Digital Promise and Getting Smart Share Vision for Preparing Teachers For Deeper Learning

    SEATTLE, WA, May 01, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Education advocacy firm, Getting Smart, in association with the education innovation nonprofit, Digital Promise, today released, "Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning: Competency-Based Teacher Preparation and Development," a white paper that outlines the attributes of next-generation teacher preparation and makes recommendations to support teacher preparation and development systems.

This paper is co-authored by Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart, Dr. Carri Schneider, Director of Policy and Research of Getting Smart, and Karen Cator, President and CEO of Digital Promise. In addition to the paper, a complementary infographic, "Competency-Based Teacher Preparation & Professional Development," offers a visual outline of the paper's big ideas.

The paper outlines how the role of teachers is changing amid broader shifts to personalized, blended, and deeper learning. In order for the current state of teacher preparation and development to evolve accordingly, the authors recommend professional learning opportunities that echo the type of personalized learning that is recommended for students:
- Some element of teacher control over time, place, path and/or pace;
- Balance between teacher-defined goals, goals as defined by administration through teacher evaluation efforts, and school and district educational goals;
- Job-embedded and meaningful integration into classroom practice; and
- Competency-based progression.

"Drawing on examples from outside of the field of education as well as innovators in higher education and K-12, we build the case for competency-based teacher education," said Vander Ark. "In the same way that student assessment is evolving to prioritize demonstrations of mastery over basic proficiency, competency-based teacher development would enable pre-service and practicing teachers to demonstrate knowledge and skills at regular intervals."

"The design and implementation of a system of micro-credentials could support a shift to competency-based pathways for educators," said Cator. "Such a system would include explanations of competencies, multiple opportunities to develop and learn, and a way to demonstrate and prove proficiency."

"Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning" is the third in a series of papers from Getting Smart that explore how a focus on Deeper Learning competencies is changing the nature of teaching and learning in order to personalize instruction and better prepare students for college and career.

On Friday, President Obama directed the U.S. Department of Education to lay out a plan to strengthen America's teacher preparation programs for public discussion by this summer, and to move forward on schedule to publish a final rule within the next year. The Administration will encourage and support states in developing systems that recognize excellence and provide all programs with information to help them improve, while holding them accountable for how well they prepare teachers to succeed in today's classrooms and throughout their careers.

"Rightfully so, the national conversation around personalization has been driven by what's best for students," said Schneider. "We are just beginning to scratch the surface of the possibilities for personalized learning to impact the teaching profession."

To learn more download the full paper.

To learn more about Digital Promise's work to reimagine teacher credentials, check out Digital Promise Micro-Credentials.

About Digital Promise
Digital Promise is an independent, bipartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to spur innovation in education in order to improve the opportunity to learn for all Americans. Through its work with educators, technologists, researchers, and leading thinkers, Digital Promise supports a comprehensive agenda to benefit lifelong learning and provide Americans with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the global economy.

About Getting Smart
Getting Smart is an education advocacy firm passionate about innovations in learning. We help education organizations construct cohesive and forward-thinking strategies for branding, awareness, advancement and communication, and public and media relations. We are advocates for better K-12 education as well as early, post-secondary and informal learning opportunities for all students. We attempt to accelerate and improve the shift to digital learning. On GettingSmart.com we cover important events, trends, products, books and reports.

*MEDIA CONTACTS*
Jennifer Aalgaard at (206) 291-7190 or [email protected]
Jason Tomassini at (484) 888-8210 or [email protected]

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