TO: School of Education faculty and instructional staff who teach in UW-Madison  teacher education programs

FROM: Ken Zeichner, Associate Dean for Teacher Education
RE: Uploading Course Syllabi and CVs for Field Experience Supervisors
DATE: August 25, 2008

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Although our teacher education programs are formally reviewed by DPI every five years, we need to keep a current version of our teacher education curriculum and performance-based assessment system available for DPI examination in between these comprehensive state reviews. The compilation of these data in one place also help me prepare required annual reports (e.g., for Title II of the Higher Education Act) and offer much potential for supporting our ongoing program renewal efforts and research.

Two years ago in preparation for our DPI review; we worked with EPCS to set up a password protected section of our PI34 website that is available only to those with UW-Madison identification numbers. During the year of the review (2006-2007), we achieved almost 100% participation in my request to upload course syllabi and CVs.

I am asking two things of you now which will not require much of your time but which will help me in my interactions with DPI and in the preparation of the various reports that I submit each year to various agencies and associations. First, I would like you to make sure that the course syllabi for each section of each required course for which you are responsible in our teacher education programs and the CVs for all practicum and student teaching supervisors are uploaded to our PI34 site by October 1st. This is a very simple process that will not take much time. Instructors from last year say this takes about 5 minutes. To get instructions on uploading or updating course syllabi and instructor information go to the Portfolio Project website http://portfolios.education.wisc.edu and clicking on Faculty, TAs, and Instructional Staff at the top to get instructions on how to record this information or contact EPCS (epcs-online@education.wisc.edu or 262-1755).  EPCS will send individual email reminders with instructions to each instructor and supervisor. Please make sure that all of the teaching assistants and supervisors under your supervision provide this information as well.

My second request has to do with the recording of information about whether or not students enrolled in our teacher education programs have completed the standards required for program completion and for a recommendation for a teaching license. At the end of the semester, please make sure that you and your teaching assistants and supervisors have recorded this information in our electronic assessment system.  To get instructions about how to record this information for specific courses and field experiences go to http://portfolios.education.wisc.edu and click on Faculty, TAs and Instructional Staff at the top.  EPCS will send individual emails reminders with instructions to each instructor and supervisor.

Thus far, the recording of this information has been uneven and we have often had to go back to instructors at a later time to get the needed information, a process that has consumed much staff time.

Please remember that if a course or field experience addresses PI34 standards, then this information should be made available to students at the beginning of the semester on course syllabi and in field experience handbooks-- what standards are addressed, what is needed to meet a standard, and what needs to be done if particular standards are not met.  All teaching assistants who work in our teacher education programs will receive a version of this email informing them of their responsibilities with regard to PI34 asking them to check with their faculty supervisors if they have questions. (See attached). Please let me know if you have questions about anything related to the two things that I am asking you to do.

Finally, everything that has been included into our teacher education assessment system is the result of decisions by our faculty and staff and can be revised at any time. Because changes in individual courses with regard to the standards affect a whole program’s linkages with the standards, I would like these changes to go first to your program area to make sure that your overall program still meets PI34. Please send me information about any changes that you want to make in how courses address standards and someone in my office will enter them into our electronic system.

If you have questions or problems with uploading please contact EPCS at epcs-online@education.wisc.edu or 262-1755.

Thanks for your help!