CSU Conference on Strengthening
Teacher Education in the Undergraduate Years
SJSU Action Plan

SJSU Conference Team:

Linda Bain, Provost (team leader)

Dolores Escobar, Dean, College of Education

Lynne Gray, Co-chair, Division of Teacher Education

Nancy Lourié, Elementary Education

Mina Garman, Associate Dean, College of Humanities & the Arts

Paula Gillett, Coordinator, Liberal Studies

Judith Barnes, English (chair of AUTEC)

Summary of Plan:

Prior to the conference, San José State University (SJSU) identified teacher education as a campus priority and has begun efforts to strengthen and expand its programs. SJSU worked in partnership with area school districts to establish professional development schools and participates in a number of other collaborative efforts. The University responded to the K-3 class size reduction by working with area school districts to develop internship programs leading to a multiple subjects credential. During the past year, the Provost established the SJSU/K-12 Advisory Board to provide guidance to our teacher education programs and the Office of School/University Partnerships to facilitate collaboration with K-12 schools. The Advisory Board has reviewed the recommendations of the CSU Presidents Group on Teacher Education and has committed to working to achieve the goals described in the document.

The CSU Conference provided an opportunity to consider ways to strengthen teacher education in the undergraduate years. Our team agreed to focus on the following goals:

(1) Linking content, pedagogy, and field experiences in undergraduate teacher education programs

(2) Developing shared responsibility for teacher education programs among subject-matter faculty (at SJSU and in community colleges), education faculty, and K-12 educators

(3) Developing a "user-friendly" teacher education program that meets the needs of a diverse student population

The team identified several action steps that are described below. Subsequent to the conference, the Provost met with a representative of the Hewlett Foundation to discuss our plans to strengthen teacher education and a team of faculty is preparing a grant proposal seeking support for our efforts.

Task: Planning for involvement of "stakeholders"

The All-University Teacher Education Committee (AUTEC) has begun plans to involve major stakeholders (subject-matter faculty, education faculty, community college faculty, students, K-12 educators) in discussions of how to link content, pedagogy, and field experience. We are planning a retreat in March, 1998 that will launch a major effort to achieve this goal.

Task: Seek input and support from relevant administrators

The Provost has discussed the goal of strengthening teacher education in the undergraduate years with the Council of Deans and has secured their support for the effort. The subset of deans who have teacher education programs in their colleges are working as a team to make recommendations regarding resource allocation and expansion of teacher education programs.

Task: Develop plan to provide incentives and support for faculty involvement in curriculum development

A group including faculty, deans, and representatives from Faculty Affairs has been assigned the task of identifying resources that can be made available to support faculty involvement in curriculum development. The grant proposal to the Hewlett Foundation is a potential source of funds.

Task: Planning for making teacher education programs "user-friendly"

A group including faculty, students, and staff from key offices (Admissions and Records, Academic Services, Liberal Studies, Credentials Office, Career Center) has been asked to evaluate the processes and services that support students' progress in attaining a teaching credential and to make the process as "user-friendly" as possible. Particular attention will be given to adequate advising.

Task: Investigation of various models for linking content, pedagogy, and field experiences in undergraduate programs

The conference team agreed that our efforts should be informed by an investigation of models from other institutions for linking content, pedagogy, and field experiences. This investigation is part of a broader effort to identify current knowledge and best practices in teacher education as a basis for curricular reform and potential reorganization. The Office of School/University Partnerships and the writing team for the Hewlett Foundation grant proposal are taking responsibility for this investigation.