Complex Instructional Knowledge Made Accessible for Teacher Candidates through the Alignment of Concepts in Visual Format
Complex concepts that relate to planning lessons, teaching them, and assessing learning may be very difficult for some teacher candidates. Relationships among ideas are difficult to name and identify as new teacher candidates begin learning about teaching. Five visual organizers have been prepared to support teacher preparation program goals in relation to the planning, teaching, and assessment skills of new teachers. These organizers have been used in both consecutive and concurrent teacher education programs. Teacher candidates’ reflections about these visual supports show that they value their ability to facilitate understanding of complex concepts. The purpose of this paper is to present and explain these organizers and how they are used in one teacher preparation program. Research related to their perceived value is mentioned but is peripheral in this theoretical conceptual paper.