Intern Assessment

Principles of Assessment across the Intern Year

Interns, field instructors and mentor teachers share responsibility for ongoing assessment. While many individuals contribute to on-going intern evaluation, field instructors are responsible for both facilitating evaluations and determining intern grades in TE 501 and 502. A grade of P (pass) or N (no grade) is given for TE 501 and 502. Grades for TE 801, 802, 803 and 804 are numerical grades given by each course instructor.

Compatible with professional standards for beginning teaching developed at the national and state levels, the program standards offer a set of aspirations to strive for and a basis for judging how interns are doing in their efforts to become well-started novices. The internship allows a shift in the focus of evaluation over the two semesters from an early emphasis on the intern's stance as a learner to greater emphasis on the intern's capacity to enact the standards in practice.
Interns' progress should reflect their professional participation in their own and others' learning.

Evidence of progress will come from a variety of sources, including :

the professional judgment of the mentor teacher and field instructor based on observation and assessment of the intern's work in the classroom, the school and conferences
the intern's questions, comments and contributions to discussions with the mentor teacher, field instructor and colleagues
written material such as journal entries, assignments, daily plans, etc.
the interns' attendance and promptness at teaching assignments and seminars

Conferences should be an opportunity for in-depth discussion of an intern's progress, not a time to surprise interns with feedback for which they are not prepared. This does not mean that difficult conversations should be avoided, but that communication about evaluation issues should be an ongoing process throughout the year.

Grading for TE 501/502

Grades in TE 501 are assigned at the end of each semester, with an estimated grade given at the mid-term conference for each semester.

Pass (P) In the fall, (P) means that the intern is open to learning, is working hard to understand the standards and figure out what their enactment in classrooms entails, is actively seeking guidance and feedback, and is making steady progress in learning to think and act like a professional beginning teacher. In the spring, (P) means that the intern has an understanding of what the standards mean and what they entail and can realize the standards in practice at a level appropriate for a well-started beginning teacher.

Pass with Concern (P) (not available as a final grade for TE 502) is appropriate when an intern is actively working on learning to teach but is experiencing difficulties putting the learning into practice. The problem area(s) need to be addressed in order to receive a pass (P) during the next evaluation conference. A Professional Development Plan will be developed that outlines the areas of concern, the supports that will be given, the specific behaviors that must be exhibited, the date by which they will be assessed and the consequences of not meeting the expectations outlined. Interns who are given a Pass with Concern and do not meet the expectations of the Professional Development Plan by the required date may be withdrawn from the internship and/or given a grade of (N) in 501/2.

No Grade (N) is based on evidence of serious deficiencies in the knowledge and understanding, skills and dispositions required by the program standards, or in the rate of progress toward understanding and enacting them. If (N) is given as an estimated grade at a mid-semester conference, the problem area(s) need to be addressed in order to receive a Pass (P) during the next evaluation conference.

Professional Development Plan

A Professional Development Plan will be developed that outlines the areas of concern, the supports that will be given, the specific behaviors that must be exhibited, the date by which they will be assessed and the consequences of not meeting the expectations outlined. Interns who are given a Pass with Concern and do not meet the expectations of the Professional Development Plan by the required date may be withdrawn from the internship and/or given a grade of (N) in 501/2. (N) at the end of a semester means that the intern did not achieve a satisfactory level of progress and performance and no credit is granted. Interns who receive No Grade (N) in TE 501 are not eligible to enroll in TE 502, TE 803 or TE 804. Interns who receive No Grade (N) in TE 502 will not be recommended for certification.

Incomplete (I) Interns will not be given an incomplete when they are irresponsible or delinquent in completing work. Refer to the University's Academic Programs manual for detailed information regarding incomplete grades. Further, note that because the fall semester internship courses are prerequisites for the spring courses, any (I) grade in the fall semester must be remedied before the start of the spring semester.

Deferred (DF) can be used for interns who encounter medical or psychological difficulties during the internship and need to postpone the internship to the following year in order to receive treatment. The intern will not be required to register again for a deferred course; however, the intern will not be a registered student during the intervening time and will not have access to financial aid or student services on campus unless he or she registers for other courses. Refer to the University's Academic Programs manual for detailed information regarding deferred grades.