Making Waves in Maryland Lessons Learned from the First State to Develop the AAT.
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Transcript of Making Waves in Maryland Lessons Learned from the First State to Develop the AAT.
Making Waves in Maryland
Lessons Learned from the
First State to Develop the AAT
Welcome• Do you have a teacher education
degree?
• What is the transfer experience your students have when they move to the 4-year school?
• What do you hope to learn from this session?
AAT = Associate of Arts in Teaching• New transfer degree in 2002• Added to state regulations• Result of teacher shortage state task
force –Concerned about students and parents
who complained to legislators about transfer difficulties
–Recognized 50% of state teachers began their education at a community college
Purpose of the AAT
• Ease student transfer• Increase pipeline• Increase diversity
–Nontraditional students• Mature students• Students of color• Students with disabilities
Steps to Establishing the AAT
• United state education groups to acknowledge need for seamless transition
• Recognized that there are model programs/best practices of programs
• Determined who the stakeholders were (state dept, university system, public and private institutions, higher ed commission, community colleges). Considered the make-up of the group (50/50 2 & 4 year schools)
Steps to Establishing the AAT• Developed a new degree/pathway (AAT)• Determined certification area to consider
first• Discussed make-up of program (courses
vs. outcomes)• Considered national standards (ACEI,
NCATE, NAEYC, CEC, etc.)• Advocated for EDU courses & fieldwork• Built consensus in determining the
outcomes - committees were chosen for general ed and teacher ed outcomes
Steps to Establishing the AAT• AAT planning committee developed a template to be
used by all committees• Each committee of 10 met often to define the outcomes
based on professional organizations’ standards• Community colleges built programs from outcomes
– Developed new courses as needed (CC’s shared syllabi)– Designed field experience component/partnered with LSS– Built campus awareness; complete college processes– Developed crosswalks and programs of study for approval
by MHEC and review by all higher education institutions
Continuous Review
AAT Oversight Committee (2003)–Forum to discuss issues and concerns–Determine adding new AATs–Continuous Review (2009)
• Reviewing first AAT (elementary ed)• Reviewing transition process
Available AATs• Early Childhood/Early Childhood
Special Ed• Elementary/Elementary Special Ed• Secondary Chemistry• Secondary English• Secondary Math• Secondary Physics• Secondary Spanish
Requirements in all AATs
• Program of study• Passing basic skills test• GPA – 2.75• Fieldwork – 45 hours
Lessons Learned• Early informed career choice • Rigorous program (screening incorporated)• 5 education courses plus field experience -
students feel better prepared• Community college students are at least as
successful as native students• Community college directors unite through
MADTECC to advocate as a group
Hurdles• Process was laborious• Changing faces in teacher education
departments, advising and admissions• Understanding not at all levels – lack of buy-in
throughout university education departments• Misunderstanding of seamless transition• Misunderstanding of the pipeline issue• Flexible CC programs that fit nontraditional
students; no flexibility at 4-year institutions
Why your state needs the AAT?
• What are your next steps?• What can you do to get the process
going?• What connections do you already have
in your state?• What advice can we provide you to
help?
Colleen Eisenbeiser
Director, TEACH Institute & Parenting Center
Anne Arundel Community College
410-777-1963 [email protected]
Linda Gronberg-Quinn
Director/Department Chair, Teacher Education
The Community College of Baltimore County
443.840.4153 [email protected]
Fran Kroll
Director of Teacher Education
Howard Community College
443-518-4854 [email protected]