Karen Dunlap

A collaborative Data Chat: Teaching summative assessment data use in pre-service teacher education

Abstract As the quality of educational outputs has been problematized, accountability systems have driven reform based upon summative assessment data. These policies impact the ways that educators use data within schools and subsequently, how teacher education programs may adjust their curricula to teach data-driven decision-making to inform instruction. This study explores the outcomes of an instructional intervention that taught data understanding, comprehension, and data use with pre-service teacher candidates. The intervention was based on the premise that using data for professional purposes is becoming a necessary proficiency for teacher education graduates and that teacher education curricula must explicitly address that need. Pre-service teacher candidates participated in a Data Chat where they collaboratively analyzed standardized testing and end-of-course assessment data and structured instructional interventions based upon determined strengths and weakness areas in student learning. Data were collected from two academic years. The results from Year 1 suggest that pre-service teacher candidate participants perceived an expanded sense of comfort with the data literacy behaviors (DLBs) following the intervention. Year 2 results validated the earlier finding of perceptions of self-efficacy with using summative assessment data and also identified specific DLBs needing more attention. Implications of the intervention for teacher education are discussed.

Sink or Swim? Throw Us a Life Jacket! Novice Alternatively Certified Bilingual and Special Education Teachers Deserve Options

Special education and bilingual teachers are in high demand. Many teachers in these specialization areas enter the profession via alternative certification programs, expedited routes to teacher certification. There is little research focusing on the specific support needs of novice special education and bilingual teachers from these widely varying preparation programs. Therefore, this study looks at the perceptions of novice teachers in special and bilingual education with alternative/nontraditional preservice preparation. The study used an online survey approach with Likert-type scaled items and open-ended questions.

Taking the Reins: Preservice Teachers Practicing Leadership.

Preservice teachers can take steps to become teacher leaders even before they land their first job.

Elementary Principals' Role in Science Instruction.

This study explores the role elementary school principals play in science education. Specifically, the study employed an online survey of 16 elementary school principals at high-performing campuses in North Texas to explore their perceptions of how they influenced science education on their campuses. The survey used a combination of Likert-type rating scale items and open-ended questions. Responses from elementary principals suggest that the important components of instructional leadership for science included a) collaboration with teachers, b) changing teaching assignments, and c) teacher motivation. emands of state and federal accountability focus attention on the achievement of elementary school students in science. Elementary schools are often rated based on students’ performance, as are elementary school principals in some states. This study explores the role elementary school principals play in science education. Specifically, the study employed an online survey of elementary school principals at high-performing campuses in North Texas to explore their perceptions of how they influenced science education on their campuses. The participants in the study were all principals at recognized or exemplary elementary school campuses in North Texas during the 2007–2008 academic year. For purposes of school accountability ratings in Texas, science was first tested in the fifth grade using the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). To achieve a recognized rating, at least 80% of the students tested must have met the minimum expectations; for an exemplary rating, 90% must have met minimum expectations. The campuses were almost all exemplary, with an overall average of 96% of the fifth graders passing the science exam. Over 67% of the students tested on the selected campuses were individually commended for scoring at 90% or above.

Diving into data: Developing the capacity for data literacy in teacher education

Abstract Educators by definition are now required to utilize a variety of student data to shape the decisions they make and design the lessons they teach. As accountability standards become more stringent and as teachers face increasingly diverse student populations within their classrooms, they often struggle to adequately meet the needs of all learners. Using student data, rationales for instructional decisions become grounded in best practices. Unfortunately, some administrators and teachers lack the confidence and/or training needed to successfully engage with and interpret data results. This may be especially true for early career educators and those just entering the field. Indeed, for novice teachers to be successful in the current accountability culture, they must possess, understand, and effectively utilize data literacy skills, something quite difficult to accomplish without adequate training. The research in this article explored how pre-service educators determined what worked in a data literacy intervention and the potential impact this had on their instructional decision-making process. Implications for instructor professional development are offered for consideration.

Reliability of the Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire: Teacher Version

The Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire—Teacher Version (PSEQ-TV) is a teacher-report questionnaire to assess the impact of the sensory environment on participation of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many children with ASD have sensory processing differences, although these differences are frequently examined from the standpoint of the person. The PSEQ-TV provides a single assessment to examine both participation and the sensory environment for preschool aged children with ASD. This study established the reliability of the PSEQ-TV including internal consistency of 0.98 and test-rest reliability of 0.70. The results indicate initial reliability of PSEQ-TV as an instrument that can be used to identify sensory environmental barriers within the preschool setting to target during interventions to increase participation.

Construct Validity of the Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire–Teacher Version:

The Participation and Sensory Environment Questionnaire–Teacher Version (PSEQ-TV) is a teacher report questionnaire designed to examine the impact of the sensory environment on participation for preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examines the construct validity of the assessment through principal components analysis (PCA). One hundred three preschool teachers completed the research version of the PSEQ-TV. Component analysis revealed six factors: modification, support, preschool tasks, group routines, mealtime, and tactile. This study provides evidence as to the construct validity of the PSEQ-TV. The PSEQ-TV can be used to identify sensory-related environmental barriers within the preschool environment. By identifying these barriers, teachers and other support staff can modify the environment and/or provide support to increase participation of preschool children with ASD across school environments.