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Stephen Demoratz

TPAC - Demoratz - 2 views

Technology Teaching exploration stem

started by Stephen Demoratz on 30 May 12
  • Stephen Demoratz
     
    http://aacte.org/Programs/Teacher-Performance-Assessment-Consortium-TPAC/teacher-performance-assessment-consortium.html
    http://tpafieldtest.nesinc.com/

    Teaching Performance Assessment (TPAC) is a way to determine the
    effectiveness of an instructor through self analysis and the level
    of instruction they are giving to their students.

    In the past, a teacher evaluation was an administrator sitting in the
    back of a classroom (many times with days of prior notice) and noting if
    the students were behaved, if the classroom was clean, if the instruction
    was proper for the subject matter. The teacher would then be called into
    the administrators office to do a 10 minute talk about what was seen,
    many times days after the lesson was completed and not fresh in anyone's
    mind.

    The TPAC model uses modern technology, like a video camera, that requires teachers to self assess their own teaching over a lesson or an SOL thread that could take multiple days to teach. The teacher is looking to see if
    they went beyond just the basic subject matter or basic questioning
    and assessment measures. The TPAC model allows for much greater depth in the assessment process and also gives the educator a more active role in
    this learning process of growing as an educator.

    When I was in college at Slippery Rock, I videotaped myself teaching a
    unit and assessing what I did. To do this, I had to check out an old
    VHS recorder from the school library and mount the bulky heavy device in
    the classroom. In short, 14 years ago videotaping a lesson was not easy
    so it was not done often. And I could only watch it on a TV with a VHS
    player. Now, I can easily film myself with the purchase of a digital
    camera, I could probably get a used one for $25 or $235 for a new HD one,
    upload the video to my computer or Youtube and watch myself from
    my phone, TV or any computer with a high speed connection.

    The TPAC process is made much more accessible to teachers through
    technology. I honestly do not know if TPAC would be so accepted if
    we were still using VHS recording systems or 8 MM film for that matter.

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