Using Data for Program Improvement in Teacher Education: A Study of Promising Practices

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-48
Author(s):  
Susannah C. Davis ◽  
Charles A. Peck

Background/Context Contemporary accountability policies in teacher education often require that programs systematically use data for program improvement. However, social science research from multiple fields of human service suggests that the challenges of using data involve much more than creating policies and related information technologies to support collection, archival, and analysis of information about program outcomes. In this study we investigated organizational policies and practices implemented within ten high data-use teacher education programs to support faculty and staff engagement with opportunities to use a variety of data for the purposes of program improvement. Purpose/Objective/Research Question What organizational tools, policies, and practices are associated with systematic use of data for program improvement in high data-use teacher education programs? Research Design We used qualitative field research methods to study a set of teacher preparation programs situated in institutions that varied considerably in size, mission, and organizational structure. Using a comparative case-study approach, we hoped to identify a set of practices that were robust across variations in institutional setting and that therefore might be useful to other teacher educators as they attempt to navigate the pressures of current accountability mandates in ways that are consonant with their aspirations for program improvement. Conclusions/Recommendations Organizational practices associated with high levels of data use in the programs we studied included the allocation of specific times and places to allow thoughtful engagement with opportunities to use data in deliberation of program actions, as well as the integration of these activities into regular organizational routines. Consistent with earlier studies, we found that faculty in these programs more readily and vigorously engaged data-use work organized around local inquiry goals, rather than compliance with external policy mandates or grant expectations. Leadership actions related to establishing local inquiry and program improvement as the primary goal of data-use work appeared to be crucial to motivating faculty and staff to take up opportunities to use data as a resource for learning and program decision-making.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna C. Weaver ◽  
Gabriel Matney ◽  
Allison M. Goedde ◽  
Jeremy R. Nadler ◽  
Nancy Patterson

PurposeThe authors propose that a digital instructional delivery format of lesson study (LS) may have the potential to amplify particular aspects of traditional, face-to-face LS.Design/methodology/approachThis is a qualitative case study, using data triangulation, member checking and an inductive approach to open-coding utilizing grounded theory to identify codes and themes.FindingsDigital tools promoted LS and learning, allowing for rigorous collaboration, synchronous observations, data collection and feedback, leading to deeper understanding.Research limitations/implicationsDigital tools used in the online LS process changed how instructional planning can be researched, analyzed and written collaboratively and impacted the fluidity of a lesson, the ease of observation and reflection, student engagement and the researchers' and students' ability to share ideas in real time.Practical implicationsLS can be integrated into online teacher education programs to engage students in online learning and promotes engagement, peer interaction and student voice. The use of these digital tools is not restricted just to remote instructional contexts.Social implicationsLS reduces teacher isolation, builds a collaborative community of teachers and increases instructional motivation. Educators across schools, universities or districts can integrate online LS into remote teacher education programs and online courses.Originality/valueThis study is original work that has not been published elsewhere.


2016 ◽  
pp. 819-832
Author(s):  
Kristen C. Cuthrell ◽  
Diana B. Lys ◽  
Elizabeth A. Fogarty ◽  
Ellen E. Dobson

This chapter will share a model for teacher preparation programs to consider when attempting program improvement through the use of edTPA data. This model, regardless of the edTPA context, mandated or voluntary, provides a frame in which teacher education programs can begin using edTPA data for program improvement and can advance their data use towards transformative, institutional improvements. This additive model takes time, commitment, and vision in order to systematically create programmatic improvements. Performance assessment data provides the structure and information needed for units and programs to make these purposeful changes. The increasingly explicit culture of assessment in teacher education, in conjunction with the promise of valid and reliable performance assessments, invites teacher education programs to engage in third spaces with renewed focus.


Author(s):  
Kristen C. Cuthrell ◽  
Diana B. Lys ◽  
Elizabeth A. Fogarty ◽  
Ellen E. Dobson

This chapter will share a model for teacher preparation programs to consider when attempting program improvement through the use of edTPA data. This model, regardless of the edTPA context, mandated or voluntary, provides a frame in which teacher education programs can begin using edTPA data for program improvement and can advance their data use towards transformative, institutional improvements. This additive model takes time, commitment, and vision in order to systematically create programmatic improvements. Performance assessment data provides the structure and information needed for units and programs to make these purposeful changes. The increasingly explicit culture of assessment in teacher education, in conjunction with the promise of valid and reliable performance assessments, invites teacher education programs to engage in third spaces with renewed focus.


Author(s):  
Uzma Perveen ◽  
Muhammad Idris Idris ◽  
Amir Zaman Zaman

The role of the education in the development of any country is very well accepted .In fact it is the only solution to socioeconomic, regional/geographical issues of any nation. Education and its quality are directly related to the quality of instruction by teacher in classroom. In-fact no system of education is better than its teacher. In Pakistan’s case serious and consistent efforts are needed to improve the quality of teachers on the priority bases. Because the qualitative dimension of teacher education programs have resulted in mass production of teachers with shallow understanding of content and methodology. In Pakistan accreditation system has been introduced to accredit teacher education programs and initiatives are been taking to initiate registration, licensing and certification process of teachers. The accreditation of teacher education programs has been declared mandatory by HEC. All the institutions offering any graduate level teacher education programs are required to get the accreditation of their programs.   The purpose of initiating the accreditation process for Teacher Education was to ensure and improve the quality of teacher education, programs and institutions. Formal accreditation is being has been conducted since 2010-2011. The NACTE has accredited around 450 programs of more than 180 public and private sector teacher education institutions by 2019, which includes colleges and universities offering teacher education all over Pakistan. It was descriptive in nature, which focused on providing an accurate description of the impact of teacher education programs and institutions. This method was preferred as the study primarily sought to describe and understand the stakeholder’s response of the impact of accreditation on institution and program improvement, rather than determining any cause-and-effect relationship. The criteria for sample selection were based on the participation of the concerned faculty, HOD and external evaluators in the accreditation process of the programs offered by the institutions. Five point Likert scale was developed to collect data from the stakeholders HOD, Teacher Educators and External Evaluators. The use of mean, SD provided the basis for calculation, application and interpretation of t-test and ANOVA. Majority of participants said that accreditation process have high impact on improvement of teacher education programs. It is important question to participants about Program Accreditation whether it helped to improve teacher education program while some participants said that program accreditation sensitized the accountability of staff, administration and students. In conclusion, a number of important implications at both national and institutional levels for more effective accreditation are identified.


Author(s):  
Kristen C. Cuthrell ◽  
Diana B. Lys ◽  
Elizabeth A. Fogarty ◽  
Ellen E. Dobson

This chapter will share a model for teacher preparation programs to consider when attempting program improvement through the use of edTPA data. This model, regardless of the edTPA context, mandated or voluntary, provides a frame in which teacher education programs can begin using edTPA data for program improvement and can advance their data use towards transformative, institutional improvements. This additive model takes time, commitment, and vision in order to systematically create programmatic improvements. Performance assessment data provides the structure and information needed for units and programs to make these purposeful changes. The increasingly explicit culture of assessment in teacher education, in conjunction with the promise of valid and reliable performance assessments, invites teacher education programs to engage in third spaces with renewed focus.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-384
Author(s):  
Lucinda Grace Heimer

Race is a marker hiding more complex narratives. Children identify the social cues that continue to segregate based on race, yet too often teachers fail to provide support for making sense of these worlds. Current critical scholarship highlights the importance of addressing issues of race, culture, and social justice with future teachers. The timing of this work is urgent as health, social and civil unrest due to systemic racism in the U.S. raise critiques and also open possibilities to reimagine early childhood education. Classroom teachers feel pressure to standardize pedagogy and outcomes yet meet myriad student needs and talents in complex settings. This study builds on the current literature as it uses one case study to explore institutional messages and student perceptions in a future teacher education program that centers race, culture, identity, and social justice. Teaching as a caring profession is explored to illuminate the impact authentic, aesthetic, and rhetorical care may have in classrooms. Using key tenets of Critical Race Theory as an analytical tool enhanced the case study process by focusing the inquiry on identity within a racist society. Four themes are highlighted related to institutional values, rigorous coursework, white privilege, and connecting individual racial and cultural understanding with classroom practice. With consideration of ethical relationality, teacher education programs begin to address the impact of racist histories. This work calls for individualized critical inquiry regarding future teacher understanding of “self” in new contexts as well as an investigation of how teacher education programs fit into larger institutional philosophies.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document