NCATE Accreditation: Views from the Field

1. NCATE Accreditation: Views from the Field Christopher Cratsley Fitchburg State College Robert A. Cohen East Stroudsburg University

2. How many reports? • One for each program • Each program may have multiple certifications that share the same assessments • All science areas are typically considered to be part of one program and, as such, are expected to share the same assessments • ALL of the assessments must be required for ALL program completers

3. List of Assessments (2004) • Content Knowledge –Licensure Tests • Content Knowledge – Conceptual* • PPKSD – Planning Instruction • PPKSD – Student Teaching • Effects on Student Learning • PPKSD – Research & Investigation • PPKSD – Legal/Safety/Ethical Issues • Content Knowledge – Contextual PPKSD = Pedagogical and Professional Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions

4. List of Assessments (1998) • Content Knowledge –Licensure Tests • Content Knowledge – Contextual • Content Knowledge – Research & Investigation • PPKSD –Safety and Living Things • PPKSD – Planning • PPKSD – Assessment* • PPKSD – Teaching Practices and Dispositions • Effects on Student Learning PPKSD = Pedagogical and Professional Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions

5. Parts of a Program Report • Context Programs of study Number of candidates and completers Program faculty expertise and experience • List of Assessments • Relationship of Assessments to Standards • Evidence for Meeting Standards Description of assessments Alignment with standards Tabulation of data • Use of Assessment Results to Improve Candidate and Program Performance

6. How did ESU do? SPA Decision: National Recognition Programs covered: • Biology (7-12) • Chemistry (7-12) • Earth and Space Science (7-12) • Physics (7-12) • General Science (7-12)

7. ESU Program • Strengths • Standard five (skills of teaching) • Intern training program (action research?) • “Assessments are reviewed and reflected upon in a systematic manner” • Weaknesses • Lack of data for student teaching • Rubrics lacked criteria for some Nature of Science, Context of Science and Social Context standards

8. Difficulties ESU Encountered • All candidates had to complete all assessments • We weren’t allowed to add credits • The target kept changing • Student teaching evaluation forms at ESU didn’t match science standards • General pedagogy was left out of the loop • State Dept of Ed requirements are different • The feedback lacked detail

9. How did FSC do? • Program covered: 9-12 Single-Field Biology. • SPA decision: Nationally recognized with conditions. • Strengths: Research Report and Teacher Work Sample. • Areas for Improvement: More data and improved Assessment 2 demonstrating contextual content knowledge including the Nature of Science, inquiry and applications

10. Difficulties FSC Encountered • This process required creating new assessment instruments for contextual content knowledge, research & investigation, safety and living things and effects on student learning. • NSTA standards suggest that candidates should integrate elements such as the nature of science, inquiry, applications and safety throughout their classes, but as we try to model this in our curricula, single assessments become more difficult.

11. FSC Program Required Courses in Science and Mathematics Courses in biology: Courses in related sciences: BIOL 1800 General Biology I CHEM 1300 General Chemistry I BIOL 1900 General Biology II CHEM 1400 General Chemistry II BIOL 2300 Introduction to Ecology CHEM 2000 Organic Chemistry I BIOL 2800 Genetics CHEM 2100 Organic Chemistry II BIOL 3250 Cell Biology PHYS 1300 General Physics I BIOL 3550 Developmental Biology PHYS 1400 General Physics II 4 additional Biology electives. 2 courses at or above Math 1250 Additional Requirements for BS in Biology with Initial Teacher Licensure EDUC 1021 Orientation to Education (1 credit course) GEOG 1100 Introduction to Earth Systems Science BIOL 2860 Introduction to Secondary School Teaching SPED 3800 Secondary Programs for Adolescents (14-22) with Special Needs ENGL 4700 Teaching Writing in Middle and Secondary Schools BIOL 4850 Biology Teaching Methods BIOL 4860/ Biology Practicum in a Secondary School I and II