DEPARTMENT OF MIDDLE–SECONDARY EDUCATION
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs
Dr. Mary Ariail
Associate Chair, MSE
mariail@gsu.edu
(404) 413-8382
Ms. Shaleen Tibbs
Administrative Coordinator
stibbs1@gsu.edu
(404) 413-8385
Agenda
Welcome and introductions
General information for new
students
Specific information for students in
MSE ITP Programs
LiveText
Handouts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Calendars (2) – blue (MSE) and buff (GSU)
Registration Issues - pink
Quick Reference Guide - white
New Student Checklist - yellow
LiveText Assistance Form – lilac
Dress Code for Field placements- light green
This is the color of the
handout – not the color you
have to wear to school.
This presentation is available
online at
www.livetext.com
Enter the following code in the
Visitor Pass Area: 63F0932A
(located on the Quick Reference Guide)
General Information for
New Students in MSE
Become familiar with the MSE website. Answers
to many of your questions can be found at this
location: http://mse.education.gsu.edu/
Read and be VERY familiar with all information
in the New Student Handbook.
You can access the handbook at
www.livetext.com.
In the Visitor Pass Area, enter this number:
63F0932A (in case you forgot since the last slide)
Admission Information
and Panther ID Look-up
To check on your application, go to
https://www.gosolar.gsu.edu/webforstudent.htm
Click on Admissions Status and follow the
directions on the screen. Once you have been
admitted, you may register for your courses.
Go to this website to locate your Panther ID
number: https://webdb.gsu.edu/lookup/
PAWS and GoSOLAR
PAWS (Panther Access to Web Services – is your portal for
accessing grades, checking your class roster, and learning
about important campus announcements.
GoSOLAR is the site you should use to register for classes,
submit online evaluations of instructor, view academic
records, personal information and financial aid, pay tuition
and fees, enroll in direct deposit for electronic refunds,
and order transcripts.You should spend some time getting
to know all the features of GoSOLAR.
Students can purchase a monthly MARTA pass for a
reduced fee, which may be obtained at Auxiliary and
Support Services, the Rialto Center for the Arts,
Student Accounts Cashier’s Office, or the University
Bookstore. A valid PantherCard is required to receive
the discount. The monthly pass allows unlimited access
to MARTA trains and buses. The monthly pass is valid
until the last day of the month for which it is purchased.
The closest station to the COE is the Five Points
station.
Panther Card and Panther Cash
Obtain your PantherCard as soon as possible.You must
go to Auxiliary Services in the Student Center to obtain
the card, which you will need for a number of reasons,
including access to the campus library and for using
printers in the computer labs on campus (Note:You
cannot use cash to print copies in the computer labs).
You can also use your card for PantherCash, a debit
account linked to the PantherCard. Once your account
is opened, you may use PantherCash for various
purchases and transactions with a swipe of your card.
Parking
Cars must be registered with the Parking Web. (need
PantherCard to do this.) There is no charge to register, but if
you plan on arriving consistently before 4:00 PM, you have to
pay the semester parking fee. This parking fee limits you to
parking in the M-Deck, T-Deck and Lofts, none of which are
close to the College of Education. After 4:00 PM, students
have access to all GSU parking decks for a small nightly fee.
Free parking and shuttle rides to campus are available at
Turner field on non-game days and nights.
Online Course Delivery
DesireToLearn (D2L) Your instructor may choose
to use D2L for some or all of your course delivery and/or
to facilitate synchronous (real-time) or asynchronous
discussion among class members.
(discussed later
in presentation)
Online Courses
Instructors of online courses do not always make
the initial contact with the students who are
registered for the course. If you do not hear from
the instructor before the course is scheduled to
begin, you should contact the instructor to get the
syllabus and other information such as meeting
times, course delivery (e.g. LiveText, D2L,
Elluminate, etc.). Note: Be sure to check your
GSU email account.)
The GACE Content Examinations
 GACE content examinations are required for
certification.
 You must TAKE the GACE content exam prior to
program completion.You must PASS the exam prior
to certification.
 You must score at least 220 on each part of the
GACE to be eligible for the Induction certificate.
 After initial certification, additional fields may be
added by passing the GACE in the new fields.
edTPA
Capstone project for
your initial teacher
preparation project.
 Task 1 - Planning for Instruction
 Task 2 - Instructing and Engaging Students
 Task 3 - Assessing Student Progress
edTPA
 Signature learning experiences and
assignments for the edTPA will be
embedded in your methods and field-based
courses.
 Teacher candidates complete entire edTPA
portfolio during student teaching.
 Beginning Fall 2015, must pass edTPA for
certification.
Code of Ethics
 All teacher candidates are expected to know
and comply with the Code of Ethics from the
GaPSC.
 Must take the new Ethics Assessment before
December 31, 2014 (available early in Fall
2014).
 Must pass the assessment in Spring 2015
(requirement for induction certificate)
Planning your program of study
Be proactive in planning your studies! Contact your
advisor early in your first semester, and make an
appointment to plan your program of study. (Name
and contact information will be on your letter of
acceptance from OAA). Contact your advisor as
needed throughout your program to review your plan
to ensure that you are on track for program
completion. If your advisor is unavailable, contact the
department Chair, Dr. Dana Fox (dfox@gsu.edu) or
Associate Chair, Dr. Mary Ariail (mariail@gsu.edu).
Professional Advisement Week (PAW)
(NOT to be confused with PAWS)
You must attend Professional Advisement
Week (PAW) twice a year (usually held
the week before registration opens)
while you are in your program. Look for
announcements within the first few
weeks of each fall and spring semester.
Students who do not attend PAW will
miss important information that may not
be provided at any other time.
Program Portfolios
An organized representation of your professional
accomplishments and proficiencies
Program portfolio are required for all ITP program
completion.
Portfolio must be submitted through LiveText.
You will need to purchase a key code and register for
LiveText at the beginning of your program.
Subscription is good for 5 years.
Applying for Graduation
Applying for Graduation. All
candidates for a degree must file a
formal application for graduation
with the Graduation Office (231
Sparks Hall). Graduate degree
candidates must apply at least two
semesters in advance of the
expected semester of graduation.
Graduation Audit
The Office of Academic Assistance (OAA) conducts a
program audit during the semester for which you apply
to graduate; however, if the OAA determines that you
are missing one or more courses, you will not have
time to add those courses during your final semester.
Therefore, you should ask your program advisor for a
program audit at least one full semester before you plan
to graduate.
Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to make
sure that all requirements for graduation and
certification are met.
Other Important Information
Keep up with important deadlines, such as portfolio
submission dates and graduation application.
Read and be familiar with all policies in the graduate
catalog or the undergraduate catalog (links are included
on the GoSOLAR page).
Read and be familiar with the MSE Policy on Development
and Retention (located in the New Student Handbook).
A lway s u s e yo u r G S U e m a i l a c c o u n t a n d
i n c l u d e yo u r Pa n t h e r I D nu m b e r f o r
s c h o o l - r e l at e d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e .
Calendars (GSU and MSE)
Add important events to
your personal calendars!
 Academic Calendar for
GSU (buff)
o Check for university
deadlines
 Calendar of Events for
MSE (blue)
Registration Issues
See Registration Issues handout
(pink):
www.livetext.com
Visitor pass: 63F0932A
Quick Reference Guide (white)
 Contact your advisor for specific
information on courses you should take
during your program.
 Visitor pass codes
 New student information
 TEEMS program information
NEW Student Checklist (Yellow)
Make sure all items
on the checklist are
completed ASAP!
Planning for field placements
 Placement assignments will be sent prior to fall placement start dates
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(8/26/2014 – 12/05/2014).
Hours for Practicum Field Placement BSE and BS Physics = 16 hrs per week,
MAT = 20 hrs per week)
Maximum course load during student teaching – 12 hours for graduate
students, 15 hours for undergraduate students
Working during field placements is strongly discouraged (not allowed at all
during student teaching). PLAN AHEAD!
Follow school system calendar for all holidays (including spring break)
Study abroad options must be approved by program faculty and department
associate chair at least one semester before travel.
Do not contact the school administrators or teachers to arrange your own
placement.
You cannot be placed in a school where you have relatives working or
attending (including your children).
Disciplinary Review
 Complete criminal background check immediately! Do not
wait until near time for placement to begin.
 Removal of disciplinary review restriction by GSU does not
guarantee placement for practicum or student teaching.
 Partner schools and school systems reserve the right to
refuse placements for any teacher candidate they consider to
be unacceptable for any reason.
 GaPSC reserves the right to refuse to grant certification even
though a teacher candidate may have completed the approved
program.
Professional Behavior and Dispositions
• 20% of grade for Practicum 1 and Student Teaching
• Must earn 80% or higher to pass course
• Items that may cause you to lose points towards your dispositions score include the
following:
• Any action that violates the GaPSC Professional Code of Ethics
• Turning in assignments that are carelessly created, late or plagiarized
• Arriving late or failing to attend GSU mandatory sessions or school placement site
• Being disrespectful to GSU administration/staff/faculty/university
supervisor/mentor teacher/school administration
• Any request to remove you from your assigned school site by the county
administration due to your inappropriate actions.
• Dressing inappropriately for an educational setting
Particularly egregious behavior may result in dismissal from the course and a
grade of F. Repeated violations will result in dismissal from the program.
Teaching Certificates
Certification is conferred by the Georgia
Professional Standards Commission (not by GSU)
T-4 – Bachelor’s level (Bachelor’s degree and all
certification requirements completed)
T-5 – Master’s level (Master’s degree and all
certification requirements completed)
Certificate Levels
Pre-service certificate requirements
 Enrolled in ITP program
 Criminal background check
Induction certificate requirements (may be T-4 or T-5; good for
three years)
 Complete certification program (GPA of 3.0 or higher)
 Pass Ethics Assessment
 Pass program portfolio
 Pass edTPA (after 9/1/15)
 Pass GACE content exams (score 220 or higher on each
part)
 Must be hired to teach in a public school in Georgia
Important!
In order to receive your induction certificate
before August 2015, all certification
requirements (including completion of EPY
7080 and EXC 4020 for graduate students)
must be completed by the end of Spring
semester 2015.
Requirement
Every student enrolled in Initial Teacher Preparation
programs in MSE must maintain an active LiveText account
throughout the program. Purchase LiveText key code here.
You will be charged a one-time fee of $80 if you order
from this link.Your account activation code will be sent to
your GSU email address within 3-5 business days. Or you
can purchase your key code directly from LiveText for $98
(immediate access).
Your subscription will be good for 5 years and can be
renewed after expiration.
Using LiveText
You will find many uses for your LiveText
account. The two that you should know
about very early in your program are
 your program portfolio, and
 courses taught through the LiveText C1
course management system.
It is each student’s responsibility to maintain an
active LT account and to be proficient in its use.
For help with LiveText
Contact Dr. Mary Ariail at
mariail@gsu.edu
QUESTIONS?