The WPI Teacher Preparation Program John Goulet, MA Dept Lance Schachterle, Assoc Provost Rob Traver, Mass Academy

Purpose Produce students with the Initial License to teach Biology, Chemistry, Math or Physics at the secondary level in Massachusetts (or any state with a “reciprocating agreement” with MA)

What is an “Initial License”? There are 3 levels of licensure in MA: Temporary=bachelor’s degree + pass MTEL (“teacher”) test Initial= go through approved undergraduate program Professional= have Initial + Master’s degree + 5 yrs or more experience

What are the requirements? Coursework: –PSY 2401 – Psychology of Education –PSY 2406 – Cross Cultural Psychology –ID 3100 – Teaching Methods IQP –Based upon a semester long practicum at a public school with a licensed teacher as mentor Pass MTEL exam with the State (2 parts)

How Does It Affect Your Major? It does not affect your major at all. You are simply tailoring the Social Science electives, 1 free elective, and your IQP to meet the needs of an additional goal.

Some Details of the Practicum You work with a mentor at a public high school for one semester. Observe 75 hours of that person’s teaching Perform 150 hours of practice teaching Demonstrate achievement of the State’s Professional Standards for teachers. Write an IQP based upon the Practicum

The MTEL Test “Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure “ Two parts: –Communication –Subject Matter (bio,chem, ma or physics) Offered 4 times per year Aka “the Teacher Test” Has nothing to do with WPI except being part of our program requirements

When are courses offered? PSY 2401: fall of 2007,2009 (A term) PSY 2406: fall of 2006 (B term) ID 3100: summer of 2006, spring of 2007 (D)

History of the Program Developed during Received State DOE approval in August, 2004 Currently there are 8 sophomores in it

Current Students Penny Gikas Bio ‘08 Liz Kinnal BE ‘08 Kate Maki Math ‘08 Krystal Parker AE ‘08 Michael Richard Civil ‘08 Whitney Thurrott Bio ‘08 Allison Vassallo EV ‘08 Megan Yocum AE ‘08

References of Note Mass DOE information on the MTEL exam WPI Teacher Preparation Program eacher_prep.htm People: –John Goulet –Lance Schachterle –Rob Traver