Opening of the University-2003

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Opening of the University-2003
Performance Assessment Strategies in a
Revised Graduate Program M.Ed. in Adolescent
Education
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Who are we?

• Dr. Marj Economopoulos, Associate Professor and
  Department Chair, Department of Secondary and
  Middle Grades Education
• Dr. Nita Paris, Assistant Professor and Graduate
  Program Coordinator, Department of Secondary and
  Middle Grades Education

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Overview

• How we revitalized a dying graduate program
• The collaborative processes involved in aligning
  a complex program with national standards
• Current program- Adolescent Education
• Embedding performance assessment strategies into
  all courses
• Challenges

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Revitalizing the M.Ed.

• 1985 Master of Education in Elementary Education
  (4-8)
• 1990s named Master of Education in Middle Grades
  Education (4-8)
• 2000 expanded Master of Education in Adolescent
  Education to include h.s. (4-12) to align with
  NBPTS

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Aligning with National Standards

• Standards clarify what our candidates should
  know, do, and believe
• Provide context for reorganization
• Help us visualize a new approach to candidate
  performance assessment

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Current programM.Ed. in Adolescent Education

• Content focused, cohort model.
• Aligned with National Board of Professional
  Teaching Standards in 4 content disciplines.
• Cohorts of 20-24 in each content area start each
  summer.
• 36 hours, 18 months.
• 18-21 hours in a content area, 15 hours in
  education.

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Content Area Involvement

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies

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An Example Mathematics

• NBPTS Math Standards, MAA, NCTM, BOR, PSC
• 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 math courses

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Mathematics Content Courses

• History of Mathematics
• Discrete Math
• Statistics/Data Analysis
• Geometry
• Problem Solving
• Number Theory
• Functions

• Math Studies
• Technology Math
• Mathematics Teaching Learning

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Old Ways of Thinking
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Candidate Performance

• Unit-wide performance instrument developed from
  the NBPTS
• Unit-wide portfolio requirements similar to those
  required of NBPTS

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Embedding Assessment

• Started with national standards
• Linked to KSU unit standard
• Linked to course objective
• Linked to course assignment
• Linked to final portfolio element

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Administrative challenges and Solutions

• Collaborative planning/scheduling
• Team teaching across depts/colleges

• Bean counting credit
• Resources

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What questions do you have?