ERIC Number: EJ1114904
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0161-4681
EISSN: N/A
Data Sharing to Drive the Improvement of Teacher Preparation Programs
Bastian, Kevin C.; Fortner, C. Kevin; Chapman, Alisa; Fleener, M. Jayne; McIntyre, Ellen; Patriarca, Linda A.
Teachers College Record, v118 n12 2016
Background/Context: Teacher preparation programs (TPPs) face increasing pressure from the federal government, states, and accreditation agencies to improve the quality of their practices and graduates, yet they often do not possess enough data to make evidence-based reforms. Purpose/Objective: This manuscript has four objectives: (a) to present the strengths and shortcomings of accountability-based TPP evaluation systems; (b) to detail the individual-level data being shared with TPPs at public universities in North Carolina; (c) to describe how data sharing can lead to TPP improvement and the challenges that programs will need to overcome; and (d) to detail how three TPPs are using the data for program improvement. Setting: North Carolina public schools and schools of education at public universities in North Carolina. Importantly, this individual-level data sharing system can be instituted among TPPs in other states. Population/Participants/Subjects: Teachers initially-prepared by public universities in North Carolina. Research Design: With individual-level data on program graduates, TPPs can conduct a range of analyses--e.g., regression analyses with program data, primary data collection with interviews, and rubric-based observations--designed to aid program improvement efforts. Conclusions/Recommendations: Teacher preparation programs and researchers or state education agencies need to establish partnerships to share individual-level data on program graduates with TPPs. This individual-level data sharing would help TPPs to develop systems of continuous improvement by examining whether their preparation practices align with the types of environments in which their graduates teach and how graduates' preparation experiences predict their characteristics and performance as Teachers of Record. Unlike other initiatives targeted at TPP improvement, individual-level data sharing, and its focus on within-program variability, can benefit TPPs at all levels of performance.
Descriptors: Teacher Education Programs, Teacher Competencies, Accountability, Program Evaluation, Public Colleges, Data Collection, Shared Resources and Services, Information Dissemination, Regression (Statistics), Interviews, Observation
Teachers College, Columbia University. P.O. Box 103, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3774; Fax: 212-678-6619; e-mail: tcr@tc.edu; Web site: http://www.tcrecord.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A