Transparency and Our Conceptual Framework
Hello Everyone,
I am communicating with you frequently to keep you informed, request your input, and make our accreditation process transparent to everyone. I know you are busy–I am, too–but our accreditation process is important to us all, even the seemingly small pieces. This blog is the best way to communicate with you so that we can track and retain processes of change within EHHP. Here are the results of last week’s post.
#1: Last week, I posted (see below) information about our conceptual framework for your review and comment. I took your comments and suggestions to the Assessment Committee for input, and this wording (in bold) is the concensus from the group:
Conceptual Framework
Our vision is to be a community of diverse professionals (instead of teachers or teacher leaders) who ensure exemplary learning and wellness opportunities for all individuals. These opportunities are created by professionals who can MAKE THE TEACHING - LEARNING CONNECTION through:
• Understanding and valuing the learner;
• Knowing what and how to teach and assess and how to create an environment in which learning occurs;
and
• Understanding ourselves as professionals.
If you have any concerns about or disagreement with this wording, please comment here at this post rather than by email.
#2: Dispositions: There were no negative comments about the following changes to the dispositions (below in bold):
1) We believe that all students can learn.
2) We value and respect individual differences.
3) We value respectful human interactions
4) We exhibit and encourage intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm about learning, and a willingness to learn new
ideas.
5) We are committed to inquiry, reflection and self-assessment.
6) We value collaborative and cooperative work.
7) We are sensitive to community and cultural context.
We engage in responsible and ethical practice.
9) We are committed to providing fairness and equitable opportunities for all learners. (this one was added to meet NCATE requirements)
Thank you so much for your input. Please add any comments to this blog.
Sara
October 7th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Thank you for soliciting our feedback. I appreciate the work the committee has put into revising these. In looking at the first disposition, I just wish there was a word other than “believe” we could use to describe this. We really want our students to do more than “believe” all students can learn, we want them to teach and behave that way. I’m not recommending we change the wording, I just hope when we communicate this disposition (as well as the others) we are able to help the students make the connection between this belief and their instructional practice.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I don’t mind the changes in the dispositions. I also like the addition of the 9th disposition, especially since it directly reacts to an NCATE item. But, the change in the wording for the 3rd disposition is problematic. NCATE specifically states that we must have data to show that we have collected and analyzed so that our discussions are informed. Why did you make the change in the wording? What data and evidence told us that the wording change would be better or beneficial for us? We need to document this process better.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I agree with what Linda F. said about the term “diverse.” Why are we changing this term? Where is the evidence to say that we should change it? Do we really know what our definition of diverse is? I believe we should start a dialogue of changing our mission statement only if we have received evidence to indicate that we should. Right now, it is working and our assessments are aligned with it.