WPI Teacher Preparation Program

Achievement of Professional Standards

June 2004

Each student is required to have demonstrated that she or he has achieved competence in the Professional Standards for teachers. The table below lists the individual standards, what component of the preparation program may be used to satisfy each, and what the manner of assessment is. The source of these standards is 603 CMR 7.08. They are arranged in 5 groups:

(a) Plans Effective Curriculum and Instruction

(b) Delivers Effective Instruction

(c) Manages Classroom Climate and Operation

(d) Promotes Equity

(e) Meets Professional Responsibilities

Professional Standard	Assessment	Assessor
(a)1.a. Identify prerequisite skills, concepts and vocabulary	Practicum lesson plan	mentor and supervisor
(a)1.b. Identify reading and writing	Practicum lesson plan	mentor and supervisor
(a) 2. Plan sequential units for cumulative learning	Practicum lesson plan collection	mentor and supervisor
(a)3. plan learning activities for full range of students in class	Practicum lesson plans	mentor and supervisor
(a)4. plan lessons with clear objectives and measurable outcomes	Practicum lesson plans	mentor and supervisor
(a)5. plans the pedagogy appropriate	Practicum lesson plans	mentor and supervisor
(a)6. seeks outside resources to enhance learning	Teaching Methods course	review of assignment by mentor
(a)7. incorporates appropriate technology and media	Practicum Lesson Delivery	mentor review
(a)8. use IEP information for integrating students with disabilities	Teaching Methods Course	mentor review
(b)1.a. make learning objectives clear	review of lesson plans and observation of class	mentor and supervisor
(b)1.b. communicates clearly in writing and speaking	observation of class	mentor and supervisor
(b)1.c. finds engaging ways to begin a new unit of study or lesson	observation of class	mentor and supervisor
(b)1.d. builds on students prior knowledge and experience	observation of class	mentor and supervisor
(b)2.a. balanced approach to skills and concepts	review of collection of lesson plans	mentor and supervisor
(b)2.b. employ a variety of teaching techniques	observation	mentor
(b)2.c employ a variety of reading and writing strategies	review of lesson plans	mentor and supervisor
(b)2.d. use questioning to stimulate thinking	observation during practicum	mentor
(b)2.e.use instructional technology appropriately	observation during practicum	mentor and supervisor
(b)3.a. assign effective homework and check it	observation; review of assignments; review of exams	mentor
(b)3.b provide regular feedback to students	review of schedule	mentor
(b)3.c. provide many and varied opportunities for students to achieve competence	observation of practicum and review of materials	mentor
(b)4.a.measure achievement of learning outcomes with a variety of assessment; use the results for planning further instruction	observation of practicum and review of materials	mentor
(b)4.b.translate evaluation into records for communication of achievement	observation of practicum and review of materials	mentor
(c) 1. create an environment conducive to learning	observation of practicum classes	mentor
(c) 2. create appropriate physical environment	observation of practicum classes	mentor
(c) 3. maintain appropriate behavior standards	observation of practicum classes	mentor
(c) 4. manage classroom without time loss	observation of practicum classes	mentor
(d) 1. encourage students on the importance of effort	student evaluation form	IQP analysis
(d) 2. promote achievement by all students	student evaluation form	IQP analysis
(d) 3. assess significance of student differences	observation of practicum classes	mentor
(d) 4. help students understand American civic culture
(e) 1. understands legal responsibilities	Prepracticum	Papers #3-5
(e) 2. conveys knowledge and enthusiasm to students	observation of practicum classes	Mentor, supervisor
(e) 3. maintain interest in current theory, research and development in one's discipline	Teaching Methods course	assignment(s)
(e) 4. help build a professional community by collaborating with colleagues	Teaching Methods course	group assignment(s)
(e) 5. works actively to involve parents	Participate in actual conference with parent(s) of a student in the Practicum class being taught	mentor
(e) 6. reflects critically on his/her experience, identifies areas for improvement	IQP summary document	IQP advisor
(e) 7. understand legal and ethical issues related to possible resources	Prepracticum	Papers #3-5

where the following identifiers are used:

mentor = the secondary instructor overseeing the student-teacher's practicum

supervisor = the person from WPI overseeing the student-teacher's IQP = IQP advisor

SS 2401 refers to Psychology of Education, equivalent to a "Foundations of Education" course

SS 2406 refers to the Cross Cultural Psychology course

ID 3100 refers to the Teaching Methods course

Prepracticum refers to a 3 credit hour preparation course at WPI prior to the Practicum and intending to provide all necessary background to effectively begin the Practicum

IQP refers to a 9 credit hour equivalent academic endeavor at WPI whose foundation is the Practicum experience and which documents all relevant background and experiences and then summarizes the outcomes achieved by those experiences. The final result is a major paper. This is described in considerable detail in WPI's formal application to the DOE.