Educación

Arecibo campus Educators Preparation Program (EPP) collects information using surveys from completers to assess their effectiveness and impact on P-12 students learning and development. In this case these completers were teachers who successfully satisfied all program requirements of our preparation program and were employed in a position for which they were prepared.

The EPP analyzed data from a survey answered by completers (n=10) to assess their commitment to impact learning and development of students considering the use of the Department of Education of Puerto Rico(DEPR) Standards and Expectations. The following figure shares results of a survey related to completers effectiveness and impact on P-12 students learning and development.

Arecibo campus EPP program collects information from employers and stakeholders to assess their opinion related to the quality of completers to achieve intended academic outcomes. To assess their opinion, the EPP uses Survey Monkey resources that includes an electronic questionnaire. The instrument includes items related to their opinion. The questionnaire uses values ranging from 1 to 4. The following figure presents results of this assessment.

Summary

The survey conducted among school principals regarding their perceptions of teacher satisfaction that completed the degree in the Arecibo campus Educator Preparation Program (EPP) revealed notably high levels of satisfaction with the professional pedagogical performance. The analysis of the results demonstrates an average satisfaction rating of 3.7, reflecting satisfaction across various research-based pedagogical practices. These practices are based upon effective delivery of teaching, attention to the diverse learning skills and potentials of students, and the use of assessment practices recommended by the Department of Education of Puerto Rico. The findings affirm the dedication of our faculty who are committed to provide best teaching and learning experiences. One area that faculty will focus more is the use of teaching methodologies related to Differentiated Instruction.

The Arecibo campus Educator Preparation Program (EPP) places a strong emphasis on Measure 3: Candidate Competency at Completion. This measure is assessed through the use of the Puerto Rico Teacher Assessment Test, known as PCMAS (Prueba para la Certificación de Maestros). The PCMAS is designed to evaluate teacher candidates from all Higher Education Institutions in Puerto Rico with EPP’s, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of fundamental knowledge and professional competencies necessary for effective teaching of our students.

Content of the PCMAS Test: General Knowledge and Professional Competencies

The PCMAS National Teacher Assessment Test is designed to be administered to candidates from all higher education institutions in the country. It goes beyond the skills and knowledge offered by a specific institution and does not require individuals to have been exposed to this material in a particular course. The test considers the content of basic university courses offered across various institutions. It incorporates professional competencies that teachers in the system have deemed necessary for a novice teacher to perform efficiently in their roles, irrespective of the school level and specialization.

The PCMAS General consists of multiple-choice items with a duration of two hours and twenty minutes and a pedagogical situation with open-ended discussion questions to be answered in thirty-five minutes. The test is divided into the following sections:

1. Fundamental Knowledge:
• Exercises focused on the areas of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, Spanish, and English.
2. Professional Pedagogy Competencies:
• Exercises focused on the areas of education foundations (human development, educational psychology, educational sociology, and educational philosophy) and methodology, teaching strategies and techniques, as well as assessment, evaluation and research.

Based on the provided results for the Arecibo Campus Educator Preparation Program (EPP) for the academic year 2022-2023 compared to other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with EPPs in Puerto Rico:

1. Fundamental Knowledge Assessment:
• Arecibo Campus EPP had 26 students taking the assessment, with 25 students (96%) approving it.
• Across other HEIs with EPPs in Puerto Rico, 374 students took the assessment, with 351 students (94%) approving it.
• Arecibo Campus EPP performed slightly better than the average of other institutions in Puerto Rico, with a higher percentage of students approving the assessment.
2. Professional Pedagogy Competencies Assessment:
• Arecibo Campus EPP had 26 students taking the assessment, with 25 students (96%) approving it.
• Among other HEIs with EPPs in Puerto Rico, 374 students took the assessment, with 351 students (94%) approving it.
• Arecibo Campus EPP again performed slightly better than the average of other institutions in Puerto Rico, with a higher percentage of students approving the assessment.

Overall, the results indicate that the Arecibo Campus EPP demonstrated strong performance in both Fundamental Knowledge and Professional Pedagogy Competencies assessments compared to other HEIs with EPPs in Puerto Rico during the specified academic year. The high approval rates suggest that the program effectively prepared its students in these areas.

For Measure 4, the EPP used results of data of a survey questionnaire administered to teachers that studied in our EPP in the past years. We randomly selected thirty students that have studied in our EPP (N=30). We received responses from twenty teachers (n=20) or 66.6% of response rate. The main objective was to know how many of students from our EPP were hired to work as teachers, in what areas of specialization were they teaching and years teaching after completing academic degrees in our EPP.

The following figures present graphs related to the ability of completers to be hired in schools.