for program administrators & coordinators

Using TSAP with Groups in Programs

The online TSAP and the ACT2Teach Web site were designed for use by an individual for personal exploration into teaching as a career as well for use in alternative teacher certification and teacher preparation programs. The Web site is specifically oriented toward transitioning military personnel who are potential candidates for teaching positions.

TSAP is designed for formative purposes in order to determine current state knowledge, skills, and competencies related to teaching. It was created for use with career changers.

College and university program coordinators who facilitate teacher preparation programs will also find the information provided by the TSAP helpful. TSAP scores can help you identify areas where additional coaching or mentoring might be most valuable to a specific student.

Those directly involved in coordinating school district or regional training center alternative certification programs will find the TSAP particularly valuable. First, overall results will help you and the teacher candidate identify a skills benchmark, thereby helping to recognize progress and improvement. Additionally, the TSAP can help to focus mentoring and observations. Individual participant results, coupled with the customized Action Plans may be used to support creation of professional development plans.

Possible appropriate uses for the TSAP include:

• Assessment of career changers exploring teaching as a possible second career
• Assessment of career changers who want to prepare for interviewing or entering the classroom on a temporary certificate.
• Assessment of those entering alternative certification programs or other intensive programs administered by school districts, regional training centers, or colleges/universities.
• Assessment of students preparing to enter upper level education courses.
• Assessment of students preparing for internship experiences.
• Other assessment targeted at professional development for inexperienced or novice teachers.

In each of the situations mentioned above, the TSAP provides specific information to help target professional development gaps. It is not intended nor approved for selection or summative evaluation uses.

Customizing and Administrative Reports

Program administrators or coordinators who arrange to use the TSAP within the context of a teacher training or preparation program have access to their participants’ information and reports. Using an assigned access code, you as a program administrator may generate a number of reports once participants have completed the TSAP process. For example, you may:

• Generate individual Scores, Summary Reports and Action Plans
• Generate demographic information by individual participant
• Sort demographic information
• Export information into other applications to customize reports for your own needs

We have developed a set of suggestions for implementing TSAP in a group setting. For example, if you’d like a cadre of 10 teacher candidates to complete the assessment process in one setting, we’d suggest a specific sequence that allow for reasonable breaks and timely completion. Based on experience with the cadre implementation, we have other ideas that will help make your process efficient and fun. Contact us for more information on this topic.

An outstanding feature of the TSAP process is the Action Plan. We have developed, with educators in participating school districts in Florida, an Action Plan based on Florida alternative certification program requirements. Within the Action Plan are activities and instructions associated with specific skill areas as well as evaluation rubrics for the artifacts resulting from completing the activities. These are available for use by any affiliating program desiring them.

Also available, however, is customization of the Action Plan for your specific standards or criteria. The Action Plan is designed so that different groups can provide an Action Plan built around its own needs for its participants. For example, you may customize the Action Plans to reflect specific district or educational program requirements. Contact us for more information on this topic.

Please take a moment to view a brief slideshow overview of the instrument.

If you wish to consider use of the TSAP in your program, please contact us to discuss viewing it.

Cost: Commercial cost of the TSAP is $99. Volume discount rates are available. Please contact Eckerd College at 727-864-8061 for information or e-mail ACT@eckerd.edu.

Take the TSAP!