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Research
Pearson demonstrates a commitment to innovation through a long history of conducting quality research to inform effective practice and by hosting an annual conference on issues related to teacher certification. Over the years, Pearson has contributed to the combined study of assessment, technology, and teaching through papers and conference presentations. Here is a sampling of work by Pearson researchers and by other education professionals at Pearson conferences.
Case Study: Assessing Oregon Teacher Candidates with the NES®
(National Evaluation SeriesTM) from Pearson
Seeking a licensure testing system that features contemporary test content, improved access, and data support, the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) chose to adopt the NES® (National Evaluation SeriesTM) from Pearson.
The Value of Computer-Based Teacher Certification Testing
An examination of how technology in the form of computer-based testing plays an important role in contemporary teacher certification testing, from consistency of testing experience to speed of results.
Online Testing Research: Informing and Guiding Transitions to Computerized Assessment
A paper highlighting online testing research initiatives at Pearson, both completed and in process, designed to help inform and guide states as they transition to online testing. The research cited includes reports that have been published in a research report series as well as papers that were presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) conferences.
Usability and Design Considerations for Computer-Based Learning and Assessment
A research paper discussing common design and usability considerations in the development of computer-based learning and assessment products, and the associated information management tools used to manage and deliver them. The overall success of computer-based products and systems, including computer-based testing, is dependent to a significant extent on their usability and usefulness in the intended context. User Centered Design (UCD) combines research-based methods with product design practices in ways that support the creation of useful and usable products and systems.
Preparing Educators Through Online Program Delivery
John E. Jacobson, dean of the College of Education at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, describes the characteristics of today's generation of teacher candidates, making the point that traditional face-to-face methods of learning are not enough to engage them. He discusses the value of online learning and its development over the last several years at Stephen F. Austin State University.
But Can You Make IT Do This? Reshaping Our Business and Our Technology
Rick Eiserman, director of policy and communications for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, looks at how technology can best be used to capture data on teacher preparation and certification and how to use that data to measure school improvement and student achievement, citing the Georgia Professional Standards Commission as a successful model.
Mandating Truly "Highly Qualified" Teachers for the Future of Education
Michael Rebell, executive director of the Campaign for Educational Equity and professor of law and educational practice at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, discusses the importance of reworking teacher certification tests so that they do not just test for minimum competence but for true ability to teach diverse students in the instructional levels required by the state. Rebell advocates that at the entry stage, teachers must possess a "thorough knowledge of subject matter, a thorough knowledge of teaching skills, and a thorough knowledge of state standards." He credits the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) with the identification of these elements as a focus of certification test contents.
How Are States Responding to the Issue of Teacher Recruitment and Retention, and What More Needs to be Done?
Andy Tompkins, former commissioner of education in the state of Kansas and associate professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas, and Anne S. Beauchamp, graduate research assistant at the University of Kansas, explore efforts made by states to recruit and retain teachers. Chief state school officers reported through survey responses that "increased portability options" are some of the identified initiatives for improving recruitment efforts.
Leveraging the Information Age: Online Tools in the Teacher Credentialing Process
Sam Swofford, executive director of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, described how the three-year Teacher Credentialing Service Improvement Project utilized high-technology solutions to improve almost every aspect of the teacher credentialing process in California. Test administration procedures were streamlined to provide faster, more accurate registration and score reporting.
The Future of Teacher Licensure Testing: Research and Development Meeting Recommendations
In May 2008, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) partnered with the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson to host a research and development meeting on the future of teacher licensure testing. The goal was that this initial discussion would guide CCSSO and its Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) in its teacher quality policy-making work with states and inform future development of assessment products and services that meet state needs.
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