Political Dimensions of edTPA Technology Implementation: The Unintended Consequences of ePortfolio Assessment in Teacher Education

• In Event: Innovation in Portfolio and Reflection Research: New Dimensions in Context, Methods, and Participants

Abstract

The authors demonstrate how a new, national teacher certification exam—colloquially referred to as the edTPA—exemplifies unintended consequences when implementing high-stakes ePortfolio systems within teacher education. Conducting qualitative analysis at 8 teacher preparation programs (TPPs) across 2 states employing the edTPA, they found a state’s policy design, TPP institutional resources/buy-in, and technological competencies combined to either hinder or promote fidelity of such accountability tools. Bridging these policy-oriented dimensions, they highlight better approaches towards implementing technologically based licensure assessments across states and TPPs more broadly.

Authors

• Craig W. De Voto, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Michael K. Thomas, University of Illinois at Chicago