Capstone Showcases
Each year the graduating initial certification students present some of their knowledge and skills.
Spring 2013 Pictures-"Once Upon A Showcase" Spring 2012 Pictures- "Play"
Spring 2009 Pictures-"Education Around the World"
Spring 2008 Pictures-"Blast from the Past"
Spring 2007 Pictures-"Now Presenting..."
Spring 2006 Pictures-"Reaching New Heights"
Spring 2005 Pictures-"Top Ten"
Spring 2004 Pictures-"Quotes"
Spring 2003 Pictures-"Teaching Is Classic"
Spring 2002 Pictures- "Childrens' Games"
Definition:
The Capstone Showcase is part of the capstone for graduating teacher candidates in the John H. Lounsbury College of Education who are earning their first certification in teaching. The Capstone Experience is intended to serve as a culmination of two years of teacher preparation. It is composed of two major components: the Capstone Showcase and a Standards-based Assessment Portfolio. The Portfolio is an individual activity while the Showcase is a group project highlighting individual work.
Undergraduate and M.A.T. students in the John H. Lounsbury initial certification programs are assigned to cohorts, a structure that the John H. Lounsbury College of Education uses to provide instruction, support, and guidance for teacher candidates. Undergraduate teacher candidates in a particular program (e.g., early childhood, middle grades, special education) enter together as juniors and stay together as a group, taking courses and completing field experiences, over a period of two years. M.A.T. students are placed in groups who work together for one or two years depending on the program. Each cohort group of about 18 is guided during that period by a Mentor Leader--a professor skilled in advising, supervising, and implementing best teaching practices.
The Capstone Showcase is an opportunity for senior and M.A.T. cohorts to highlight their achievements as educators who will be Architects of Change. It is also an opportunity for each of the members of the different graduating cohorts to collaborate on designing and developing a last presentation as a group. All seniors and many of the M.A.T. students participate in the planning, promotion, and presentation of their accomplishments at this culminating John H. Lounsbury College of Education event. The junior cohort members are also involved by helping out, serving as hosts and hostesses, cleaning up, and previewing the types of activities they will do the next year.
Each year the graduating cohorts choose an overall theme for the showcase, and the individual cohorts develop a thread based on that theme. For instance, the theme in 2002 was "Children's Games." One of the groups used Candy Land as a thread; another used Tribal Pursuit; a third used Jumanji. The teacher candidates then develop individual displays around their thread that allows them to demonstrate their professional educator development throughout their year(s) in their cohorts.
History:
The showcase tradition began with the undergraduate cohorts of 1999. At that time, participation by the groups from Dublin, Macon, and Milledgeville was optional. Because of the interest and value of the program, all the initial certification cohorts of 2000 wanted to participate, and the event has continued with full participation from all the initial certification graduating groups since 2000.
