Instructor Qualifications for COMM 1101

The qualifications listed below reflect the minimum qualifications a high school instructor must meet before applying to teach the UMN course COMM 1101: Introduction to Public Speaking

Licensure

CIS instructors must have a valid Minnesota teaching license or an approved alternative

Experience and proficiencies (all required)

• Three years of experience teaching public speaking
• Experience teaching advanced students (primarily 11th and 12th grade)
• Experience teaching advanced-level, rigorous courses
• Experience with the use of performance-based assessments
• Additional evidence of currency/proficiency in the field of communications and public speaking, such as the activities described in options A through O.

Demonstration of advanced, relevant content knowledge (select one)

1. Graduate degree in the field(s) of speech and communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies;
2. Graduate degree in any field plus 18 graduate credit hours in field(s) of speech and communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies;
3. Graduate degree in any field plus six equivalent experience options from A through O, below.
4. Undergraduate degree with significant coursework in speech and communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies, plus eight equivalent experience options from A through O, below.

Description of Equivalent Experience Options (only required if #3 or #4 is selected above)

A: Graduate credits

Especially in the fields of speech and communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies. These need not have been taken as part of a graduate degree program.

• Three semester-length credits are considered one experience
• Can be applied up to eight times

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, include a list of relevant graduate coursework. For each course include the title, where taken, and number of credits earned. Faculty will evaluate the courses you list for relevancy to the topics taught in the UMN course or to advanced topics in the same field. If the applicability isn’t obvious from the course title, please describe the relevance.

B: Discipline-specific professional development

These should be related to speech and communications and may include CIS workshops in English, writing, or communications; Advanced Placement trainings in English Literature and Composition or English Language and Composition, International Baccalaureate workshops in English language composition, Minnesota Writing Project institutes, theater or performance workshops, conferences of the Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota, American Alliance for Theater and Education, or other relevant workshops, trainings, conferences, or seminars.

• 30 hours of professional development is considered one experience
• Can be applied up to eight times

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, include a list of each professional development workshop, the sponsoring group or organization, and total hours. Refer to Faculty Guiding Questions #1: Discipline-specific professional development.

C: Published textbook, journal article or essay

May include similar scholarly or creative work in the fields of speech and communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies.

• Each publication on a distinct topic is considered one experience
• Can be applied up to three times

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, describe the significance of the work, particularly as it applies to the topics covered in the UMN course or to advanced topics in the same field. Include a link to the publication or provide, with your application, an abstract or copy that lists your authorship.

D: Experience requiring regular use of performance skills

Such as public speaking, lecturing, training or leading workshop sessions, acting, broadcasting or radio announcing, events emcee-ing, or musical performances. May include paid employment or volunteer work.

• Descriptions to be evaluated by faculty coordinator
• Can be applied up to four times

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, respond to Faculty Guiding Questions, #9: Experience requiring regular use of skills or content knowledge related to the field.

E: Participation in a discipline-specific community of practice or professional learning community

Such as Toastmasters or a professional book study group; significant personal practice to develop particular skills or understandings related to communications and/or performance, for example, learning to use technology to enhance learning in performance-based disciplines such as speech and communications or theater.

• Each year of regular participation is considered one experience
• Can be applied up to four times

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, respond to Faculty Guiding Questions, #6: Discipline-specific community of practice.

F: Develop relevant curriculum

Curriculum should be for courses related to speech and communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies.

• Each curriculum or course developed is considered one experience
• Can be applied up to two times

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, describe your experience using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #2: Curriculum development.

G: Fellowships or awards for recognition of high school or undergraduate teaching

This includes recognition from school, district, state, regional, national or international organizations for recognition of high school or undergraduate teaching in speech, debate, or theater or performance in speech, debate, or theater. Examples may include induction into the National Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame or the Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame, or receiving the Minnesota State High School League Speech Coach of the Year award.

• Each fellowship or award is considered one experience
• Can be applied up to one time

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, describe your awards using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #8: Receiving an award or other recognition.

H: Participation in nationally normed assessment activity

Assessment activities may include Advanced Placement English Language and Composition test grading, serving on the panel of evaluators for the AP Research, AP Seminar, or AP Capstone programs, or serving as a National Board Certification assessor in English/Language Arts at the Adolescent/Young Adult level.

• Each year of participation is considered one experience
• Can be applied once

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, respond to Faculty Guiding Questions, #10: Participation in a nationally normed assessment activity related to the field.

I: National Board Certification

Specifically in English/Language Arts at the Adolescent/Young Adult level.

• Certification fulfills two experiences
• Can be applied once

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, Provide a copy of your certification letter or certificate. As part of your description, respond to Faculty Guiding Questions, #11: National Board Certification.

J: Successful and effective teaching experience in a course leading to undergraduate credit

Courses should be in speech, or a related field, including communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies including dual credit, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or teaching undergraduates on a college/university campus.

• Three years is considered one experience
• Can be applied up to one time

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, describe your teaching experience using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #3: Teaching of a course leading to undergraduate credit for students.

K: Passing score (or better) on relevant subject matter tests

These may include the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in English/Language Arts completed at the Adolescent/Young Adult level, the GRE, or other relevant subject matter tests.

• Each exam is considered one experience
• Can be applied once

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, discuss the significance of the test, indicate the date taken and where taken. Provide documentation, such as a certificate or letter with your score.

L: Discipline-specific leadership role in a secondary or postsecondary institution

Qualifying positions include department chair, or a position in a professional organization such as Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota, National Council of Teachers of English, Minnesota Speech Coaches Association, and the Minnesota Educational Theater Association.

• Each leadership role of at least one year is considered one experience
• Can be applied once

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, describe your leadership experience using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #4: Discipline-specific leadership role.

M: Presenter or panelist

Presentations should be for local, state, regional, or national audiences

• Each presentation on a distinct topic is considered one experience
• Can be applied up to three times

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, list and describe presentations using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #5: Presentations.

N: Performance trainer, coach, or judge.

For example coaching/judging commencement speakers, mock trials, debate, theater, sports, Quizbowl/Knowledge Bowl, or speech teams; student teacher supervisor in subjects such as speech and communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies.

• Each year is considered one experience
• Can be applied up to two times

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, respond to Faculty Guiding Questions, #9: Experience requiring regular use of skills or content knowledge related to the field.

O: Field test or review curriculum

This may include working with a publisher or serving on a textbook review and selection committee for postsecondary or secondary institutions. Curriculum should be in areas including speech and communications, communication arts, information media, educational media, language arts, theater, broadcast journalism, journalism, curriculum and instruction, education, English, psychology, educational psychology, or writing studies.

• Each distinct project is considered one experience
• Can be applied once

If including this option in your Description of Professional Experience, list and describe roles and responsibility using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #12: Field test, review or edit curriculum for publisher and/or #13: Serve on textbook selection committee for secondary or postsecondary institution.