The Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy at the University of Northern Iowa offers teachers a variety of educational and professional development opportunities to enhance literacy education and ultimately improve literacy learning in all children. A key initiative of the center is the Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (PCL), a model developed by the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. UNI's Jacobson Center is one of seven national training centers for the PCL, which features a systemic approach to school reform, based on preparing literacy coaches to work with school districts on best practices in literacy instruction.
PCL is dedicated to increasing student achievement. It includes high quality professional development, research-based instructional practices and a comprehensive assessment system. Highly prepared literacy coaches are the key to this effort. PCL literacy coaches are prepared by the Jacobson Center and other PCL centers during the course of a year-long training program. The Jacobson Center will welcome its first class of literacy coaches this summer at the Summer Institute scheduled June 25 through 28 at the Park Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls. Districts and Area Education Agencies are encouraged to send teams of teachers and administrators to the Summer Institute and to apply to have teachers trained to be PCL coaches.
Schools can apply for financial assistance for literacy coach preparation. The program is geared toward current teachers who hold a master's degree in literacy education or other related fields; are employed as a literacy coach in his/her school; hold a minimum of three years of teaching experience; and work in a school with a Reading Recovery program. School administrators must also apply and agree to implement the PCL model with integrity.
Prospective literacy coaches earn 21 hours of UNI graduate-credit coursework. They implement PCL in their schools during their year of preparation, conducting and facilitating professional development sessions with their school faculty and working with their principal to establish school-wide assessment and instructional systems.
For more information about PCL, the summer institute and to apply for the program, visit www.uni.edu/coe/pcl or contact UNI's Jacobson Center at (319) 273-2053 or jccl@uni.edu.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards
Adobe Youth Voices invites educators to participate in the Aspire Awards, giving young creatives the opportunity to have their work showcased publicly. This media festival seeks to recognize outstanding creative projects that demonstrate imagination and expression along with an evident motivation for social change.
Register: Sign up with Adobe Youth Voices Essentials and receive free creative curriculum covering subjects from printed posters to animated video.
Choose your format: The Aspire Awards will accept entries in the following categories (choose the format that best fits your students and their creative goals):
Need help finding project ideas? Check out the free creative curriculum offered by Adobe Youth Voices Essentials.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Register: Sign up with Adobe Youth Voices Essentials and receive free creative curriculum covering subjects from printed posters to animated video.
Choose your format: The Aspire Awards will accept entries in the following categories (choose the format that best fits your students and their creative goals):
- Animation
- Audio
- Graphic Design
- Digital Photography
- Documentary
- Music Video
- Narrative
- Poetry/Experimental
Need help finding project ideas? Check out the free creative curriculum offered by Adobe Youth Voices Essentials.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Friday, February 17, 2012
HEART and Using the New Iowa Assessments
After some delays, reports and data files for the new Iowa Assessments are starting to be delivered to schools. Naturally, there is some urgency to view the data in HEART and to start using the new reports from the Iowa Testing Program. Here is how the Agency is approaching these issues.
Unfortunately, it will take some time to rewrite the upload, import, storage and reporting features in HEART to handle the new data. The preliminary design ideas have been worked out based on the limited information previously available. Now that we have sample data files, the programming work can begin. Please be aware that it will take at least one to two months to take care of all of the new programming.
Based on what we know so far about the new data, a few changes in HEART are likely. There does not appear to be established proficiency cut points for any tests other than reading, mathematics, written expression, science and social studies for grades 3-11. Without cut points, proficiency graphs cannot be generated for any other tests of the Iowa Assessments or any grades outside of 3-11. Also, we do not have access to the necessary statistical data to build new growth charts which means these graphs will be unusable with the new Iowa Assessment data.
Finally, the individual student report and multi-test display will need some reworking to handle multiple score types in a way that helps prevent misinterpretation of the data. Thank you for your patience with the delays while we make all of the necessary changes.
If you have any further questions about HEART and the transition to the Iowa Assessments, please contact Connor Hood at chood@aea11.k12.ia.us.
As you work with the new Iowa Assessments reports, please remember that Heartland AEA has several resources available to help. There are videos from Iowa Testing Program workshops, handouts, PowerPoint presentations and the support of our Assessment Consultants. Check with your regional director for more details.
Unfortunately, it will take some time to rewrite the upload, import, storage and reporting features in HEART to handle the new data. The preliminary design ideas have been worked out based on the limited information previously available. Now that we have sample data files, the programming work can begin. Please be aware that it will take at least one to two months to take care of all of the new programming.
Based on what we know so far about the new data, a few changes in HEART are likely. There does not appear to be established proficiency cut points for any tests other than reading, mathematics, written expression, science and social studies for grades 3-11. Without cut points, proficiency graphs cannot be generated for any other tests of the Iowa Assessments or any grades outside of 3-11. Also, we do not have access to the necessary statistical data to build new growth charts which means these graphs will be unusable with the new Iowa Assessment data.
Finally, the individual student report and multi-test display will need some reworking to handle multiple score types in a way that helps prevent misinterpretation of the data. Thank you for your patience with the delays while we make all of the necessary changes.
If you have any further questions about HEART and the transition to the Iowa Assessments, please contact Connor Hood at chood@aea11.k12.ia.us.
As you work with the new Iowa Assessments reports, please remember that Heartland AEA has several resources available to help. There are videos from Iowa Testing Program workshops, handouts, PowerPoint presentations and the support of our Assessment Consultants. Check with your regional director for more details.
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