Nurturing Dispositions in Teacher Education Candidates: Challenges of Identifying and Assessing Dispositions

Teacher preparation programs identify knowledge, skills, and dispositions as desired outcomes in preparing candidates to impact student learning. Of the three outcomes, dispositions are by far the most subjective and challenging to identify and assess. This paper outlines the process by which Liberty University developed its dispositional model, known by the acronym SCRIP: social responsibility, commitment, reflective practice, integrity, and professionalism. It details how the dispositions, which are based on the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, are assessed, and analyzes the results of candidate development in each of the five areas. Implications for Christian schools are presented.