Education Department

Eastern Connecticut State University

 

Survey of Teacher Education Program Graduates – 1996-1998

 

Dear Graduates of ECSU’s Teacher Education Programs:

We are writing to ask your assistance in our program review process.  Might you please complete the following survey and return it to us in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by February 8, 1999?

The results of the survey will remain anonymous and no attempts will be made to identify the respondents. 

If you have any questions on the survey, on our current programs, or would like a copy of the results, please contact David Stoloff, Education Department Chair at (860) 465 – 5501. 

Thank you for your support as we continue to develop programs designed to prepare effective teachers.

 


1.       Which Teacher Education program did you complete at ECSU? # of respondents    

_7_   Early Childhood Education     

_30_ Elementary Education

_2_ Elementary/Middle Level Education

(which subject? _________________________)

_11_ Secondary Education  (which subject?

3 Math, 4 History/Social Studies, 1 Science, 4 English)

_5_ Physical Education

___  Other  (please specify ___________________)

 

You received your BA or BS in (subject)17 Psych., 8 English, 7 History/Soc.Studies, 4 Math, 4 Physical Ed., 2 Bio., 13 Others

on  10 (1972-95), 5 (1996), 22 (1997),  13 (1998), 2 (1999)  (mo/yr) at

      45 ECSU, 3 UCONN, 4 others (ECSU or name of school).

 

2.       When did you complete your student teaching semester?       

12-F96, 12-SP97, 14-F97, 14-SP98, 2-F98

 

3.       When did you pass the following PRAXIS II examinations? How many times did you take these exams?

Content Knowledge Exam     average  # times   1.3

      in 1bio, 1 ece, 2 elem, 4 eng, 3 math, 5 pe, 3 ss

Content Area Exercises (Essays)  # times 1.5

Elementary Education Exam   # times 1.1   

 

4.      When did you receive your initial certification?          Average months after student teaching   3.9

 

5.       What is your employment situation?

                        37 (67%) Employed Full-time

                        12 (22%) Employed Part-time

4 (7%) Not currently employed, but looking

2 (4%) Not currently employed, not looking

 


IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED

 

6.       Are you currently employed in

            48 (87%) Connecticut

2 (4%) another state (specify MA, NH)

 

7.       Are you teaching?

45 (82%) Teaching

5 (9%) Working in another field

           (please specify: business, military

 

 

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY TEACHING

 

8.       What kind of community do you teach in?

10 (18%) an urban school

15 (27%) a suburban school

15 (27%) a rural school

3 (5%) other

         (please specify: diverse settings)

 

9.        What kind of school do you teach in?

40 (73%) a public school

3 (5%) a private school

3 (5%)  other

                     (please specify: charter, both settings)

 

11. What grades/ages and subjects do you teach?

 

            grades preK-K - 9 , 1-5 - 7, 6-8 - 3 , 7-12 - 8

 

for students aged 3-5– 5,6-9 – 6,10-12 – 6,13-18- 10

 

teaching subjects

all-17,math/sci-4,RLA-7,PE-5,spec.ed.-2


 

Please rate the preparation you received through our teacher education program and your other studies at ECSU.  The following items are based on the Connecticut Teaching Competencies, the Connecticut Competency Instrument, and other skills and perspectives that Education Department faculty members emphasize in their courses. 

 

Please respond to this statement –

 

ECSU’s teacher education program and other courses I completed at ECSU well-prepared me in the following areas

 

by circling the initials for:                   SA = strongly agree, A = agree, U = undecided, D = disagree, SD = strongly disagree

                                                             5                                4                3                        2                    1


                                                            mean score by program                                                                                            

                        ECE               ELEM               SEC                 PE  

                                                                                                                        # responses         7    32                                                                                                     11         5

1.       constructivist and whole language perspectives to teaching.   4.71   4.22   3.55   4.00

2.       applications of educational technology in the classroom.   3.57   3.28   3.91   3.40

3.       infusion of multicultural approaches in the curriculum.   4.57      4.13   3.73   3.40

4.       inclusion of children with special needs.   4.00    3.97   4.00   4.20

 

5.       competency in reading, writing, speaking, and mathematics.    3.29   3.61   4.18   4.60

6.       a broad knowledge base in the humanities and the natural, physical, and social sciences.   4.00   3.68   4.27   4.00                                                                                                                            

7.       logical and critical thought in problem-solving and decision-making.   4.14   3.71   4.00   4.00

8.       an understanding of major principles and concepts in areas of academic preparation.   4.14   3.81   4.36   4.20

 

9.       an understanding of human growth and development as it relates to learning and teaching.   4.71   4.09   4.36   4.40

10.   an understanding of the various schools of educational philosophy as they relate to the goals of education, the learner, the curriculum, and classroom management.   4.57   4.03   4.64   4.20

11.   an understanding of the organization, administration, governance, and financing of the American public educational system.   3.57   3.78   3.73   4.00

12.   competency in the development of short & long term objectives for a variety of needs and settings.    4.43   3.66   3.91   4.00

13.   competency in planning, implementing, and evaluating instruction for a variety of needs   and settings.   4.29   3.66   4.09   4.80                                                                                                                              

14.   a repertoire of instructional techniques reflecting theories of learning and instructional design.                                                                                                                            4.43   4.06   3.91   4.20                                                                                                                            

15.   competency in promoting democratic classroom interaction which will encourage the independence of the student as learner and the development of positive self-concept.   4.86   4.09   4.00   4.20 

16.   competency in assessing student needs and growth and using the results of these assessments in instructional decision-making.                                                                    4.14   3.75   3.82   4.00                                                                                                                            

17.   competency in planning and implementing learning experiences that meet the needs of students of varying cultural backgrounds, learning styles, and exceptionalities.                     4.57   3.66   4.09   4.20                                                                                                                            

18.   an understanding of the legal and ethical responsibilities of a professional educator.             4.00   3.66   4.00   4.40

19.   competency in analyzing and evaluating your own teaching behaviors.                                4.57   4.06   4.09   4.00

20.   competency in autonomous critical analysis of American educational practices.                   4.43   3.53   3.45   3.60                                                                                                                            

 

ECSU’s teacher education program and other courses I completed at ECSU well-prepared me in the following areas

                                                             5                                4                3                       2                      1          

by circling the initials for:                   SA = strongly agree, A = agree, U = undecided, D = disagree, SD = strongly disagree

                        mean score by program                                                                                            

                        ECE               ELEM               SEC                 PE  

                                                                                                                        # responses         7    32                                                                                                     11         5

 

21.   effective communication skills with students, parents, and other professionals.   4.43   3.31   4.00   4.20

22.   the promotion of a positive learning environment.   4.86   4.19   4.55   4.18

23.   the maintenance of appropriate standards of behaviors.   4.43   3.94    4.55   4.40

24.   the engagement of students in learning activities.   4.86   4.13   4.55   4.40                                                                                                                              

 

25.   the effective management of routines and transitions.                                                        4.14   3.44   3.73   4.80                                                                                                                            

26.   the presentation of appropriate learning experiences.                                                         4.57   3.91   4.09   4.20

27.   the creation of structure for learning.                                                                                4.86   3.84   3.91   4.20                                                                                                                            

28.   the development of a learning experience to promote achievement of objectives.                 4.57   3.88   4.18   4.40                                                                                                                            

 

29.   the use of appropriate questioning strategies.                                                                     4.29   3.78   3.82   4.40

30.   the use of clear communication, using precise language and acceptable oral expressions.     4.43   4.03   4.18   4.00

31.   the monitoring of student understanding of learning experiences and the adjusting of instruction when necessary.                                                                                             4.43   3.75   4.14   4.80

 

Please comment on any of these statements or on other impressions you might have on your teacher education preparation at ECSU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your reactions and comments, which are essential for our program development and review process, and for your time in completing this survey.