Harold A. Johnson/Professor Michigan State University April 22, 2010 Video Conference Presentation Council Bluffs, Iowa “Tipping Point: An Alternative Model of Deaf Education Teacher Preparation”

Recognition Leadership: Your role as state and national leaders, as decision makers, as individuals who have worked for decades to enhance teaching and learning with students who are deaf/hard of hearing (d/hh). Resources: The professionals you represent are the single greatest determiner, or predictor, of the academic performance of students who are d/hh and I know you work with some TERRIFIC professionals. Challenges: While it has never been “easy,” current Federal mandates, budget reductions, and professional retirements require the use of new strategies to address old problems. Your presence at this conference is indicative of your sharing and search for such strategies. I commend you H. Johnson/MSU

Opportunity What could do? How much could your accomplish? How many fewer problems would you have to deal with if you had more teachers like ______________, and fewer teachers like _______________ ? While there are no “magic bullets” in our field, there are teachers who seem to work “magic” with their students, parents, and colleagues. Imagine if you had the ability to not only have more such teachers, but you could also retain the teachers you now have. Imagine the recognition that would occur if your teachers were considered to be models for instructional effectiveness and innovation. 3 H. Johnson/MSU

Strategies A. Instructional Excellence: 1. Identify your ten best Deaf Education teachers, then permit Deaf Education majors to document and share the teachers' instructional practices, topical interests, and “frequently encountered problems” B. Teacher Retention & Recruitment: 2. Supporting your existing teachers, while identifying the teachers you need to hire. a. Retention: Use simple and sustainable technologies (e.g., , wiki, & Skype video) to permit Deaf Education majors to serve as “information workers” as they interact with the your best teachers. b. Recruitment: Use the same technologies and interactions to identify and interview those Deaf Education majors that you would like to join your staff 4 H. Johnson/MSU

Strategies (cont.) C. Professional Development: 3. Provide... “just-in-time,” just about anywhere, topically specific, instructionally focused, and empirically grounded learning opportunities for your Deaf Education and related professionals. By using a slightly expanded array of technologies (e.g., , wiki, Skype, & iVisit) to enable your best teachers and the nation’s best faculty to interact with geographically dispersed professionals without the need for travel, substitute teachers, or conference rooms! 5 H. Johnson/MSU

Reality? The “Iowa Master Teachers”...thank you Marsha Gunderson!Iowa Master Teachers Deaf Education Community of Learners wiki Instructional Excellence: Stories of Success Frequently Encountered Problems Expended, i.e., Home Based, Learning Opportunities Teacher Retention & Recruitment: Peer-to-Peer Interactions Professional to Family Interactions Cyber Mentors 6 H. Johnson/MSU

Reality? (cont.) Professional Development: 7 H. Johnson/MSU

Outcomes Reduce Isolation Recognize Excellence Foster Collaboration Retain & Recruit Effective Teachers Provide Innovative & Cost Effective Professional Development Opportunities Support & Enhance Deaf Education Teacher Preparation by......linking Deaf Education majors with Master Teachers...linking theory and research, with current instructional realities and proven instructional practices...increasing visibility and understanding of the value of, and need for well prepared Deaf Education teachers. 8 H. Johnson/MSU

Challenge Working in a different way, with different individuals. Recognizing and sharing both what we know and what we need to learn. Pooling limited professional development dollars to gain greater frequency, flexibility depth of opportunities and impact. Pooling dollars + strategies = No need for substitute teachers No need for travel cost No loss of time getting from ‘a’ to ‘b’ No limit re. who is near and good, vs. just near and available 9 H. Johnson/MSU

1 st Step 1. Individually decide if this idea is worth pursuing. 2. Identify three + individuals who are also interested in the idea. 3. One individual take responsibility for calling Harold Johnson ( ) to set up a conference among interested individuals. 4. As a result of the phone conference, individuals can decide if, and if so how and when, they would like to proceed with the strategies outlined in this presentation. I hope that several of you will decide to talk with me. 10 H. Johnson/MSU