AAHE-Denver04 1 Embedding collaboratively developed standards-based portfolio assessment: The process, product, and power to document student learning AAHE, Denver, CO June 15, 2004

AAHE-Denver04 2 Presenters (Nita) Nita Paris, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education Carol Harrell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English, Department of English Marj Economopoulos, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair, Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education Traci McPherson, M.Ed., High School English Teacher

AAHE-Denver04 3 What you will learn (Nita) The program The process The product Case study -- content Case study -- student Successes and challenges The possibilities for you

AAHE-Denver04 4 The program: M.Ed. in Adolescent Education (Nita) Content focused, cohort model. Aligned with National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in 4 content disciplines. Cohorts of 24 in each content area start each summer. 36 hours, 18 months hours in a content area, 15 hours in education.

AAHE-Denver04 5 The Process of Program Development Aligning with National Standards (Nita) Clarify candidate expectations Provide context for reorganization Provide a new approach to candidate performance assessment

AAHE-Denver04 6 Product: Portfolio (Nita) Three-hour course Team taught (content & education faculty) Reflective, collaborative writing process Cognitive & metacognitive stretching & reaching Document & presentation Capstone experience

AAHE-Denver04 7 The Assessment Process (Nita) Developmental, recursive, ongoing process Begins early and occurs often Entries for final portfolio chosen from assignments embedded in coursework Portfolio entries are selected from all courses

AAHE-Denver04 8 Content Area Involvement (Carol) English Mathematics Science Social Studies

AAHE-Denver04 9 Embedding Assessment (Carol) Started with national standards Linked to KSU unit standard Linked to course objective Linked to course assignment Linked to final portfolio element

AAHE-Denver04 10 Case Study: English (Carol) NBPTS, NCTE, ………. Standards A REALLY hard look at current courses Considered appropriate content/level for middle and secondary teachers Deleted, revised, and developed new courses Embedded portfolio assignments into existing courses

AAHE-Denver04 11 English Content Courses (Carol) Accomplished English teachers know their content. They frequently integrate reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing opportunities in English studies and across the disciplines. Regular English courses worked well. Courses needed content redesign to integrate the NBPTS expectations, which demanded assessment reconsideration.

AAHE-Denver04 12 Case Study: One student’s perspective (Traci) Why I Decided to Earn my M.Ed. at KSU –content driven (literature and linguistics) Utopian Literature Unit Accent as an Identity Factor –challenging education courses At-Risk Writing Research Ethnography

AAHE-Denver04 13 Impact on Professionalism (Traci) Professional Collaboration –School Council Involvement with Academic Goals of the School –AVID Coordinator, Summer Reading Committee Professional Organizations

AAHE-Denver04 14 Impact on Subject Matter Expertise (Traci) Multi-Cultural Perspective –Bread Givers UnitBread Givers Unit Technology that Enhances Content in the Classroom –WebQuestWebQuest Research-Based Strategies for Teaching English –Socratic Seminars, Peer TutoringPeer Tutoring

AAHE-Denver04 15 Impact on Teaching (Traci) Reconstructed Assessments –Macbeth AssessmentMacbeth Assessment Opportunities for Student Ownership –Portfolios, Personal Academic Goals Student-Centered Classroom –Literature Circles, Student-Led Demonstrations, Student-Created Rubrics Knowledge of Multiple Literacies –ResearchResearch

AAHE-Denver04 16 The Portfolio Documents (Traci) Professionalism Subject matter expertise Teaching practice

AAHE-Denver04 17 Successes & Challenges (Marj)

AAHE-Denver04 18 KSU’s Professional Teacher Education Unit (Marj) Consists of 13 departments across the university (graduate and undergraduate) Includes 4 M.Ed. Programs in COE M.Ed. in Adolescent Education in the Department of Secondary and Middle Grades Education

AAHE-Denver04 19 Maintaining the PTEU (Marj) Collaborative curriculum planning Outside voices (advisory boards) Team teaching Working & celebrating together Professor level + admin

AAHE-Denver04 20 Necessary Elements (Marj) Relationships Trust Compromise Sharing High energy levels Time Food Consensus

AAHE-Denver04 21 Sustaining the Program (Marj) Input from students Continuous improvement Incremental implementation Letting go and trusting (again) Allowing for mistakes Willing to adjust for better results

AAHE-Denver04 22 Administrative Challenges & Solutions (Marj) Collaborative planning/scheduling Team teaching across depts/colleges Bean counting & “credit” Resources $

AAHE-Denver04 23 Where we are now (Nita) cohort –English (12) –Mathematics (16) cohort –English (14) –Mathematics (22) –Science (17) cohort –English (17) –Mathematics (17) –Social Studies (10)

AAHE-Denver04 24 Possibilities for you! What questions do you have?