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Virtual Teacher Incubators Collaboration and Connections Among IHE and 7-12 educators. Donna Mahar, Ph.D. Donna.Mahar@esc.edu Heather Meyer Reynolds, Ph.D. Heather.Reynolds@esc.edu SUNY, Empire State College. Background. SUNY Empire State College ( 1971 )
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Virtual Teacher IncubatorsCollaboration and ConnectionsAmong IHE and 7-12 educators Donna Mahar, Ph.D.Donna.Mahar@esc.eduHeather Meyer Reynolds, Ph.D.Heather.Reynolds@esc.eduSUNY, Empire State College
Background SUNY Empire State College (1971 ) Offers associate, bachelor and master degree programs though guided independent study, web-based courses, study groups and blended modes of delivery ESC Master of Arts in Teaching program Launched in 2004 in order to place alternatively certified qualified candidates into high-need classrooms more quickly than traditional models
Residency Program Development The ESC residency seeks to address educational reform initiatives, including: • Turning around lowest achieving schools • Providing effective support to teachers and principals • Virtual Teacher Incubator [VTI] • Improving the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs • Virtual Teacher Incubator [VTI] • Building strong statewide capacity to implement, scale-up and sustain proposed plans • Virtual Teacher Incubator [VTI]
Residency Program Development ESC’s Statewide Reach Partner schools and districts for the pilot year of the Residency include: Buffalo City School District Albany City School District Ballston Spa School District Schenectady City School District Glens Falls School District Marte Valle High School (NYC) New Dorp High School (NYC) Syracuse City School District
TEAMWORK Dean, Administration NEXTGEN Residency Faculty Instructional Designers IT Specialists
Overview of the pilot year • During the 2011-2012 school year the pilot version of the VTI provided: • case studies • 4 webinars • Additional resources to our critic teachers. • Links to Common Core Learning Standards • Resources and information on the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR).
Pilot research study • Matched the survey items with our rubric • Mid and end of the semester evaluation forms (by the teacher) also match the rubric • Teacher surveys (mid end of the year) • Focus groups with residents (mid and end of the year) • Pre and post survey matched for comparison • Pre, mid year, and end of the year
Teacher Survey Results • Teachers were asked the most rewarding aspect of participating in the residency program. • 82% of the critic teachers mentioned being able to collaborate with someone and having extra support. • 16% of teachers mentioned that having a resident made them more reflective about their own practice. • The VTI would provide a collaborative environment for teachers to share issues, successes and ideas.
Teacher Survey Results • In a post-program survey teachers were asked if they participated in any of the professional development activities provided by the residency, including the webinars. • One of the 12 teachers who responded (out of 17 critic teachers) said that he or she participated in a webinar.
HunchesWhy Critic Teachers Did Not Use the VTI • Webinars were scheduled after school • We could not mandate that the critic teachers attend because their participation was voluntary • The need for headphones with a microphone and access to a computer that could run Elluminate were required to participate in the webinars
Limitations of the PilotWhy Beta is Beta • The pilot was small in scale • 18 residents [fall semester] • 14 schools • Limitations of Angel Learning Management System • Closed • Critic teachers need to be sent a link to Elluminate
Currently • We are seeking funding from a variety of different sources to pilot a larger version of the VTI • We will survey the critic teachers to find topics they are interested in • Designing a process for cross-district mentoring
2012-2013 • Students in our new Masters Degree in Learning & Emerging Technologies (MALET) will have a VTI practicum • We are working with Mozilla on a badges initiative for critic teachers • We will have an open course management system using Moodle & Mahara in place by January 2013 • SUNY ESC has launched an Institute of Open Education in May 2012 which we hope will support the VTI initiative
Questions • Questions • Suggestions • Wider issues