"Reforms" Undermine Teacher Preparation in the United States
The secondary education student teachers I work with in New York State are in the process of completing and submitting their edTPA portfolio to Pearson for evaluation. They generally include two ten-minute video segments cut out of three 40+ minute lessons and approximately sixty pages of commentary with sample student work. It is an arduous task that takes months to complete. Instead of learning how to become teachers, they learn how to master edTPA.
In New York State, the Pearson evaluated edTPA portfolio is a requirement for teacher certification, despite the fact that its legitimacy is constantly challenged by teacher educators and the union representing faculty in the state university system. It is one of those "higher standards" education reforms that seem to spread like a virus without any evidence that it will improve the quality of teaching or student learning. Unfortunately there is no vaccine in sight.
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In New York State, the Pearson evaluated edTPA portfolio is a requirement for teacher certification, despite the fact that its legitimacy is constantly challenged by teacher educators and the union representing faculty in the state university system. It is one of those "higher standards" education reforms that seem to spread like a virus without any evidence that it will improve the quality of teaching or student learning. Unfortunately there is no vaccine in sight.
More...