Biology Section 4 Candidate Preparation
a. Student perceptions of teacher preparation (including the use of technological tools)
Not due until 2005-2010.
b. Content (assessment data, including MTTC pass rates)
The collective pass rate for the MTTC exam #17, Biology, is 65% for students who have claimed affiliation with EMU from July 1999 to April 2003. This is 1% higher than the State cumulative total of the most recent 16 administrations of this exam. However, the table below reveals the all EMU pass rates from October 2001 to April 2003 is higher than the State pass rate. From July 2002 to April 2003 the EMU pass rate in Biology was 100%, which is significantly higher (26%-30%) than the State pass rate.
We attribute the increase in pass rate as a result of a change in the administration of reporting the exam scores and program changes in the Biology Teaching Major and Minor. In October, 2001 EMU was authorized to strike persons who claimed affiliation with EMU but were not bonafide EMU candidates in the Teacher Preparation Program. After reviewing the Subarea scores for MTTC exam #17 administered from July 1999 - October 2000, the Biology Dept.’s Curriculum Committee revised the Biology Teaching Major and Minor program to improve areas of weakness in particular subjects (Human Biology and Heredity & Evolution). Beginning Fall 2001, new majors and minors in the biology teaching program took more required courses (e.g. ZOO 326 Human Physiology and BIOL 315 Evolution) and fewer elective courses (refer to Section 2.b. for course sequence). We believe the high pass rate on the MTTC exam reflects the quality in which the Biology program prepares its candidates for secondary level instruction.
|
Test Date |
* EMU Pass Rate |
State Pass Rate |
Number of Examinees: EMU State |
|
|
Jul. 1999 |
68% |
54% |
19 |
181 |
|
Oct. 1999 |
50% |
56% |
12 |
126 |
|
Jan. 2000 |
57% |
61% |
14 |
193 |
|
Apr. 2000 |
50% |
61% |
14 |
247 |
|
Jul. 2000 |
23% |
57% |
13 |
198 |
|
Oct. 2000 |
60% |
55% |
10 |
167 |
|
Jan. 2001 |
71% |
62% |
14 |
201 |
|
Apr. 2001 |
53% |
56% |
17 |
209 |
|
Jul. 2001 |
65% |
60% |
17 |
206 |
|
Only bonafide EMU students are reported below |
||||
|
Oct. 2001 * |
86% |
78% |
7 |
142 |
|
Jan. 2002 * |
92% |
77% |
13 |
206 |
|
Apr. 2002 * |
86% |
73% |
7 |
191 |
|
Jul. 2002 * |
100% |
70% |
8 |
151 |
|
Oct. 2002 * |
---- |
---- |
---- |
---- |
|
Jan. 2003 * |
100% |
74% |
4 |
179 |
|
Apr. 2003 * |
100% |
71% |
3 |
185 |
|
Cum./Total |
65% |
64% |
172 |
2782 |
|
*Effective October 2001, EMU has authorization to strike “inappropriate” persons who have claimed affiliation with EMU. October, 2002 data was not available. |
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c. Pedagogy [based on 1998 Entry-level Standards for Michigan Teachers (ELSMT)]
Not due until 2005-2010.
d. Cooperating teacher/university supervisor perceptions of teacher preparation
Not due until 2005-2010.
e. Content-area faculty perceptions of teacher preparation
Not due until 2005-2010.
Biology Department faculty were asked to respond to the following survey question: Based on the required courses and experiences described in the EMU Biology Major and Minor programs for secondary certification, I believe candidates are well prepared to teach in the secondary classroom.
The table below reveals the responses from eighteen Biology Faculty members. Sixteen out of eighteen faculty have a positive perception of the teacher preparation program for EMU Biology candidates.
|
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree Strongly |
Disagree |
|
7 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
f. Evidence of impact of program graduates on K-12 learning
Not due until 2005-2010.