple program outcomes.
2. Action Research Project - During final internship, students design and implement a research study that will demonstrate competency in the area of assessment and up to five other outcomes.
3. Assessment of Educational Standards - Students self-evaluate their competency on each of the twelve program outcomes during their final internship with input from cooperating teacher and university supervisor.
4. Portfolio - Students develop a portfolio that contains authentic examples of their competency on all the outcomes in an integrated fashion.
5. Certification Exams - Students must pass the state certification exams prior to graduation..

Graduates will be able to:

1. Employ the conventions of standard written English.
2. Select a topic, and develop it for a specific audience and purpose, with respect for diverse perspectives.
3. Select, organize, and relate ideas and information with coherence, clarity, and unity.

Communication skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed in ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Communication skills are also assessed in the capstone course.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Select and organize information.
2. Identify assumptions and underlying relationships.
3. Synthesize information, and draw reasoned inferences.
4. Formulate an appropriate problem solving strategy.
5. Evaluate the feasibility of the strategy.

Critical thinking skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Critical thinking skills are also assessed in the capstone course.