Submitted Spring, 2005
Methodology
The two graduate candidates who applied for graduation in May, 2005 were required to develop a case method for the evaluation of the second program objective during the first week of April. The objective (Program Objective #2) being evaluated was:
Students will use strategies to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate seminal research and original inquiry within the field of literacy.
According to our assessment cycle Objective 2 is assessed in the spring semester.
The case method topic focused on how the candidate utilized current research to address a classroom instructional problem in the area of reading instruction. The candidate was required to address the following items within the case method.
- Identify a problem you have resolved in your classroom (individual student or small group) with a solution from strategies learned in one or more of your master's classes.
- Describe the situation/ problem.
- Identify contributing factors that created the problem.
- Identify options available to you for solving the problem (link to research and theory).
- Evaluate the pros and cons of each of the options.
- Explain the option you chose and why
- Describe the plan of action you implemented (or are in the process of implementing)
- Project possible outcomes to the plan of action (or describe what happened if the problem has been resolved) and link to research and theory that has supported your outcome.
The case methods were scored using a rubric that rated the following traits
- Topical issue
- Professional sources
- Analysis of issues
- Pros and cons evaluation
- Relevant research
- Project implementation
- Project outcomes
Results
The results are as follows:
| |
Unacceptable performance |
Acceptable Performance |
| Topical Issue |
0 |
2 |
| Prof Sources |
0 |
2 |
| Analysis |
0 |
2 |
| Pros and cons evaluation |
0 |
2 |
| Ref to research |
1 |
1 |
| Project implementations |
0 |
2 |
| Project Outcomes |
1 |
1 |
Conclusions
- Both students had started their program before the renewed program took effect.
- One student that had been in the program for many years was weak in the implementation aspect of research.
Use of Results
- Special focus will be emphasized in the trait that was weak in the assessment.
- Special focus will be on assignments that will reflect more analysis on possible solutions. Assignments in TE 845 ant TE 897 will be revised to reflect this change. Examples of revisions include:
- Research connections within the field of literacy will be used more for students to relate their approaches to the proven research based material.
- A reflective component in the case method to be completed will include an analysis of what outcomes students are witnessing in their own classrooms.