Announcements Planning Opportunities Words of  Inspiration  Research and Creativity Activities

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NEWS Volume XI, Spring 2002 Valentine's Week, Spring 2002 Edition - 2/11/02 best viewed at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/020211.html on the WWW; for past issues - Education Department News Index  http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/newsindex.html

Education Dept. Homepage Alumni News Departmental Documents Department Media Departmental Searches

For accurate reporting of FLCs for Spring Semester 2002, all forms for internships, independent studies, and practica must be submitted to the Dean's Office no later than noon on Monday, February 11, 2002.  Forms submitted after this deadline will not be signed.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

"Dr. Pachis has requested that all classrooms be scheduled on all days of the week.  I see that Webb 113 or 210 do not have any classes scheduled on Friday and there is no room to put a general lecture in MWF.  Can you relook at the schedule and see if any of the courses could be moved to WF or all Friday or whatever.   Thank you."
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A grant for the United Technologies/Hartford Public Schools Preschool Technology Project (http://www.tech4prek.com/) for $150,000 from United Technologies will be awarded in the first quarter of the year to a team of Education Department faculty lead by Professors Jeffrey Trawick-Smith, Hannah Sellers, Leah Barbuto, Sudha Swaminathan, June Wright, and Dean Patricia Kleine, and other staff from ECSU, and teachers and administrators in Hartford PreSchools.

This project serves preschool students and teachers in the following Hartford Public Schools - Barnard Brown Elementary School, Moylan School, Naylor School, McDonough School, Maria Sanchez School, Sand School, and West Middle School.

Congratulations, Jeff, Hannah, Leah, Sudha, June, Dean Kleine, and all of the Hartford teachers and administrators and project staff, on this accomplishment.

Thursday, February 14 - Committee on Admission and Retention in Education - please send agenda item to CARE Chair, Mitch Sakofs at sakofsm@easternct.edu

Thursday, February 21 - unit meetings
Developing the agenda for the Elem/Sec/RLA unit - please send items to David - stoloffd@easternct.edu
    Initial items - Strengthening the literacy component of the elementary education program, World Language certification program, comprehensive exam - portfolio assessment, advisement, ...

Thursday, February 28 - Graduate Studies Meeting - please send agenda item to Hari Koirala - koiralah@easternct.edu

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION:

No registration fee required.  To register, please E-MAIL Marilyn Duran at marilyn.duran@po.state.ct.us, by February 22, 2002, with your name, phone number, institution.  To contact Marilyn by phone, call 860-713-6717.

Please plan to participate in the March 16 Career Fair for Minority Teacher and Administrative Candidates, Learning Corridor, Hartford, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm.  Please see David for details.

Message from  Steve Kenton, Chief Marshal, email:  kenton@easternct.edu

"Each year, we ask the Honor Societies at ECSU to supply the name of an outstanding graduate to represent their respective society as a Student Marshal at Commencement. Please forward to me the name and contact information (phone, email, parole officer) of the person you are nominating from your department's honor society for this year's commencement.  The person you will nominate should be someone graduating at this year's commencement who is willing to represent your society."

Career Services will be having an Education Career Fair on March 19, 2002 from 4-6 pm in the Student Center BTR. Please share this information with students. Students can monitor the employers attending by checking out our web page at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/career/. Employers participating will be posted in about two weeks and will change weekly.

from Walter Diaz, Career Services

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   Faculty members and students from Eastern Connecticut State University are participating in a US Department of Education grant to Prepare Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology with ThinkQuest
[ http://www.thinkquest.org] and 13 other universities throughout the US.  This project's homepage may be at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/pt3.html .

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Message from Barbara A. Butler, Interim Head of Technical Services and Collection Development Officer, J. Eugene Smith Library:

"The Library has obtained an online version of the Kraus Curriculum Development Library. The database is available from the Library's database site located at:

http://www.easternct.edu/library/library1/atoz.htm

Please use this resource and give us your reactions."

Online Educational Department meeting minutes and Departmental Goals for 2000-2001 are available at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/deptminutes0001.html

The notes from the NCATE Writers' meetings have been posted at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/ncate/ncatenotes.html.
 

Alumni news may be found at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/alumninews.html.

News from Leah Barbuto -
"Jen Lillis has been offered a long term teaching position in a Kindergarten in Enfield.  She has 23 children and of these, 5 have special needs, and she has one aide.  She shared with me that as soon as her certification goes through, she will receive regular teacher's pay.  She said that she is glad that she took [the] advice and did the four-week practium in an inclusive kindergarten even though she could have been waived.  It helped her during her interview to have had recent experience in the area for which this school district was looking."

A goal of the Alumni News section of our Education Department website is to encourage our alumni to share their successes with our growing community.  We are striving to develop an alumni association for Education which would serve as a support group for our alumni as they continue their successful professional careers.  Please join us in this endeavor by responding to the Education Department newsletters and encouraging others to participate in the development of a community of educators who share a love of learning, teaching, and our evolving campus in Willimantic, CT - Eastern Connecticut State University.

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Dr. Barbara Wright, ECSU’s Assessement Coordinator, presented talking points (attached) on the Eastern’s assessment to-do list, the assessment loop, …and described the definition of assessment we are using – ongoing process, not gate-keeping.  Assessment is “a systematic process of setting goals or asking questions, gathering information, interpreting it, and using it to improve the effects of college on student learning and development.”  The focus will be initially only undergraduate program assessment; the plan for assessment at ECSU, designed to make Eastern distinctive, may include graduate courses and programs.  Topics discussed the importance of formation of assessment questions, the use of rubrics to gather information, the use of this information for teacher professional development and curriculum development and revision, and the connection between the NCATE and assessment process.    Potential resources to enhance the assessment process should be available upon request through an initial discussion with Dr. Wright; the funding will probably not be in support of faculty assigned time, perhaps for student assistants.

Past surveys of our graduates were presented, available on the WWW  –

an analysis of the survey of teacher education program graduates 1996-98 http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/survey9698.htm

results of the survey of teacher education program graduates – 1996-1998 -
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/surveyresults9698.htm,  and

results of the survey of teacher education program graduates – 1998-2000 -
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradsurvey2001.htm

survey of interests in graduate programs –1999, http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradinterestsurvey1999.htm

survey of interests in graduate programs – 2001
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradinterestsurvey2001.htm

Mitch Sakofs introduced statistics on the responses of teacher candidates, cooperating teachers, and university coordinators within the student teacher assessment process were introduced by Mitch.

Potential connections of responding to the Eastern’s assessment to-do list within the state accreditation and NCATE process were discussed.  Dr. Wright asked for a copy of the state self-study and a page or two on assessment of one of the Connecticut Common Core of Teaching learning outcomes and what we learned from the results – might affect curriculum, pedagogy, or nature of feedback, exposure to different kinds of experience.  The Assessment Committee will be responsible for this response.

The Children’s Literature Festival – April 6, 2002.  Also, on campus that day, Academic Computing Conference, Day of Women.  At SCSU, CSU Research Conference.

Jeanelle Bland announced that she and Ken Dobush are working with Jaime Gomez, Communication Dept., to develop a seven-minute Teacher Education Unit video.

Meeting continued at 1:40 with Dr. Deena Sue Fuller, NCATE Consultant, providing an opportunity for general questions on the process.  Discussion points included the portfolio review process and schedule, ongoing program assessment in process, mentioning programs which have yet to be approved, collections of candidates’ work and student work in field – evidence of student achievement within learning cycle, and need for student consent for work samples.  Dr. Fuller asked if there were any questions on documenting assessment for the individual standards.  She would like to review the conceptual framework and the assessment plan.  Attention should be paid in addressing diversity issues, integrating educational technology; assessing knowledge, skills, and dispositions of candidates at three points – 1) at admission, 2) student teaching, and 3) completing the program.  Assessment should be aligned with state guidelines and other national and NCATE standards.  Mitch Sakofs mentioned that he heard at a NCATE training session in Hartford last week that a transition plan needs to be in place by the time of the visit; there was a question on how many years of data would be required.

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Discussion of analyses of Student Teacher Growth Record, based on the Connecticut State Department of Education's Common Core of Teaching (http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/ctcoreofteaching.htm).

Recommendations that

1) The Office of Director of Educational Experience will provide the Education Department faculty by the time of the third faculty meeting analyses of the last class of teacher candidates’ Student Teacher Growth Record.

2) The Education Department will post interesting research findings from this and other assessments and other research activities in the department on a regular basis, such as –

a) On average, there is statistically significant growth recorded by the teacher candidate, cooperating teacher, and university coordinator from midterm to completion of student teaching on all measures of the Connecticut Common Core of Teaching.

b) Little or no growth was recorded on these measures and scores were significantly lower for the three students who did not successfully complete student teaching within the semester experience.

c) Arithematically, cooperative teachers rates the students’ experiences higher than the rating by the students and their university supervisors.  These ratings were not significantly different.

d) The measure that received the highest rating was that our candidates demonstrate a commitment to students and a passion for improving the profession.

e) Although the program admission to teacher education programs require a candidate having at least a 2.70 GPA, the average GPA of our program completers is 3.3.

Educational Department Searches for Tenure Track Faculty to Start in August 2002

The searches notices are also posted at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/search02.html, and available from The Chronicle.

Position: Educational Technology
Qualifications: Ph.D. or Ed.D. in educational technology or related field required. ABD near completion considered.
Position Description: The successful candidate will have at least three years of experience in teaching or coordinating educational technology instruction in PK-12 schools an/or in teacher education programs. Responsibilities include teaching preservice and inservice courses in computer applications in the classroom, curriculum development of online and on campus courses in educational technology, and leadership of outreach programs to regional schools. Duties will also include teaching other education courses, grant writing, and administration of leading edge project to prepare tomorrow’s teachers to use technology. Faculty members are expected to advise students and to engage in scholarly work and university service.
Respond to: Ken Dobush, Ph.D., Search Chair

Position: Reading/Literacy
Qualifications: Ph.D. or Ed.D. in reading/language arts or related field required. Emphasis on bilingual or ESL teaching preferred. ABD near completion considered.
Position Description: The successful candidate will be expected to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in reading/language arts; teach graduate coursed in the reading certification program; advise students at the graduate and undergraduate levels as well as supervise student teachers; develop professional relationships with area schools; and organize the summer reading clinic for reading certification students. Other qualifications include experience with miscue analysis and retrospective miscue analysis as evaluation and intervention tools; school teaching at the PK-12 and college levels; experience with diverse students populations; demonstrated interest in research, curriculum development, and school/university partnerships; and a commitment to a constructivist, meaning-based philosophical orientation and field-based collaborative approaches to teaching.
Respond to: Shirley Ernst, Ph.D., Search Chair

Please announce to potentially interested students and cooperating teachers in regional schools.

Faculty members in the Education Department at Eastern Connecticut State University are seeking certification candidates and middle school and high school teachers who would appreciate support for the development of Future Teachers Clubs or Young Educators Society (YES) Clubs in Eastern Connecticut and Hartford area schools.

We envision that certification candidates would visit schools about 10 hours a week during the Spring 2002 semester and collaborate with middle school or high school teachers and their students in the development or enhancement of these clubs.  Part of this involvement might be virtually, through a discussion board on a readily accessible website.  Participants will be selected for an early June weekend workshop on developing websites for curriculum support in the schools and for a late June weeklong residential Institute for Future Teachers using Technology at ECSU.

Certification candidates will earn a stipend for up to $1,500 for their efforts and their cooperating teachers will receive a stipend of $500 for their support of these projects.  Additional stipends will be available for participation in the summer workshop and institute.

If you might be interested in participating in this project, please contact Ms. Hannah Sellers (email: sellersh@easternct.edu) or Dr. David Stoloff (stoloffd@easternct.edu ).  Thank you for your consideration of this project.

Education, Computer Science, Mathematics, Management Information System/Science, and/or other majors interested in serving in the schools as technical assistants for 10 hours a week are invited to apply.  These students will consult in individual classrooms - setting up equipment, debugging procedures, demonstrating exemplary software, assisting in webpage development, and facilitating after school workshops.

Several school districts are interested in the services of Technical Assistants, including Lebanon, Salem, the Integrated Day Charter School in Norwich, and others. School site personnel and the student assistants will arrange the scheduling of the assignments of 10 hours per week.

Technical Assistants will be paid at the rate of $11.00 - $12.50 per hour, depending on experience.   Students will need to have their own transportation to participate.

Please complete the following application and return it to Professor David Stoloff, Education Department,
tel. no. (860) 465-5501, email:  stoloffd@easternct.edu.

This application is also on the WWW at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/projects/techies.html .

Handbook of Teacher Education, developed by Dan Rothermel and a team of faculty consultants.

NCATE (2002).  Professional Standards for the Accreditation of Schools, Colleges, and Departments of Education.

NCATE (2002).  Continuing accreditation & beyond.

Faculty Handbook.

Our Reading/Language Arts, Webb Hall 113, has been enriched with past issues of Phi Delta Kappan, Academe, Syllabus, Converge, Journal of Teacher Education, and other resources.  Please feel free to use and encourage your students to use these materials.

The Condition of Education 2001 in Brief.  National Center for Education Statistics, US Department of Education.

Student Teachers' Poetry - ECE 465: The Role of the Teacher.

from Teaching in Mexico.... Valentine's in Mexico  By Michele Rooney  http://www.inside-mexico.com/teaching6.htm

"Before coming to Mexico, I might have assumed that this holiday would be celebrated in a different manner, but I have realized that, like so many other things, we share more commonalities than differences.  So here in school, I watch as my students’ eyes shine when they speak of their Valentine’s Day plans and the activities that Student Council is contriving for that special day.  Boys struggle to come up with the perfect gift for the very choosy girlfriends, and girls delight in thinking of a hundred different ways of surprising their boyfriends.

The one difference that I have noticed in Valentine’s Day here is that it is a celebration of love and friendship, opening the door to many different kinds of festivities.  Those who don’t have that one special person in their lives can hook up with a friend who finds himself in the same situation and rejoice in the special relationship that they share.  Maybe that seems like a crazy idea, or at least not as attractive an idea as going out on a romantic date with the one you love, but perhaps it would be a good lesson in friendship.

I guess the important thing is to celebrate love, whether it be of the romantic nature or just a good friend who’s always there when you need him.

"We are all born for love. It is the principle of existence, and its only end."
-Benjamin Disraeli"  2/8/02
 

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Please contact David Stoloff at (860) 465-5501, email: stoloffd@easternct.edu if you have any questions or comments on this newsletter.   Please invite others to receive this newsletter and be added to the Education Department e-mailing list by contacting David Stoloff.