Alabama ATE
Summer 2016 Newsletter
Fall 2016 AATE Conference Call for Presentations
Annihilate the Acronyms!
CAEP? edTPA? SPA? CIEP?
Let's share ideas to measure impact on P-12 student learning!
(September 23, University of Montevallo)
Impact of edTPA-Dr. Kristy Brown and Mrs. Pam Wetherington
In spring 2012, Georgia began its pilot phase of the teacher performance assessment, edTPA. The edTPA is a teaching portfolio that provides opportunities for pre-service teachers to collect evidence of their planning, instruction, and assessment decisions and practices; furthermore, pre-service teachers are given opportunities to reflect on their teaching decisions and practices through explanations, descriptions, justifications, and analyses (Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning and Equity, 2015). Early within the implementation phase, two teacher educators, Dr. Kristy Brown and Mrs. Pam Wetherington, witnessed a powerful shift occurring within their pre-service teachers’ dispositions, teaching decisions/ practices, and readiness for the complexities of today’s classrooms. Additionally, Brown and Wetherington began to witness the impact of implementing edTPA on faculty members and cooperating teachers in terms of increasing collaborative experiences (e.g., tapping into and sharing resources) and sharing common understandings and expectations for effective teaching practices. For example, faculty members consistently sought ways in which to use edTPA data to have programmatic discussions and participate in curriculum inquiry to examine, revise, and redefine the programs’ key/critical assignments.
Adoption of edTPA is a complex process that can be overwhelming to teacher preparation programs as they identify and work through the various opportunities and challenges of edTPA implementation. Brown and Wetherington, representing institutions of varying sizes, faced both similar and unique opportunities and challenges as they implemented the edTPA. Through implementation and consistent analysis of faculty members’ and pre-service teachers’ needs, the following trainings, workshops, and presentations emerged: (1) edTPA Boot Camps for pre-service teachers; (2) Cooperating Teacher Workshop; (3) Understanding Rubric Level Progression presentation; (4) Deep Dive into edTPA; (5) Local Evaluation Training; (6) Curriculum Inquiry; (7) Academic Language Workshop; (8) and Transformative Experiences: How the edTPA Teaching Portfolio Revolutionized My Teaching and Reflective Practices presentation. One critical aspect that quickly emerged from the implementation phase was the need to include and support cooperating teachers. The role of the cooperating teacher did not change, but it became evident pre-service teachers needed more input from their cooperating teachers regarding the context of the district, school, classroom, and most importantly the students as the pre-service teachers prepared to develop appropriate lessons to support and engage their students.
In spring 2015, Brown and Wetherington began providing support for Alabama institutions by serving as edTPA National Consultants for the National Academy. The National Academy is comprised of educators, representing various EPPs nationwide, that provide professional development for EPPs looking to pilot and/or implement edTPA. Consultants have in-depth knowledge of the process for developing structures of support for pre-service teachers, faculty members, cooperating teachers, and stakeholders (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, 2015). Brown and Wetherington are confident Alabama’s pre-service teachers will be successful in providing evidence of their teaching decisions and practices within the edTPA teaching portfolio in addition to reflecting on their teaching decisions and practices throughout the teaching portfolio because Alabama’s teacher educators are intentional in their collaborative efforts within their programs, throughout the state, and across state lines. Having an edTPA support group allows a safe place to ask questions, share ideas, celebrate successes, and encourage one another throughout the implementation phase.
For more information:
Kristy Brown kbrow187@kennesaw.edu
Pam Wetherington wetherington_pamela@columbusstate.edu
National Consultant Database http://edtpa.aacte.org/seek-support
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (2015, May). edTPA consultants
supporting implementation nationwide. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from
https://aacte.org/news-room/press-releases-statements/494-edtpa-consultants-supporting-
implementation-nationwide.
Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning and Equity (2015, November). Current status
of the project. Stanford, CA: Author. Retrieved from http://edtpa.aacte.org/about-edtpa#Overview-0.
Alabama ATE Conference
Friday, Sep 23, 2016, 08:30 AM
University of Montevallo, College Drive, Montevallo, AL, United States
Tentative Agenda
8:30-9:00 Sign in
9:00-9:15 Welcome in Anna Irvin
9:30-10:15 Session I (2 concurrent in Wills Hall)
10:30-11:15 Session II (2 concurrent in Wills Hall)
11:30-12:15 Session III (2 concurrent in Wills Hall)
LUNCH in Anna Irvin
1:30-2:15 Session IV (2 concurrent in Wills Hall)
2:30-3:00 Closing Session & Evaluation/Feedback in Anna Irvin
Information from ATE
Sikula State Unit Awards: This program recognizes the efforts and accomplishments of affiliated units across the country. ATE units provide essential services and programs at the local and state levels, thereby supporting the national organization’s mission and goals. The Awards Program is a vehicle for ATE to provide visibility and distinction to units that fulfill the performance criteria indicated. Unit Awards are presented at ATE’s Annual Meeting. Go here for additional information and submission requirements: http://www.ate1.org/pubs/Sikula_Unit_Awards.cfm.
LFTE Leadership Grants: In order to foster leadership, the Leadership Foundation for Teacher Education is pleased to announce the availability of matching grants to the units. Definitions are broad to allow maximum participation. Go here for details: http://www.ate1.org/pubs/LFTE_Leadership_Gr.cfm.
Teacher Educator Survey: How do your members teach teachers? Please ask them to share their perspectives and experiences as teacher education professionals regarding curriculum and pedagogy by participating in the National Survey of Teacher Educators. The survey, is completely anonymous, and is a collaboration of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), and GLSEN. By offering their insights, they will help to improve supports for their work with teacher candidates in preparing them to teach all students. Teacher educators who complete the survey will have a chance to enter a drawing for one of five $100 Amazon.com gift cards or one free registration to the AACTE conference in 2017. Go here to take the survey: www.teacheredsurvey.org.
News from the Southeastern Regional Association of Teacher Educators
SRATE 2016 Call for Proposals – Due by July 5th
Conference: Oct 13-15, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston Town Center, VA
Theme: Becoming a 21st Century Educator: Communicating, Connecting, and Collaborating
See link below to submit online at the SRATE website.
Proposal Link: http://srate.org/conference_documents.html