NBPTS: The Ultimate Professional Development for Teachers

Linda Iovacchini, Ed.D.

 National Board Certified Teacher

Mission:

Our mission is to establish high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do, to develop and operate a national, voluntary system to assess and certify teachers who meet these standards and to advance related education reforms for the purpose of improving student learning in American schools.

Questions:

uWhy do teachers apply?

uWhat do teachers learn?

uHow do the standards and assessment activities functions as professional development?

The study

uNine NBPTS generalists (3X3)

uSelected for convenience (5+2+2)

uSurveys, interviews, and supportive data from observations, journal entries, portfolio entries, teaching/ learning artifacts

uCategorized quotations

Why do teachers volunteer for the NBPTS assessment?

uIntrinsic (all)

lProfessional challenge (7)

lLearn and grow (6)

lConfidence (6)

Why do teachers volunteer for the NBPTS assessment?

uInstrumental (5)

lIncreased status (3)

lIncreased pay (3)

uPragmatic (4)

lNo charge  (3)

lEncouragement  (2)

Why do teachers volunteer?

uIntrinsic

lprofessional challenge, learn and grow, confidence

uInstrumental

lincreased status, pay

uPragmatic

lno charge, encouragement

What do teachers learn from their participation in the NBPTS assessment?


uAbout themselves

uAbout teaching and schools

What do teachers learn about themselves?

 

uStrengthened confidence in professional judgment (7)

uIncreased sense of professional responsibility (5)

uRenewed commitment to teaching* (5)

uIncreased sense of personal pride (6)

uImproved skills - reflection (6)

Teachers learn about teaching and schools

uCurriculum knowledge (9)

lIntegrated curriculum (4)

lContent (3)

uPedagogical knowledge (8)

lStudent empowerment (4)

lImportance of families (3)

Teachers learn about teaching and schools

uIncreased use of professional collaboration (6)

uBroader perspective on teaching and learning (8)

lAreas needing improvement (5)

lNeed for new teacher evaluation (5)

NBPTS as professional Development

uTeachers believe in the Standards

lcommitment poses the challenge

uAssessment is authentic

l teachers self assess

uProcess encourages reflection

uHorizons are broadened

lcurriculum, instructional practices, and value of collaboration

Standards As Professional Development

uTeachers see standards as credible

uStandards are well accepted

lNEA, AFT, NCTE, NCTM, NASSP, USA

uStandards give contextual examples of “advanced teaching”

uCommitment poses the challenge to

lthe NBPTS Standards

lthe assessment process

Portfolio As Professional Development

 

uThis authentic assessment supports the individual nature of teaching.  Teachers

lLook deeply into their philosophy of teaching

lAnalyze how practice meets standards

lReflect on ways their teaching inspires student learning

lMay choose areas for improvement

ucurriculum and/or pedagogy

Portfolio As Professional Development (cont.)

uMultidimensional

lPoses challenging questions

lRequires candidates to think through inhibitors to learning

lIs interdisciplinary/requires technology

lEncourages collegiality

lCreates time for deep, complex thought

uStep-by-step instructions

Assessment Center

uExpands knowledge of curriculum and pedagogy for all ages and subjects in the range of the certification

lInterviews teachers and specialists

lObserves other teachers; classes

lReads articles and reviewed theories

lReviews national standards and guides

lConsiders relationship to “big ideas”

Reflective Components

uVideotapes

lTeachers study their own teaching

uAnalyzes/reflects through writing

lTeachers analyze what they know

uIntegrates other perspectives

lTeachers synthesize different perspectives on teaching and learning

Broader Exposure

uIncreases knowledge of curriculum, instruction and problem-solving skills

uStrengthens confidence in professional judgment

uEmpowers sense of professional responsibility

uValues collegial relationships

uRenews commitment to teaching

Why do teachers volunteer for the NBPTS assessment?

 

uIntrinsic

lLearn and grow, professional challenge, confidence

uInstrumental

lIncreased status, increased pay

uPragmatic

lNo charge,  encouragement

Teachers learn about themselves

 

uStrengthened confidence in professional judgment

uIncreased sense of professional responsibility

uRenewed commitment to teaching

uIncreased personal pride

uSkills/ Reflection

Teachers Learn About Teaching and Schools

uCurriculum

uPedagogy

uAppreciation for what others have to offer

uBroader perspective on teaching and learning

NBPTS As Professional Development

uThe standards - the theory; benchmark

uThe portfolio - the authentic practice

lMatching theory to practice, choose areas for focus

uThe assessment center - collegiality

uReflective nature of the process

uBroader exposure - curriculum, instruction and problem-solving skills

NBPTS   as
Professional Development

You talk about higher order thinking....  NBPTS is the richest, best kind of professional development.  (Teacher G)