Annual Report 2009 - 2010For the year 7/1/2009 - 6/30/2010
Division of: Academic AffairsDepartment of: Early, Elementary and Reading EducationSubmitted by: Ross,Martha K
Year-End Executive Summary : This has been a productive year in terms of faculty
accomplishments in service and scholarship, and their teaching effectiveness is phenomenal. The success
of our programs in terms of candidate performance can best be captured by the comments that were submitted
by university supervisors:
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The following are things that perhaps cannot be taught, but I have observed them in all of my student
teachers:
oAbility to develop rapport with students.
oAbility to collaborate with colleagues. This includes the cooperating teacher, other teachers on or at
other grade levels, and other student teachers who may be in the same school.
oAn eagerness to share knowledge diplomatically with others, in particular, with older teachers, and
especially knowledge of how to integrate technology into a lesson.
oA willingness to work hard and work long hours.
oA commitment to do their best, which includes learning everything pertinent to their students and their
jobs and researching ways to make a lesson even more effective.
oAn enthusiasm for receiving constructive criticism and the ability to take that criticism and use it to
improve immediately.
I have worked for three other universities. I have found that JMU students seem to be more thorough
and responsible.
They are incredibly reflective and eager to take suggestions. JMU students are compassionate and take
the time to get to know their students and to develop a rapport with them. Overall my JMU student teachers
have been eager, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and very professional.
All student teachers have been prepared to walk into classrooms and assume leadership. With maturity,
they learn how to manage a situation, use appropriate voice and tactics and meet individual needs.
**********
However, with the pressures of so many students and the compromises that faculty feel that they have
to make just to deal with these numbers, morale is becoming an increasing problem. It will help that
we have a new position in 2010-11 for the reading program, but there needs to be some ways to reduce
the load for the other programs. This will be a focus for next year.
Unit Mission Statement : The Department of Early, Elementary and Reading
Education has as its mission the preparation of candidates for initial licensure in early and elementary
education, advanced licensure as a reading specialist and advanced study for classroom teachers. Our
candidates will possess a broad range of knowledge that provides a context for understanding individual
behavior and major social issues in a modern, global and technological world. Our candidates are equipped
with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to become educational decision-makers who consciously
chosse appropriate curriculum based on an understanding of how children develop and learn.
Changes in the Mission Statement : None
Unit Accomplishments : 1. Discussions to implement the IECE program continued.
The first full cohort of students will begin in the Fall 2010. Program goals and curriculum has been aligned
with state and national standards and course content has been further defined. Key assessments have
been identified and review of these will continue in the fall. Processes for recruitment and advising have
been implemented.
2. Key assessments for ELED program continue to be refined and data is being entered in TK20. Progress
on this was somewhat redirected when the unit decided not to pursue SPA approval - this meant reexamining
and revising the assessments that had been selected.
3. The Reading MEd program has been aligned with national and state standards and key assessments
have been defined. These are being piloted with the Greene County cohort. Two more cohorts began
in 2009-10, one in Shenandoah County and one in Rockingham.
4. Candidates in ECED and ELED programs were surveyed on their perception of how reading content,
as defined in IRA standards, is being addressed in READ 366, READ 436 and READ 590. The results
were reviewed, along with performance data on VCLA and VRA, and adjustments are being made to
ensure that course content is comprehensive.
5. Assigned faculty member as lead on working with Field Experiences Task Force and school partners
to explore models of supervision that best meet the needs of local schools and our programs.
6. Surveyed university supervisors and conducted a focus group to reflect on program currency and candidates'
areas of strength and areas that need more focus.
7. Reading faculty have worked with ELLA and RISE grant for special education to develop new literacy
courses that will meet the needs of those programs. ELEd faculty worked on design of elementary curriculum
course for RISE grant programs.
8. Finalized rubric for APR evaluation with department feedback. Beginning to work on tenure/promotion
guidelines, looking at other institutional models and ATE guidelines.
9. Established a Green Committee and engaged in activities related to environmental stewardship. These
activities included lesson plans, curriculum integration and personal efforts.
10. 4th annual Elementary Teachers Conference was successful and provided an effective venue for
graduate students to share their inquiry projects.
11. Faculty continue to be active in service that impacts the advancement of cultural and global competence,
including FIR, PIR, partnership liaison, leading study abroad experiences for candidates, and professional
research.
12. Candidate's cultural and global understanding and ability to meet the needs of all children continue
to grow through ECED 401D and ELED 310 and the required service learning fieldwork.
Major Office / Departmental Accomplishments (Objectives, Results, Use ofResults) by unit for the past fiscal year
Characteristic 1: 20060000001
Goal 1: 20060000001
Objective: 20090000638
Short Description: COE Goal 1 Curriculum Review and Revision;
COE Goal 2 Faculty and Staff Development
Review current supervision strategies and resources, pilot and assess some new strategies.
Long Description: - Because we use so many part-time faculty to supervise our
candidates in practicum and student teaching, we have to ensure that this is the best way to support our
candidates. This means that we have to use supervision models that are consistent with the what they
have been taught, that ensure reliable measurement and support supervisors to be current with our programs.
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: - Survey of adjunct university supervisors was
conducted at the end of spring semester. Feedback on our candidates, how well we prepare them and
support that supervisors are provided was provided.
Accomplishments: -New model of supervision was not implemented in 2009-10; it will
be in 2010-11.
- Departmental representative serves on COE Task Force on Field Experiences.
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: -Data from supervisors will be examined at fall retreat and plans for changes will be documented.
Characteristic 1: 20060000001
Goal 1: 20060000001
Objective: 20090000622
Short Description: COE Goal 1: Curriculum review and revision
Implement approved Inclusive Early Childhood Education program.
Long Description: Now that the IECE program has been approved, faculty
representatives from EXED and EER need to more fully develop course content, align this with standards
from VDOE and NAEYC/CEC, JMU Conceptual Framework competencies and program outcomes;
and identify and design key assessments.
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: - Begin tracking candidates in terms of
numbers entering, admission criteria, continuance in program and key assessment data as implemented
Accomplishments: -Curriculum alignment has occurred and course content is being
delineated in more detail. Key assessments have been idenitified and are under development. The first
full cohort of @35-40 students will begin in Fall 2010.
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: - As
data begins to be collected, program faculty will review candidate performance, program coherence and
make changes/improvements to the program design and content.
Characteristic 1: 20060000001
Goal 1: 20060000001
Objective: 20100000739
Short Description: COE Goal 4: Cultural and global competence
Promote faculty and student cultural and golobal competence.
Long Description: -Support faculty members' assignments and opportunities to advance
their own, the department's and student's cultural and global competence.
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: - Review student performance data to
determine if they demonstrate the ability to support all children and create an inclusive environment.
Accomplishments: - See assessment report
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: -
One faculty member continues in position as PIR at local school, focused on working with Hispanic families/children.
- One faculty member is currently finishing a Fulbright assignment in South Africa
- Two faculty members have led study abroad experiences this summer to Rome, Italy and South Korea
- Faculty member applied for and has been selected as FIR in London in Sp'11
Characteristic 1: 20060000001
Goal 1: 20060000001
Objective: 20090000623
Short Description: COE Goal 7: Assessement
Implement assessment plan for revised ELED program.
Long Description: After completing redesign and curriculum approval process for ELED
program, final decisions about key assessments and scoring guides will be made this year and data review
will begin.
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: - Review assessment data for candidate
performance
- Review follow-up data for employment
- Track numbers of candidates entering and completing
Accomplishments: - Unit assessment data including the ST9, VCLA, VRA, Praxis II and
follow-up data was reviewed at the start of 2009-10 academic year. Key assessments have had to be revised
based on change in program review process (no longer submitting to SPA's). Starting next year, we will
be reviewing data from the last calendar year early in the spring semester so that we can more systematically
respond to the data.
- Conducted a survey of current students related to content in the literacy courses to determine if candidates
feel that all content(as prescribed by IRA) is being covered. In addition, the reading faculty examined
VRA and VCLA data to see if candidate's performance on these tests is satisfactory.
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: -
Faculty review of candidate performance data will be used to make changes in program curriculum.
Characteristic 2: 20060000002
Goal 2: 20060000002
Objective: 20090000624
Short Description: - COE Goal 1 and 7: Curriculum Review and Revision and
Assessment
Implement revised Reading MEd program, align with institutional, state and national standards, and
design assessment system.
Long Description: The first cohort of the revised Reading MEd program began in
2008-09 and a second one will beign in 2009-10. Alignment of the courses with national, state and institutional
standards needs to be confirmed and key assessments identified.
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: - Track candidate performance
- Track enrollment
- Develop evaluation questions and strategies to collect and analyze data.
Accomplishments: - Two more cohorts of the Reading MEd program have begun.
- Key assessments were identified this year and data is being collected for analysis.
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: -
Feedback from Greene Co. cohort will be used to make any necessary changes in for that program and
will be used to implement new Shenandoah and Rockingham County cohorts.
Characteristic 2: 20060000002
Goal 2: 20060000002
Objective: 20090000625
Short Description: COE Goal 7: Assessment
Assessment of departmental operations.
Long Description: Design methods for assessing departmental operations and
environment/climate
to determine what changes can be made to support faculty in achieving their goals.
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: Faculty feedback at end of academic year.
Accomplishments: - Collected data on workload and discussed this with Deans.
However, discussion of solutions has not yet occurred.
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: -
Use this year to develop a long-range plan for support of faculty development and reduce feeling of being
so overwhelmed.
Characteristic 2: 20060000002
Goal 2: 20060000002
Objective: 20090000628
Short Description: No COE goal
- Student engagement
Long Description: Find ways to better communicate with, advise, and involve our
students in professional activities and activities that promote the department.
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: Student survey and focus groups
Accomplishments:
- Partner with Assistant Dean and COE Ambassadors to develop a peer advising process for 2010-11.
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: -
Have not completed plan
Characteristic 5: 20060000005
Goal 5: 20060000005
Objective: 20090000626
Short Description: COE Goal 2: Faculty and Staff Support
Support faculty productivity and development.
Long Description: Mentor new and part-time faculty, clearly identify expectations for
performance in service and scholarly activity, identify the challenges that exist for achieving these, and
find ways to better support faculty in reaching their goals.
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: Clear expectations are agreed upon for faculty
performance.
Each faculty member gets some reassigned time.
Advising loads are reduced.
New faculty are hired.
Accomplishments: - PAC and Department Head will use department adopted rubric for
annual performance evaluation.
- With information from Faculty Development and Support Committee, the PAC and department head
will review guidelines from other institutions to clarify expectations for annual performance and T&P
review.
- A new faculty position has been secured for 2010-11 to be filled by one-year position.
- Searches for filling new positions will be conducted in 2010-11.
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: -
Hiring new faculty and developing a plan for everyone to have a 12/9 load will be an indicator of success.
Characteristic 18: 20060000018
Goal 18: 20060000018
Objective: 20100000738
Short Description: - COE Goal 9
Develop practices within the department that support environmental stewardship
Long Description: - In support of university efforts and departmental interest, a
departmental committee will coordinate initiatives and develop plans for how faculty can engage in sustainability
practices and how we can prepare our students as leaders in these efforts
Linked to Previous Objective: -
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Assessment / Evaluation Methods: - Ensure that all students are exposed to
concepts and engage in at least one project
Accomplishments: - A link to the department website has been developed that includes
information on environmental stewardship, including resources that teachers can use.
- Several classes this past year conducted projects that emphasized the study of environmental stewardship
and using recycled materials as classroom teachers
- As a department we networked printers, stopped buying disposable plastic/paperware and took leadership
in a college-wide recycling project.
Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement: -
The Green Committee will report out at our fall faculty meeting and set plans for the next year based
on the results from 2009-10.
Other Accomplishments and Recognitions: Faculty continue to be leaders in
state and national organizations, participate in community and university initiatives, publish, present
and enhance the reputation of JMU and the College of Education. Just as an example of one activity per
faculty member as reflected in APR's received:
Baker - Chair of Jane Addams Children Book Award committee
Barnes - 3 refereed publications, completion of doctorate
Brubaker - 3 refereed publications
Carrington - collaboration with Madison Art Collection to develop and publish PK-6 lesson plans for
collection's website
Font - Cyber-City co-director
Harris - Fulbright Scholar
Hughes - Mengebier Endowed Professor
Hutchinson - VAECE presentation
Kang - AERA presentation
Ohn - Development of International Practicum to S. Korea
Ross - NCATE Board of Examiners
Sluss - program reviewer for NAEYC
Sullivan - book publication
Unit Challenges: The greatest challenge for our department is the overwhelming number
of students that we respond to, advise, teach, and mentor (more than 1000, from freshman to graduate
students). This means that class sizes are each 20-30 students, everyone is responding to increasing number
of advisees, summer school teaching is overwhelming and the reliance on adjuncts puts more burden
on full-time faculty to ensure coordination and coherence. Field experience is both a blessing and a burden.
Full-time faculty want to supervise practicum as this enriches their interaction with our candidates and
course content, however the time committment to do so, adds to their load.
There has to be a way to reduce load or provide differentiated assignments. We also need a way to cap
enrollment.
Objectives for next fiscal year (including objectives from assessment resultsand program reviews):
Characteristic 1: The university will offer a wide variety of quality academic programs:
general education core, liberal arts, professional programs, and graduate programs of distinction.
Goal 1: Develop new academic programs in such a way that the comprehensive nature and
quality of the curriculum are maintained.
Objective: 20100000731
Short Description: COE Goal #1 Implement approved Inclusive Early Childhood
Education program.
Long Description: Now that the IECE program has been approved, faculty
representatives from EXED and EER need to more fully develop course content, align this with standards
from VDOE and NAEYC/CEC, JMU Conceptual Framework competencies and program outcomes;
and identify and design key assessments.
Linked to Previous Objective: 20090000622
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Characteristic 1: The university will offer a wide variety of quality academic programs:
general education core, liberal arts, professional programs, and graduate programs of distinction.
Goal 1: Develop new academic programs in such a way that the comprehensive nature and
quality of the curriculum are maintained.
Objective: 20100000732
Short Description: COE Goal 1 Implement assessment plan for revised ELED program
Long Description: After completing redesign and curriculum approval process for ELED
program, final decisions about key assessments and scoring guides will be made this year and data review
will begin.
Linked to Previous Objective: 20090000623
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Characteristic 2: The university will be innovative in its programs and services.
Goal 2: Establish a process to assess societal needs; recommend and implement new and
innovative programs.
Objective: 20100000733
Short Description: - COE Goal 1 and 6 Implement revised Reading MEd program, align
with institutional, state and national standards, and design assessment system.
Long Description: The first cohort of the revised Reading MEd program began in
2008-09 and a second one will begin in 2009-10. Alignment of the courses with national, state and institutional
standards needs to be confirmed and key assessments identified.
Linked to Previous Objective: 20090000624
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Characteristic 2: The university will be innovative in its programs and services.
Goal 2: Establish a process to assess societal needs; recommend and implement new and
innovative programs.
Objective: 20100000736
Short Description: -COE Goal 10 Student Support
Long Description: Find ways to better communicate with, advise, and involve our
students in professional activities and activities that promote the department.
Linked to Previous Objective: 20090000628
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Characteristic 2: The university will be innovative in its programs and services.
Goal 2: Establish a process to assess societal needs; recommend and implement new and
innovative programs.
Objective: 20100000734
Short Description: -COE Goal 6 Design assessments for departmental operations.
Long Description: Design methods for assessing departmental operations and
environment/climate
to determine what changes can be made to support faculty in achieving their goals.
Linked to Previous Objective: 20090000625
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Characteristic 5: The university's faculty will integrate scholarship, service and teaching
to enhance student learning and provide a challenging and supportive environment with a heightened
sense of intellectual stimulation.
Goal 5: Enhance the rigor and frequency of intellectually challenging experiences, while
providing expanded and improved academic support.
Objective: 20100000735
Short Description: -COE Goal 8 Support faculty productivity and development.
Long Description: Mentor new and part-time faculty, clearly identify expectations for
performance in service and scholarly activity, identify the challenges that exist for achieving these, and
find ways to better support faculty in reaching their goals.
Linked to Previous Objective: 20090000626
Linked to Previous Objective Short Description: -
Addenda: -
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