Faculty Involvement in ITPS

Below is a paragraph that all faculty teaching courses with ITPS-related competencies (C through I only) should include in their course syllabi:

This course requires a demonstration of one or more of the competencies associated with the Instructional Technology Passport System (ITPS). Each required competency must be demonstrated before a teacher candidate is allowed to progress through the various Professional Studies' Gateways (Admission to Professional Studies, Admission to Student Teaching, Exit from Student Teaching). Detailed information about these competencies can be found on the ITPS web site at http://www.itps.ilstu.edu/. These competencies may be integrated with course projects at the discretion of your course instructor, but only ITPS criteria will be used to determine student compliance with ITPS standards.

Be certain to note the seriousness of the ITPS competencies, and the consequences for failure to demonstrate the required competency in the course in question. Require course work that includes the ITPS requirement. Be creative. In particular, use small group activities out of class. Include the competency in your own teaching. Point out online and other resources for student training.

What freedom do University faculty members have to adapt course projects to the ITPS criteria?
So long as the minimum competencies required as part of each project are met as outlined in the ITPS assessment rubrics, faculty are free to add requirements to various projects. Faculty are not free to replace or delete the minimum required elements of the various competencies.

If ITPS Competencies are integrated into specific course projects, faculty CANNOT hold students to a higher standard of performance for ITPS reporting purposes.  It is possible, though, for faculty to do this for class grades.  It is recommended, however, that rubrics for such assessments include elements that go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the ITPS competencies.

How will faculty assess student performance on a given competency?
Students must submit completed competencies in their electronic portfolios.  Faculty are required to assess the student’s performance on a given competency in the student’s electronic portfolio.

How will faculty report results of student assessments?
The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center (TEC), working with sequence coordinators, will contact faculty with appropriate report forms.  Faculty should report all deficient student performance directly to the TEC. The TEC will use the reported information to update the Performance Based Assessment (PBA) screens.

How will ITPS reporting requirements affect my course?
Non-compliance (only) with ITPS standards for Competencies C through I must be reported by instructors of ITSP-aligned courses to the TEC by the last week of classes. This will allow adequate time for the entering of required data into the records system. This might require instructors with course-related projects to do one of two things: 1) require earlier completion of required ITPS-related project, or 2) require submission of a draft document that satisfies only the minimum competencies associated with the ITPS requirement.

What are the informational resources that faculty can employ if they don't already possess the required skills to demonstrate the various competencies?
LILT will be the primary training ground for faculty who do not possess the requisite skills required to demonstrate the required ITPS competencies. In addition, there are resources provided by manufactures of various software, campus workshops offered by staff members of Computer User Services, and help screens provided by the software itself. In addition, there is peer instruction whereby faculty members can gather to learn from one another.

Is there an oversight committee for ITPS to which I may communicate my questions and concerns?
Yes! During the autumn of 2004, Lynn Steffen from CECP and Brian Wojcik from the Special Education Assistive Technology (SEAT) Center brought together a number of university faculty and staff members to address implementation concerns and to provide for an ongoing review and updates of ITPS. Questions and concerns may be addressed to either.