June 10, 2005
Student Name
Student Address
Dear Student’s first name,
As you may know, the School of Education Masters of Education programs in Elementary and
Secondary Education have recently undergone a number of changes. We reconfigured the
required courses to create a sequence to the program as well as include two checkpoints to
monitor student progress.
While we realize that you are not officially registered in this program, you are part of a specially
selected group that we are asking to assist us with testing some of our instruments and
procedures. You have completed half (18 credit hours) of the required 36 credit hours in our
program. This is a good time to stop and reflect on your educational experiences. In the future,
students who are at this point will have a formal portfolio check point which will entail, for
example, submitting a portfolio of artifacts and reflections from courses and P-12 experiences,
updating resume and personal educational biography, as well as completing a series of
reflections about the School of Education’s vision statement and use of technology.
The benefits to you for assisting us in testing our instruments and procedures include 1) being
publicly recognized at the School of Education Graduation and Alumni Dinner in May 2006, 2)
meeting and interacting with a small group of faculty to discuss the Master’s program, and 3)
having the opportunity to reflect on your educational experiences in the program and share those
reflections with a small group of selected colleagues who are also at the same point. While we
believe this experience will benefit you, we also realize that the program and faculty will
significantly benefit as well. For example, we will 1) become more informed as to how students
are experiencing our program, 2) increase the lines of communication between faculty and
students, and 3) receive important information about the effectiveness of our tools and
procedures that we are preparing to use in our new program.
To minimize your time away from your course work, we are asking that you complete only 2
tasks in preparation for the 1-hour meeting. As both of these tasks involve personal reflections
on your experiences, there are no right or wrong answers. We want to hear your interpretations
and perspectives. You are being asked to complete the following:
A) Reflection and analysis of the program’s vision statement, and
B) Reflection on your use of technology (see enclosures for additional details and directions)
In order to accommodate busy schedules, we have planned two meeting times from which you
can select the ONE time that best fits your needs. This 1 hour, informal meeting will allow you
to join with selected colleagues in the Master’s program who have also completed 18 credit
hours and faculty members to discuss your reflections. Please RSVP to Cheryl Wolever
(wolever@ipfw.edu ) by Friday, July 8 as to which meeting you will be attending. The
days/times to choose from are:
Tuesday July 12 from 10:00 – 11:00 am in Neff 257
Tuesday July 12 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm in Neff 257
We realize that you may be in class during this time. All professors have agreed to allow you to
miss class in order to participate in this important meeting. So that you know how the hour-long
meeting will be conducted, we are providing the following agenda:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Welcome and snacks
Brief introductions of faculty and students
Complete a self-report of professional dispositions
Divide into small groups of students and faculty to discuss your reflections and
educational experiences in the Master’s program and ask questions of each other.
We appreciate your dedication to IPFW and your willingness to assist us in making our graduate
programs even stronger. We look forward to discussing our program with you in July.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kathleen Murphey,
Associate Dean of School
of Education and
Chair of UAS Committee
Enclosures:
Scholar-Practitioner Reflection
Technology Reflection Format and Rubric
Technology Log
Conceptual Framework
Dr. Terri Jo Swim
Assistant Professor and Member of
UAS Committee