Fall 2007/Spring 2008   e-Bulletin Board Newsletter
Volume 18
Professional Education News

BS Degree Tailored for CTE Teacher Cohorts

Since August 2006, the Center has been engaged in an effort to encourage certified Career & Technical Education teachers to continue their education and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. In fall, 2007, Gloria Heberley and Joy Barcus held information sessions about the program throughout the eastern region of Pennsylvania. Sessions were held at Montgomery County Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Johnson College in Scranton. The concept of being able to complete the BS degree in off-campus locations throughout the eastern region has caught on--over 25 applicants have been accepted and matriculated to date. Student cohorts are beginning to form in Montgomery, Lehigh and Luzerne Counties. The first off-campus course made available to the cohort groups was ED 1255 - Inclusive Education for a Diverse Society taught in fall, 2007. This spring, ED 2255 Effective Us of Technology in the Classroom was taught at Lehigh Carbon Community College and Montgomery County Community College - Pottstown campus. ED 2306 was also offered at MCCC. Negotiations are underway to bring a Luzerne County site on as the third location where Temple courses will be taught. CTE teachers who pursue the bachelor's degree may build in professional certifications such as the Vocational II and Cooperative Education certificates, become a highly qualified teacher, complete the degree in a timely and convenient manner, learn advanced teaching skills, fulfill Act 48 requirements, perhaps increase retirement benefits, and advance on the salary schedule. The following courses and locations are being offered for fall 2008.

If you are interested in taking one of these off-campus courses, call or e-mail Vivyaine Palmer at 215-204-6678 or vpalmer@temple.edu If you hold a master's or doctoral degree and are interested in teaching courses at these off-campus locations, contact Dr. Gloria Heberley at 215-204-6205 or gloriah@temple.edu Dr. Nancy Erwin assumed the overall responsibility for leading the Center's effort to make the BS degree available in January 2008.

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Pre-Induction Workshop for CTE Teacher Interns     

Will Nause

August, 2007 and January, 2008 at Immaculata University. Teachers representing at least twenty-five schools in eastern Pennsylvania attended the five-day session that serves as the initial course for these new teacher interns. During this activity, CTE teachers, Temple FRAs, and other teacher education professionals provide information to the new teachers focused on teaching standards, classroom management, instructional planning and delivery, and professionalism.  An additional day in the workshop provided the new Temple students an opportunity to spend a day at Temple University touring the campus. Members of the Temple Field Staff and CTE practitioners from the eastern region provided a total of 22 presentations for the new teachers. The workshop is a coordinated effort among the Temple FRAs, led by Will Nause. Logistics are coordinated by Joe DeFranco. All new teacher interns enrolled in ED 2205/5203 (formerly ED 205/ED 403), the initial courses in Program VITAL, attend this Pre-Induction Workshop. The Workshop serves as the opening session of these courses, therefore attendance is required. This transitional experience focuses on the crucial information and skills that every beginning teacher needs to be effective in the classroom. Many beginning teachers came to the Workshop with expectations "to build on the things I know," to learn about "teaching methods," or with little or no expectations at all. However, upon completion of the five days of intensive training, participants reported that they had "a very enjoyable experience" and "a realization of how much I still need to learn.” (Quoted comments were excerpted from the evaluation conducted at the conclusion of the fall, 2007 Workshop.) The next opportunity for beginning teachers to attend a Pre-Induction Workshop will be August 4-8, 2008 at Immaculata. To receive information about the Workshop, contact Ms. Vivyaine Palmer at 215-204-8374 or vpalmer@temple.edu                         WN §§§

OCA & Certification Update

Jill Tafoya

Dr. Wichowski, assisted by Jill Tafoya, has coordinated the effort to develop a standardized written and performance examination for Heavy Equipment Operation. The project was completed this spring with the establishment of a dual set of cut scores (one for student achievement and one for teacher selection). The Heavy Equipment Operation test pilot scores for participating students were recalculated and score report certificates from NOCTI were sent to Lancaster Career & Technology Center, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, and the Central Pennsylvania Institute for Science and Technology for distribution to the students who participated in the pilot testing of the instrument. CPW §§§

Cooperative Education News

The validation survey for the 2007 revision of the DACUM Research Chart on the Role of the Workplace Learning Teacher Coordinator was recently completed.  The new chart and validation data were presented at the PA Cooperative Education Association Conference on October 18-19 2007. The original DACUM Chart on the Role of the Workplace Learning Teacher Coordinator was developed in 1997. Dr. Wichowski coordinated this effort; Ms. Jill Tafoya assisted in this activity.                        CPW

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