The Clinical Experience in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program at Loyola
Loyola University Maryland’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program provides a high-quality teacher preparation program grounded in content knowledge, focused on pedagogy, and centered on clinical practice. The program includes two 20- hour clinical experiences followed by a placed internship at one of Loyola’s Professional Development Schools (PDS) and provides experiential opportunities for students to practice and implement their learned skills to further their growth and understanding.
Clinical experiences provide opportunities for students to:
- Teach in Baltimore-area P-12 partner schools
- Apply theory to practice
- Observe teachers and students in a variety of placements
- Plan instruction for academically diverse learners
- Co-teach, microteach, and lead teach
- Demonstrate effective strategies for working with culturally and linguistically diverse learners
- Reflect on teaching and learning
- Remain connected to Loyola through a variety of induction programs and events
As a student goes through their internship, they get hands-on experience as to what it would be like as a teacher in the classroom. Here’s a look into the experiences of MAT intern, Elise Spencer.
PDSs are collaborative arrangements between the School of Education and local public and non-public schools. These sites provide the opportunities for students to receive mentoring from experienced teachers and supervision from Loyola faculty. The relationship also fosters opportunities to build connections among theories and practices of teaching. PDSs are designed to serve the professional development needs of practicing teachers and to promote exemplary teaching practices.
The School of Education has a strong relationship with PDS site, Lakeland Elementary/Middle School. Many of our students are placed their as interns and some are even hired as full-time teachers and later become mentor teachers to incoming interns. We sat down with the principal from Lakeland, Najib Jammal, to get his thoughts on Loyola and the students they send to Lakeland for internships.