Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning

Today Digital Promise and Getting Smart released “Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning: Competency-Based Teacher Preparation and Development.” This white paper outlines the attributes of next-generation teacher preparation and makes recommendations to support the development of teacher preparation and development systems.

Co-authored by Getting Smart’s Tom Vander Ark and Dr. Carri Schneider with Karen Cator, President and CEO ofDigital Promise, the paper outlines how the role of teachers is changing amid broader shifts to personalized, blended, and deeper learning. In order for the current state of teacher preparation, professional development, and accreditation to evolve accordingly, the authors recommend professional learning opportunities that offer:

• Some element of teacher control over time, place, path and/or pace;

• Balance between teacher-defined goals, goals as defined by administration through teacher evaluation efforts, and school and district educational goals;

• Job-embedded and meaningful integration into classroom practice; and

• Competency-based progression.

In addition to the paper, don’t miss the complementary infographic, “Competency-Based Teacher Preparation & Professional Development,” that offers a visual outline of the paper content.

For more information, download the paper.

The full press release is copied below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Digital Promise and Getting Smart Share Vision for Preparing Teachers For Deeper Learning

 White Paper Provides Guidance and Recommendations to Equip Teachers to Thrive in Deeper Learning Environments

 SEATTLE, WA (May 1, 2014) – Education advocacy firm, Getting Smart, in association with the education innovation nonprofit, Digital Promise, today released, “Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning: Competency-Based Teacher Preparation and Development,” a white paper that outlines the attributes of next-generation teacher preparation and makes recommendations to support teacher preparation and development systems.

This paper is co-authored by Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart, Dr. Carri Schneider, Director of Policy and Research of Getting Smart, and Karen Cator, President and CEO of Digital Promise. In addition to the paper, a complementary infographic, “Competency-Based Teacher Preparation & Professional Development,” offers a visual outline of the paper’s big ideas.

The paper outlines how the role of teachers is changing amid broader shifts to personalized, blended, and deeper learning. In order for the current state of teacher preparation and development to evolve accordingly, the authors recommend professional learning opportunities that echo the type of personalized learning that is recommended for students:

• Some element of teacher control over time, place, path and/or pace;

• Balance between teacher-defined goals, goals as defined by administration through teacher evaluation efforts, and school and district educational goals;

• Job-embedded and meaningful integration into classroom practice; and

• Competency-based progression.

 “Drawing on examples from outside of the field of education as well as innovators in higher education and K-12, we build the case for competency-based teacher education,” said Vander Ark. “In the same way that student assessment is evolving to prioritize demonstrations of mastery over basic proficiency, competency-based teacher development would enable pre-service and practicing teachers to demonstrate knowledge and skills at regular intervals.”

“The design and implementation of a system of micro-credentials could support a shift to competency-based pathways for educators,” said Cator. “Such a system would include explanations of competencies, multiple opportunities to develop and learn, and a way to demonstrate and prove proficiency.”

“Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning” is the third in a series of papers from Getting Smart that explore how a focus on Deeper Learning competencies is changing the nature of teaching and learning in order to personalize instruction and better prepare students for college and career.

On Friday, President Obama directed the U.S. Department of Education to lay out a plan to strengthen America’steacher preparation programs for public discussion by this summer, and to move forward on schedule to publish a final rule within the next year. The Administration will encourage and support states in developing systems that recognize excellence and provide all programs with information to help them improve, while holding them accountable for how well they prepare teachers to succeed in today’s classrooms and throughout their careers.

“Rightfully so, the national conversation around personalization has been driven by what’s best for students,” said Schneider. “We are just beginning to scratch the surface of the possibilities for personalized learning to impact the teaching profession.”

To learn more download the full paper.

To learn more about Digital Promise’s work to reimagine teacher credentials, check out Digital Promise Micro-Credentials.