Western Governors University Beginnings….

1. WGU Teachers College Presenters:Marti Watson Garlett, Ph.D.; DeanPhilip A. Schmidt, Ph.D.; Program CoordinatorThomas W. Zane, Ph.D.; Assessment Director

2. Western Governors UniversityBeginnings…. • Founders • 21 governors of the WGA • Collective Vision • Share educational resources across state lines via technology • Collaborate to develop WGU

3. WGU’s Mission To improve quality and expand access to postsecondary educational opportunities by providing a means for individuals tolearn independent of time and place and to earn competency-based degrees and other credentials that are credible to both academic institutions and employers.

4. Demonstration of Competency • All WGU programs completely competency-based • Students demonstrate skills and knowledge on a series of assessments • Founding governors’ initial vision—the source of WGU’s leadership in online performance-based higher education programs

5. A Flexible Approach WGU’s competency-based degrees allow students to tailor a program to their specific needs: • Those with prior academic or work experience can apply that learning toward a degree and avoid taking courses in areas already mastered • WGU degrees are Internet-delivered, providing students with “anytime, anywhere” convenience

6. Alaska Arizona California* Colorado Guam Hawaii Idaho Indiana Montana Nebraska New Mexico Nevada North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon South Dakota Texas Utah Washington Wyoming Sponsoring States

7. Accreditation: • Interregional Accrediting Committee (IRAC) • Northwest Association of Schools & Colleges • North Central Association of Colleges & Schools • WASC: Accrediting Commission for Community & Junior Colleges • WASC: Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges & Universities • Distance Education and Training Council

8. Some WGU Statistics • 100+ full-time faculty and staff • 65+ adjunct faculty members serving on the program and assessment councils • 25 corporate and foundation sponsors • Over 1400 degree –seeking students • Another 225 students enrolled in certificate/credential programs

9. Teachers College: 2001 • Founding Dean hired (Dr. Marti Garlett) • Gates Foundation challenge grant awarded for school leadership programs (total of $2 million) • $10 million grant from U.S. Dept. of Ed. (though Star Schools) awarded to build out competency-based certification and endorsement programs for targeted teacher shortage areas.

10. USOE Star Schools Grant • $10 Million over 5 years • Develop WGU’s Teachers College • Focus Areas: • Teacher Certification • Reading/Literacy • ESL/ELL • Math • Science

11. Teachers College: 2002Program Development • Phase 1: Project planning and coordination • Phase 2: Define Initial Domain, Subdomain, and Competencies • Phase 3: Validate Domain and Competencies • Phase 4: Identify and list courses that map to Domains and Competencies • Phase 5: Design B.A., Certification, and Master’s Programs

12. Foundation of All WGUTeachers College Programs • Respond to state and national needs • Are research-based • Align to multiple state and national standards • Allow students to move rapidly toward degree completion, and • Are diagnostic, helping students to recognize areas of strength and identify areas for improvement

13. State: Teacher standards and assessments Preservice institution standards Specific licensure requirements National: NCATE INTASC ACEI NBPTS ABCTE NCTM Etc. Alignment with Research Basis in Teaching and 12,000+ State and National Standards Research Basis: • ABCTE • AFT • NCITE • NRC • NRP • Others

14. Launched in January 2003 • Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education • Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (with elementary Teaching Certification) • Master of Arts in Teaching (Elementary Education)

15. Launched January 2003, con’t. • Teaching Endorsement in Secondary Mathematics (Middle and high school) • Master of Arts in Mathematics Education (element, middle, and high school) • Professional Development Certificate in Elementary Mathematics

16. A Peek into the Future… • Over the next three years, WGU will add these programs (also online and based on competencies, not credit units or seat time): • Secondary Science Endorsements (October, 2003) • Undergraduate and graduate Initial Certification Programs in Mathematics and Science (October, 2003) • K-12 English Language Development (ELD) Endorsement

17. Domain Development • Massive Alignment Study • Research Base • Published job analysis data • National Standards • Align to state teacher standards, competencies • State preservice institution/program requirements • Excerpted individual “performance indicators” from each document.

18. Results of Alignment Study • Found that most national organizations and states are more similar than different. • Alignment and Synthesis of 12,000 performance indicators defined a set of Domains, Subdomains, and Competencies • Clearly defined what a graduate (successful teacher) must know and be able to do. • Formed the foundation for our programs and assessments.

19. Example of Domain Definition Domain:Effective Teaching Practices Subdomain:Classroom Management Competency:Setting Expectations “The graduate sets high expectations for responsible behavior and academic performance.”

20. Assessment Battery Development • Assessment Types • Knowledge objectives often tested with secure online exams • Performance objectives (products) tested using Performance Tasks • Teaching skills tested using observation and portfolio assessment

21. Levels Knowledge of Content Knowledge of Methods Skills in using methods Practice with each skill Integrated Performance Types Learning Progress Assessments (LPAs) Performance Tasks Secure Competency Exams Observations and Specific Performances Work Sample Portfolio Battery Characteristicsand Components

22. The Times, They Are a-Changin’ Acorns were good until bread was found. Francis Bacon