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Examples of Assessment by Institution |
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Southwestern University: Based on assessment results, the Education Department at the University identified problems of the beginning teacher as a crucial need area with high priority and developed the "Semester of Support" (S.O.S) program in 1986. For teachers certified through the Southwestern University teacher education program, S.O.S. provides support during their first year of teaching in the following ways: · A one-day workshop on campus, to be held near mid-semester, designed to allow beginning teachers to share ideas and common problems, to confer with faculty, and to share experiences with students in the teacher preparation program. Nominal stipends help defray the cost of attendance. · Telephone conferences with appropriate faculty to give assistance as requested. · Personal visits by faculty members if the need is great and/or the distance is not prohibitive. · Access to the resources and equipment—on a check-out basis—of the Southwestern University Education Department.
Assessment data have been used throughout its operation to improve the teacher education program and include: · Development of a relationship with a very diverse elementary school in East Austin where students now do their pre-student teaching field work during the junior year. This change was enacted based on reports from beginning teachers that they were not receiving adequate experience with students in diverse settings. · Infusion of the curriculum with more Special Education topics since teachers who did not certify in Special Education were still expected to work with special needs students and did not feel confident in the area. · Development of plans to more intentionally and actively address the topics of working with parents, classroom management, and technology which teachers reported as areas of concern.
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Southwestern University |
