| 1. |
Our use of Teacher Work Samples (TWS’s) in teacher preparation programs |
| |
UNI uses the TWS as one of multiple measures for student teachers to graduate from our program. We also have a Level II TWS for level II Field Experience students. A doctoral student is also using the TWS as a tool for Professional Development with Adjunct faculty at a Des Moines Area Community College. (So…it is a research tool!) We also use the TWS scores as part of our accountability system and feedback to the program for curriculum mapping and course improvement/revisions. Our cooperating teachers still help with the scoring and this has been a valuable system for communication and connections between UNI and the surrounding schools. |
| |
|
| 2. |
How long University of Northern Iowa has been using TWS’s |
| |
We were in the original pilot group – had some student teachers write TWS in spring, of 2000. The TWS has been required since 2004. |
| |
|
| 3. |
How the TWS used at University of Northern Iowa compares to the RTWS |
| |
UNI TWS is about 97% the same as the RTWS. We clarified some language and also worded some of the assessment plan pieces so that students would perhaps use more than paper and pencil tests. |
| |
|
| 4. |
How TWS is used as an evaluation tool |
| |
See Question #1 |
| |
|
| 5. |
How University of Northern Iowa achieves scoring reliability in judging performance on TWS’s |
| |
Each TWS is scored twice. If there is a difference, we have it scored the third time. If this still results in differences, a committee of three reads the TWS. |
| |
|
| 6. |
How TWS’s have impacted teacher preparation programs at University of Northern Iowa |
| |
Gee….in multiple ways! The best one I’ve heard so far is a quote from a cooperating teacher in Des Moines. “I like having UNI student teachers because UNI holds the student teachers accountable by requiring that they write a TWS”. That’s awesome, isn’t it?
- Ed Media was totally revised
- Faculty come together to score and receive feedback firsthand
- Accountability system
- TWS used for curriculum mapping
|
| |
|
| 7. |
Contact Person |
| |
Barry Wilson (barry.wilson@uni.edu) & Vickie Robinson (victoria.robinson@uni.edu) |
| |
|
