ELEMENTARY EDUCATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE
December 15, 2011
8:00 a.m.
Steve Brown, Patty Clay, Dr. Jean Dockers, Dr. Gloria Flynn, Dr. Julie Samuels, Dr. Kathy
Spillman, attended the meeting. Ex-officio member in attendance was Dr. Alice Sagehorn.
Dr. Becky Brannock, Amber Tankersley and Dr. Marti York were absent.
Steve Brown presented an overview of the Exhibit Center in LiveText. He will send the
passcode to committee members for access to the center.
Dr. Dockers provided an overview of the feedback discussion held with fall 2011 student
teachers.
What were the most helpful aspects of the PSU teacher education program?
 Field experience
 Faculty support
 Lesson planning
What changes would you recommend to improve the PSU teacher education
program?
 Add courses with assessment/cooperative learning
 Incorporate more special education
 SSLS 330 to be a hybrid course, more emphasis on applying latest
technology (i.e., SmartBoard, iPad)
 More clinical experience, writing and English courses in place of Music,
Art, PE
 Scenario class that gives ideas on how to deal with potential issues
 More information about special needs students (i.e., ADD, ADHD,
Asperger’s, ESOL, etc)
 More assessment – data driven decision making
 Diversity course & SSLS 510 should both be extended over two courses –
too much information packed into one semester
 More on how to read data
 More application of classroom management – possibly add a field
experience

What changes would you recommend to improve the professional semester?
 Professional Semester seminars should be moved prior to the PS
 Move from Thursdays to either Mon. or Fri.
 More application of technology
 Add mock interview day
 more role playing activities
In your professional practice, in what areas did you feel the most prepared?
 Math
 Reading
 Science
 Lesson planning
 Relationships with students
In your professional practice, in what areas did you feel the least prepared?
 Classroom management
 Social Studies – course concentrates on K-2
 Differentiation of instruction
 IEP’s, gifted, special education in general
 ECU – add diversity course
 Handling paperwork, organizational tips
 evaluation/grading
 lesson planning
All data will be provided to programs once all discussion and written feedback has been
compiled.
From the feedback, the following ideas were discussed:
 Confidentiality agreement for candidates in field experiences may provide access to
more data for the teacher candidates.
 Candidates may benefit from a seminar in the Professional Semester on how to deal
with other adults in the classroom (i.e., paraprofessional, substitute, etc).
 An evaluation of the Professional Semesters model is being evaluated – specifically
the time out of the classroom for campus seminars. Online modules would be one
way to deliver the material without taking the candidates out of the classroom.
 Academic advisors could make one visit during the Professional Semester to
observe their advisees similar to the secondary/PK-12 candidates.
 Brainstorm an improved method of selecting cooperating teachers.
Dr. Dockers noted that there is a SmartBoard located in B23 Hughes Hall that is available
for student use.
The committee discussed admission requirements for elementary candidates (both K-6 and
Early Childhood Unified majors) in relation to grade point average (GPA). Currently,
students have only one GPA requirement at admission to Teacher Education – 33-hour
general education core with a 2.75 GPA. Upon admission to the Professional Semester as
well as graduation, candidates are held to a cumulative GPA requirement of 2.80. A
discussion was held as to whether a cumulative GPA requirement should be added for
admission to Teacher Education. The committee would like to examine if there appears to
be a correlation between the cumulative and core GPA’s. The Office of Teacher Education
will compile the data for students enrolled in CURIN 366 for the fall 2011 semester and
present it at the next meeting.
The next meeting will be Thursday, February 16th at 8:00 a.m. It will be held in 126
Hughes Hall.