September 1, 2016 Volume 5, Number 4
Community Engagement Fair
Margie Stewart, Career Resources Specialist/Employer Relations Manager, for the MSU Career Center has asked if faculty could inform their students of the upcoming Community Engagement Fair, Wednesday, September 7th, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., PSU 1st and 2nd floors. Below is the flyer and a list of attendees. They are looking for volunteers/interns…these opportunities would be great ways for Education students to gain some experience in school settings, working with different age groups.
Career Center Community Engagement Fair Community Engagement Fair Attendees
ETS National Observational Teaching Examination (NOTE) New Assessment Field Test
The purpose of this data collection is to field test interactive performance tasks for the new ETS National Observational Teaching Examination (NOTE) assessments currently being developed for initial teacher licensure. In partnership with ETS, COE has invited students to participate and be part of the development of the innovative teacher licensure assessment. Users interface with the real-time classroom simulator and software application allowing interaction between a student teacher (i.e. tryout study participant) and up to five computer-generated, animated student avatars. These avatars are programmed to react to certain commands of the human instructor. Behind the avatars is an interactor, a human controller of the avatar technology who has been trained to embody the personality and cognitive profile of each student or adult avatar. NOTE Practices for Teaching Content assessment includes performance tasks that assess a prospective teacher’s critical practices:
- Leading Classroom Discussion — the ability to effectively interact with students in a simulated classroom to support student learning of content
Modeling and Explaining Content — the ability to model or explain specific academic ideas and practices using explanations, examples, modeling and other representations - Eliciting Student Thinking — the ability to have a conversation about student work that will elicit the student’s thinking about specific content, arriving at that understanding through a one-on-one interaction with a simulated student
- Each participant will be asked to complete a warm-up task in the simulator. The warm-up task allows the teacher candidate to practice interacting with the student avatars and become comfortable in the simulated classroom. Then, participants’ performance of the assessment tasks will be video-recorded so that ETS researchers and task writers can analyze the videos to improve the assessment tasks and supporting materials.
In order to learn more about participants’ understanding of the tasks, each participant will be asked to complete a 2-5 minute survey after each of the performance assessment tryout tasks. Participants will also be asked to complete a background information questionnaire so that we can learn more about their background and teaching experience. Participants will have the option of providing identified comments about their experience on the NOTE marketing survey.
The data collected will be used to gauge the effectiveness of the instructions at eliciting the desired spectrum of behaviors, to test out the scoring rubrics, and to learn more about how the tasks function (and if they function as intended). Results of this work will be used by ETS to refine the tasks and rubrics and to devise prototype assessment tasks for a future pilot testing.
The testing will take place in Hill Hall 314 from September 26, 2016 to October 1, 2016. The room will be unavailable for other use during this time. Please contact Rose Lee if you need assistance scheduling or rescheduling.
Internship Academy Year 2 – Off to a Great Start!
Teacher of the Year Candidates Reception – September 12th
Following is the list of the ten teachers that were nominated for State Teacher of the Year who will be honored during a reception on September 12th. If any COE faculty would like to attend to support these teachers, please email Russ Brock at RBrock@missouristate.edu by Friday, September 2nd.
Sandy Humbyrd – Hollister
Kaycey Jones – Sparta
Shannon Waldo – Billings
Hannah McClintock – Spokane
Airin Bassett – Ava RI
Tiffany Jones – Nixa
Keith Stevenson – Lutie R-V
Paula Bodenhamer – Dora R-III
Adrienne Deckard – Springfield
Jodi Samsinak – Ozark
Upcoming Recruitment Events
Fall Showcase: Saturday, Sept 24, 9:00 – 11:30am, PSU 314
High school students and parents are invited from around Missouri and surrounding states to come for campus tours and opportunities to meet department representatives and faculty about our programs. Attendees are also invited to the afternoon football game (if tickets are available). Various Halls are open from 12:30 – 1:00pm for parents and students to view facilities. COE will have a table with information in PSU 314. Nice Bear Wear is appropriate dress.
Majors Fair: Wednesday, September 28, 9:00 – 3:00pm, PSU Ballroom
GEP101 instructors require students to attend this event. It is very busy with lots of questions and interest in education programs. Bear Wear is appropriate dress.
Email Judy Pickering if you can help at either/both events: judypickering@missouristate.edu
Events for September 2016
5 University closed in observance of Labor Day
9-11 Ozarks Celebration Festival
12-19 Public Affairs Week
21 Board of Governors Executive Committee meeting, 4:00 p.m., CARR 203
22 Bears in the Know Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Alumni Center
24 Fall Showcase
26 State of the University Address, 12:15 p.m., PSU Theater
26 SGA Banquet, 6:00 p.m.
REMINDER: Farewell Pizza Party for Scott Fiedler
After 20 years of service to Missouri State University, Scott is moving to OTCC. Please feel free to drop by Hill Hall 314 on Wednesday, September 14th between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. RSVP to Rose, Sharon, or Teresa by September 9th, so we can order plenty of pizza and soda. Anyone wanting to bring a dessert or side is welcome to do so.
Keep Calm and Game On,