Academic Programs

   Prepare teachers to manage curriculum and instruction in more learner-centered classrooms;
   Prepare teachers to comfortably integrate current technology into curriculum and instruction;
   Prepare teachers who incorporate a knowledge of child development into curriculum and instruction activities;
   Prepare the teachers who understand the curriculum, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, and who understand the social-political nature of schooling;
   Prepare the teachers who address the needs of all children in their instructional choices.

Methods of Assessment

The School of Education has formatted the UHV students programs to meet the rules and regulations of the Texas Coordinating Board (CB) and the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC). Both entities have given specific guidelines for the elementary programs. The CB assesses the program quality by mandating the number of semester credit hours for each degree, for all education courses within the degree, and for the number of hours in each concentration. In other words, the CB assessed the quality by dictating process. SBEC, on the other hand, assesses the quality of the program by relying on measuring the product, the graduate, by standardized testing and also by dictating the process. Over years, the program ahs been continually assessed by both SBEC and the CB. In addition to the external assessment, the current objects are assessed in the following manner:

   Objective 1: ExCET for Professional Development and Elementary Comprehensive and Student Teaching;
   Objective 2: Technology woven into the entire curriculum of education courses as evidenced by the syllabi;
   Objective 3: ExCET for Professional Development and Elementary Comprehensive and Student Teaching;
   Objective 4: ExCET for Elementary Comprehensive and admission to Student Teaching which requires 2.5GPA in specialization, 2.5 GPA over all courses taken for the degree, and 2.5 GPA in English/Literature courses.
   Objective 5: ExCET for Professional Development and Elementary Comprehensive and Student Teaching;

Assessment Results

(Contact IR)

Use of Results

The faculty members teaching in the elementary program meet periodically to review ExCET results and to discuss program design based on assessed needs. Currently, the program faculty members have met twice within the last three months to work on curriculum development. The changes directed by the stats and the ExCET exam content are major considerations in program change. Suggestions from the area-wide advisory group, EPAC, are considered to be part of the ongoing assessment of the program and are carefully considered in program development.