Cooperative Teacher and University Supervisor Ratings: Comparing Teacher Candidates’ Knowledge, Skills, and Professional Dispositions

• In Event: Improving Preservice Teachers’ Reflective and Evaluative Feedback Mechanisms

Abstract

As part of the NCATE accreditation renewal process, a teacher education program in northeastern Pennsylvania examined its measurement practices of teacher candidates’ (N = 467) field based experiences from Fall 2009 to Spring 2012 to determine the fairness, consistency, and accuracy of the evaluation process. Across the two field based experiences completed by each candidate, inter-rater reliabilities were calculated and summative cooperating teacher and University supervisor ratings from a local rating scale were compared. Overall results yielded inter-rater reliability coefficients well below an acceptable range and high cooperating teacher ratings of candidates for both field placements. Cooperating teachers and university supervisor ratings were most different during the first field placement.

Authors

• Francis DeMatteo, Marywood University

• Patricia Sullivan Arter, Marywood University

• Estelle Campenni, Marywood University

• Tammy Brown, Marywood University