Students gain understanding of the nature of learning and the purpose of education as the pedagogical foundation to teaching in any discipline. Students develop knowledge of state and national standards and apply these standards vertically and horizontally in preparing high quality teaching and learning experiences. Students gain experience critically analyzing disciplinary content, instructional models, lessons, curricula, and research literature. Students learn to construct and test instructional models using activities that focus attention on diversity, authentic assessments, intellectual, social and emotional development, interdisciplinary connections, and technology.