The purpose of the WPI Teacher Preparation Program is to assist students in becoming licensed (at the Initial level) secondary school instructors of biology, chemistry, mathematics or physics. Additionally, graduates of the Masters in Mathematics for Educators (MME) may receive the Professional License. The licenses are with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The purpose of this document is to clarify the process, provide useful Web links and provide important details.
In order to teach in a public school in Massachusetts (or any other state), one must have undergone certain preparation by law. Prior to 2001, this was called certification in Massachusetts and many other states. With new legislation taking effect on October 1,2001, this is now referred to as licensing. There are many ways to achieve licensing in Massachusetts; WPI assists students in satisfying one of those ways.(Note: teachers in regular public schools must be licensed. However, licensure does not apply to teachers in private (independent) or parochial schools, or to certain public schools such as charter schools).
Historically, WPI has had a teacher preparation program since 1994, formally under the direction of Assistant Provost Lance Schacterle. With the passage of a new law in 2001, its role had to be substantially changed and expanded to satisfy new regulations. WPI received approval from the Department of Education of Massachusetts to license teachers at the Initial and Professional levels in November of 2001.
There are three levels of license:
Prior to being hired and setting foot in a classroom, all new teachers in MA must pass the state “teacher test”, formally called MTEL (Massachusetts Tests for Educational Licensure). This test has 2 components:
mathematics the areas covered on the test are
· Mathematical Reasoning and Communication
· Numeration and Number Systems
· Algebraic Relations and Functions
· Geometry and Measurement
· Statistics and Probability
· Trigonometry
· Conceptual Foundations of Calculus
Details of this test may be found by following this link to the Department of Education’s web site. It is offered 4 times per year. You may take the parts together or separately and you may pass them separately. If you do not pass a part the first time, you may take it again.
Once one has passed the test, one receives a Temporary License after graduation.
For the most part, this is satisfied by taking courses at WPI. Follow the following links to lists of courses in each subject area:
·
biology
·
physics
Basically, preparation for teaching comes down to knowing
one’s subject and being able to plan, conduct and manage a class. WPI offers a Teaching
Methods course towards the latter. This will be next offered during term D, 4-6
pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Details of
this course may be found by following this link. The course is currently listed in the on-line electronic
catalogue at WPI as ID 310x.
This course was offered during term D, 2001 and had 10 students in it. It was offered again during the current term D of 2002 and has an enrollment of 23, indicating a serious interest in educational careers among WPI students.
Students are coupled with one or more teachers at a local high school. They must spend a total of 75 hours observing a teacher and also a total of 150 hours teaching their subject while working with a certified teacher. While there are many ways to achieve these totals, it is probably fair to assume that it will take up the bulk of the daytime for two terms or more. This work is done during and after taking the Teaching Methods course. A log of activities is kept.
Examples of schools that students have down practicum work at include the Worcester Public Schools (especially Doherty High and Forest Grove Middle School) and Wachusett Regional High School. Some students also choose to set something up with the high school they attended. If it is a public school in Massachusetts, this is quite feasible.
Students may tie this into an IQP with additional work, but it is important to realize that the practice teaching and observation, by themselves, do not generate academic credit. They exist due to the professional preparation needs of the State rather than to satisfy academic requirements. For the practicum to qualify as part of the IQP, it must be related to an interdisciplinary research topic and be advised by a WPI faculty member.
With the exception of the content courses, all of the above is in addition to the requirements of one’s major at WPI. Preparing to be a teacher does not change one’s graduation requirements at all, but clearly does increase the amount of work one will have done. The upshot of this is that upon graduation, the student will have the option of two careers, that of a scientist or engineer depending on their major, or as a teacher.
Having met the above requirements, WPI, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will grant the Initial License to the Student. This is not an academic credential as a bachelor’s degree is, but a professional education license. The student then can apply for teaching jobs (and given the demand for teachers, probably enjoy many opportunities).
At some point after one’s teaching career has gotten underway, the person would then pursue a master’s degree leading to the Professional License.
The Masters in Mathematics for
Educators Program (MME)
If you are already teaching then at some point, you will want to achieve the final license level, the Professional License. This involves earning a master’s degree in your subject area. WPI has had such a program tailored to mathematics instructors for over 25 years. The new agreement with the DOE allows us to grant the Professional License upon completion of the degree. Details about the MME degree may be found at this link.