College of Education News

Education students speak at MACTE spring conference

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In her courses for the elementary education program, Missouri State University’s Dr. Amber Howard teaches theories on competency-based-learning (CBL).  

MSU teacher candidates have brought these theories to the classroom through student teaching. 

Earlier this semester, assistant professor Howard and a group of MSU student teachers spoke at the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE) conference in Columbia, Missouri. 

The students presented two different sessions. The first session was a panel discussion featuring Abbie Adkins, Tyler Crane, Avery Davis and Alyssa Mayo. Crane also presented at the second session. 

CBL and ungrading 

The group panel discussed the K-12 CBL initiatives in the state and how MSU is modeling CBL for their teacher candidates. The four students also shared their personal experiences with ungrading and standards-based grading. Ungrading refers to the practice of building a focus on mastering competencies instead of points and letter grades. 

“I’m so proud of how all four students spoke so articulately about their experiences,” Howard said. “Several teacher educators from across the state said this was their favorite session of the whole conference and I could not agree more.” 

Elevating the perception of the teaching profession 

In her individual presentation, Crane shared her research about improving the perception of teachers through the relationship among teachers, students and their families.   

“Tyler did a phenomenal job sharing her findings so articulately and facilitating conversation with teacher educators across the state around such an important topic,” Howard said. “I definitely had one of those proud teacher feelings watching her present.” 

Crane notes it was an honor to present at the conference. 

“The conference was a very valuable and unforgettable experience,” Crane said. “This was my first time attending an education conference. Getting to meet, hear from and present to other professionals in education was fulfilling.” 

Howard is grateful for the support from College of Education Dean Barri Tinkler and the college to take students to this year’s MACTE.  

“Getting students involved in activities like sharing at MACTE centers their voices in rooms where decisions are being made,” Howard said. “It’s vital to our education process. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to give them this platform.” 

Learn more about CBL programs

Dr. Amber Howard discusses Competency-Based Learning

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Educator Dr. Amber Howard was recently featured in the Springfield Business Journal. She co-wrote an article titled, “Why competency-based education is good for the business world.” 

Howard is an assistant professor  in the department of childhood education and family studies. 

The article explains about Competency-Based Learning (CBL) and makes an argument for CBL’s usefulness for the business world.  

Excerpt: 

CBL has been called many things, including standards-based learning, mastery learning and personalized learning. The benefits to the education system of this practice are seemingly endless. CBL aims to replace traditional assessment and accountability measures such as yearly standardized testing and quarterly benchmark assessments with real-world application of learning in meaningful ways. 

This real-world application increases students’ ability to retain and transfer their learning to other contexts, expands college and career readiness, increases both student and teacher satisfaction with the learning process and has the potential to transform our education system. 

Learn more CBL

Learning the administrative side of education

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Shifting from being a teacher to an administrator can bring a lot of changes. There are also many benefits to knowing both fields, no matter which one you work in.  

The College of Education’s department of counseling, leadership and special education collaborates with local school districts to create cohorts of educators who earn their master’s in educational administration.  

“If a district can foresee that there are going to be job openings within the community, they can encourage people with good leadership skills in their district toward that role,” explained Dr. Kim Finch, director of the educational administration program. 

“Our program is also good for the classroom teacher. The coursework gives an awareness of what takes place in the office and why things may be handled the way they are.” 

The cohort model 

One of the benefits of the cohort model for educational administration is that districts can personalize the curriculum for their faculty. 

Twelve hours of the degree are earned as credit-by-assessment and are taught by the district. 

“We send them our syllabus along with our assignments. This allows them to tweak it so that it can better align with their district,” Finch explained. “Sometimes those assignments might be projects that the school board requested.”  

Students within the cohorts save money on tuition since they earn 12 credit hours through their district. 

Nixa Public Schools (NPS) currently participates in the program.  

“This partnership with MSU is mutually beneficial for our students and district alike,” said Josh Chastain, executive director of curriculum, instruction and assessment at NPS. “Students benefit financially, and our district gains dedicated, highly trained and NPS-focused administrative candidates.  

“MSU wants to support our teachers in their graduate endeavors and make sure our students are able to receive necessary professional learning.”  

Contact Dr. Kim Finch about forming a cohort 

Encouraging educators 

A master’s in educational administration allows teachers to earn a salary increase in addition to their certification to become an administrator. 

“Sometimes people who go through our program just want a master’s degree,” Finch said. “But we encourage everyone to get certified. Down the road, you may want to apply for an opening, and you will already have obtained the right classes and assessments.” 

Missouri needs more teachers and administrators right now, so Finch said it’s important to have professional development accessible to educators and future educators.   

She emphasized the necessity for building positive relationships with students in the program and highlighting the positive things happening across the field of education. 

“Education is the background for everything, whether you want to be a doctor, a banker or whatever. If we don’t have a good education system, then all other professions will be affected.” 

Explore a master’s in educational administration  

What to know about the Teacher Pathways program

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Opportunities to earn college credit for general education courses in high school classrooms have been around for many years.  

Missouri State University’s College of Education (COE) and Springfield Public Schools (SPS) recently partnered to give high school students college credit for classes and experiences to prepare them to be teachers.  

“Students are able to explore the field of education through the regular classroom setting, guest speakers, field trips and practicum placements,” said Katie Kensinger, coordinator of college and career readiness at SPS.  

“The Teacher Pathways program allows high school students to understand much more about the profession. This is essential for them to truly know if teaching is what they want to pursue after graduation.”  

In the classroom  

Students enrolled in dual credit courses take the classes at their high school.  

The high school teachers offering the courses work with Dr. Denise Cunningham, head of the childhood education and family studies department, and the dual credit office to make sure their syllabi align with MSU course requirements.  

“I worked on aligning the coursework that they are offering with the standards required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE),” Cunningham noted.  

“Now, each program has its own introductory course – early childhood, elementary, and combined middle and secondary.”  

High school students can take up to two courses in education at a reduced fee per credit hour. Students who qualify for free and reduced lunches can earn dual credit free of charge. All credits transfer into an MSU education program.  

“Partnering with MSU strengthens our SPS curriculum and ensures it is more relevant,” Kensinger remarked.  

“Beginning college with a clear vision and applicable credits may help some students graduate within four years.” 

The future of teaching 

Teacher Pathways can help high school students finalize their decision about wanting to pursue teaching as a career.  

“I’ve learned how to write a proper lesson plan and introduce lessons to students in an engaging way,” said Michelle Dobre, a senior at Hillcrest High School. “The practicum gave me an opportunity to see what it’s actually like being a teacher.”  

Cunningham explained that an early practicum gives high school students a peek into a profession that has so many rewarding qualities, even when there are tough times.  

“We need our best and brightest to become teachers. They’re the ones who can inspire the lives of everyone else.”   

Explore degrees in education 

Removing barriers for teachers in training

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Certified teachers are needed in many schools in Missouri right now.  

College graduates with a bachelor’s degree can earn a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) to become a certified teacher. But, it can be difficult to turn down or leave a full-time job to earn a master’s degree.  

MSU recently shifted their MAT coursework completely online. Now, students can earn their master’s degree while working full-time or while working in the classroom with a provisional teaching certificate.  

“With an online program, we’re able to work around barriers while maintaining an academically rigorous program,” said Dr. Pamela Correll, program coordinator for the MAT. “Students are accomplishing two huge milestones with the MAT – a master’s degree and teacher certification.”  

The MAT program is among five MSU online master’s degrees ranked in the top 10 across the nation.  

Teachers in training  

A provisional teaching certificate gives students the benefit of a full-time job and allows school districts to fill vacancies two years earlier.     

“A student can work through our teacher certification office to gain a provisional teaching certificate from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). After that paperwork is processed, they can begin working in the classroom,” Correll said.  

Students who want to earn their MAT can complete the program from anywhere in Missouri.  

“The 75 hours of required observation and student teaching are completed in the school where they are working,” Correll said. “So, they’re earning a salary and are considered to be the teacher of record while they earn both a master’s degree and their regular teacher certification.”  

Creating a plan  

The MAT program is designed to be completed in two years. Mary Bohlen, academic advisor in the College of Education, works with students to create a plan that is suited to their needs.  

“This program is responding to the question ‘what does the world we live in require from us?’ And then, ‘how can we offer that to students?’” Bohlen said.  

“We need a lot of great teachers in this state, and this program works hard to remove obstacles that keep people from becoming great teachers.”  

Explore the MAT program