Pre-Teacher Preparation Program

Program Goals

1. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the foundations and concepts related to elementary education.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with a variety of instruction strategies for elementary school students.
3. Demonstrate basic knowledge in the following areas: art, communication, humanities, language, literature, science, and social sciences.

Program History

In 1963 The Trust Territory of he Pacific Islands and the University of Hawaii created the Micronesian Teacher Education Center (MTEC) to provide in-service teacher training. MTEC began offering a pre-service associate of science degree program in teacher education in 1969. In 1970 MTEC became Community College of Micronesia (CCM). CCM added an in-service teacher education degree through the merging of the College’s extension program and the district teacher education centers in 1974. CCM was first accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in 1978. In 1982 the Third-year Certificate of Achievement programs in Elementary and Special Education were added. In 1992 the FSM established COM-FSM as a public corporation, and in 1993 CCM became COM-FSM. Also in 1993, the Certificate of Achievement in Preschool Teacher Education was added. In 1994 the Third-year Certificate of Achievement in Related Services Assistant was added, followed by the Third-year Certificate of Achievement program in Educational Leadership Academy in 1995. In 1996 the Associate of Science Degree program in Early Childhood Education was approved. In 1998 an agreement was signed with the University of Guam (UOG) to establish a branch UOG campus at the National Campus to offer fourth-year courses in elementary education to enable students to earn their bachelor’s degree from UOG. This agreement was followed by a collaborative arrangement between COM-FSM and UOG to offer the fourth-year elementary education program. This arrangement is now known as the COM-FSM/UOG Partnership BA Program. In 2002 a Bachelor of Arts Degree program in Elementary Education was approved by the Board of Regents but the substantive change proposal for this degree program was not approved by WASC. In 2009 the Associate of Science Degree program in Teacher Education- Elementary was phased out and replaced by the Associate of Arts Degree program in Teacher Preparation. In 2011 this program was renamed the Associate of Arts in Pre-teacher Preparation- Elementary. During 2009-2011 the Associate Degree programs in Early Childhood and Special Education were "shelved" due to low enrollment.

Program Descriptions

Originating as a teacher training institution, COM-FSM through its education division continues the task of bettering education in Micronesia. Programs are carefully designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of teaching effectively in a culturally relevant manner. At present the college offers an Associate of Arts in Pre-Teacher Preparation- Elementary. These programs provide students with courses rich in content, theoretical foundations and practical experiences (methodology), which are designed to address the needs of pre-service and in-service teachers who may want to, pursue the baccalaureate degree at UOG.

Through a collaborative effort, UOG offers the Partnership BA in Elementary Education at the national campus making it possible for students to earn a bachelor’s degree from UOG without leaving the FSM. Students who are interested in this program should be aware that the associate degree and the third-year in teacher preparation-elementary have been articulated to meet the requirements of the bachelor’s degree.

Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the AA degree in Pre-Teacher Preparation is per the COM-FSM admissions policy as stated in the catalog.

Program Certificate/Degree Requirements

English (9 credits):
EN 110 Advanced Reading (3), EN 120a Expository Writing (3), EN 120b Expository Writing II (3)

Mathematics (3 credits): Any 100 level or above mathematics course (recommended: MS 100 College Algebra or MS 101 Algebra & Trigonometry or MS 150 Statistics)

Natural Sciences (7 credits)
A science course w/laboratory (4 credits);
Science without lab((recommended: SC101 Health Science or SC112 Nutrition or ESS/SC 200 Fundamentals of Wellness and Physical Fitness) (3)

Social Science (3 credits)
SS 150 History of Micronesia (3)

Computer Applications (3 credits):
CA 100 Computer Literacy (3)

Physical Education (1credits):
Any Choice of any ESS offering(1)

Humanities (3 credits):
Any course in music, history, literature, philosophy, or language (recommended: MU 101) (3)

• AR 101 Intro to Art (3)
• ED 210 Intro to Professional Teaching (3)
• ED 215 Intro to exceptional Children (3)
• ED/PY 201 Human Growth and Development (3)
• EN 200 series (EN 201 Introduction to Literature (3); and EN 205 Literature of the Sea (3)
• EN 208 Introduction to Philosophy (3)
• EN/CO 205 Speech Communication (3)
• ED 292 Practicum Observation and Participation (3)
• MS/ ED 210 Math for Teachers (3)
• Science with lab (4)
• SS 120 Introduction to Geography (3)
• SS 126 Pacific Geography or SS 170 World History or SS 171 World History II (3)
• SS/PY 101 General Psychology (3)

Graduation Requirement..............................................70 Credits

Pre-Teacher Preparation Suggested Schedule

First Semester
EN 110 Advanced Reading........3
EN 120a Expository Writing I........3
SS 150 Micronesian History........3
CA 100 Computer Literacy........3
ESS course........................1
MS 100 or MS 101 or MS 150........3
Total Credits........16

Second Semester
EN 120b Expository Writing II........3
SS120 Introduction to Geography........3
Science with Lab........4
EN/CO 205 Speech Communication........3
SS/PY 101 General Psychology........3
Total Credits........16

Summer Session
ED/PY 201 Human Growth and Development......3
AR 101 Introduction to Art...................3

Third Semester
MS/ED 210a Math for Teachers........3
EN 208 Introduction to Philosophy........3
Humanities elective*........3
ED 210a Intro to Professional Teaching...3
Science without Lab........3
Total Credits........15

Fourth Semester
Science with Lab........4
EN 200 Elective........3
ED 215 Intro. to Exceptional Children........3
SS 125 or SS 170 or SS 171........3
ED 292 Practicum........3
Total Credits........16

Program Courses and Enrollment

Program Faculty

Magdalena Hallers
Chairperson/ Professor
B.A., University of Guam
M.Ed., University of Guam
mhallers@comfsm.fm

Paul Gallen
Professor of Education
B.A., University of Guam
M.Ed., University of Hawaii
paulg@comfsm.fm

Robert Andreas
Associate Professor
B.A., University of Guam
M.A., University of Hawaii, Manoa
andreas@comfsm.fm

Sylvia Henry
Partnership BA Coordinator
A.A., College of Micronesia-FSM
B.A.E., University of Guam
shenry@comfsm.fm

Dr. Richard Womack
Professor of Education/Business
B.A., University of California at Berkeley
M.Ed./Ed.D., University of Nevada, Reno
rwomack@comfsm.fm

Susan Moses
Professor
B.S., University of Illinois
M.Ed., University of Oregon
smoses@comfsm.fm

Dr. Sven Mueller
Instructor
M.A., Free University of Berlin, Germany
Ed. D., Indiana University
drsven@comfsm.fm

Josephine Kostka
Administrative Assistant
A.A. Community College of Micronesia
josephine@comfsm.fm

Robert Asher Hallens
Computer Lab Monitor
A.A.S., College of Micronesia-FSM
ashehall@comfsm.fm

Program Indicators

1)Assessment of Course Learning Outcomes (National Campus)

2) Assessment of Program Student Learning Outcome: Division assessed all program learning outcomes. The results are shown below.

3) Program Enrollment

Enrollment since spring 2011 fluctuates, with the lowest in fall 2013 semester.

4) Average Class Size by Term

5) Course Completion Rate by Term

Fall2013

-Data not available

7)Graduation Rate

Graduation rate from AY2011 to AY2012/13 has increased from 22 to 89.

8) Student Seat Cost

9) Cost of Duplicate or Redundant Courses/Programs/Services

10) Revenue Generated by Program-Tuition (program allocated; grant income)

11) Students Satisfaction Rate

12) Alumni data

None

13) Employment data and employer feedback (employer surver)

14) Program added or cancelled at nearby regional institutions (PCC, GCC, Hawaii schools, UOG, CMI, NMC)

15) Transfer rate/Follow Up

Analysis

Findings:

1. Assessment of Course Learning Outcomes. Course level assessment formats vary in that some are assessed at the specific level and some at the general level. Course level assessments for fall 2012 are not available. The expectations for the course level assessments must be clearly articulated and shared with the faculty for a consistent format.
   

   Below are summaries developed by the instructors who taught and developed the course level assessments.

   ED 210 Introduction to Teaching. Students performed remarkably well in the course except three students who failed due to chronic absenteeism.

   ED 215 Introduction to Except. Children. There is a decline in students' performance in most of the student learning outcomes in fall 2013. The decline in students' performance is the result of lack of preparation and missed course work as a result of absenteeism.

   ED/PY 201 Human Growth and Development. (Not available) Most student learning outcomes are not covered in both semesters. Data shows that with the decline in students' performance, about half of the class population did not meet expectations of each student learning outcome.

   MS/ED 201 Math for Teachers. All students passed the course with a grade of "C" or better except two who failed to due to chronic absenteeism.

   ED 292 Practicum. All students performed very well and passed the course in fall 2013 compared to students’ performance in spring 2013.

2. Assessment of Program Student Learning. The assessment results are not available for fall 2013 except for PSLO #2.
3. Program Enrollment. Program enrollment system wide dropped, hence effecting student enrollment in the pre-teacher preparation program.
4. Average Class Size. Average class varies ranging from 14.1 to 17.4 percent. The average class size for spring 2013 is 16.9. for 30 program sections. Class size is also affected by the maximum enrollment for ED 292, which is 15 students.
5. Course Completion Rate. Course completion rate system wide is 70.6% or higher for A B C or P and 78.7% or higher for A B C D or P. Course completion rate is above the average which is 68%.
6. Persistence and Retention Rate. Student persistent rate for spring 2011 to fall 2012 is 88.7%. For fall 2012 to spring 2013, student persistent rate is 79%. There is 9.7% decrease in student persistence from spring 2011 to spring 2013. The retention rate increased by 4.8% in fall 2013, from 58.1% in all 2012 to 62.9% in fall 2013.
7. Graduation Rate by Academic Year. There is an increase in the graduation rate (150% and 200%) for fall 2008 and 2009, and a decrease in graduation rate (150%) for fall 2010.
8. Student Seat Cost. No student seat cost available.
9. Cost of Duplicate or Redundant Courses/Programs/Services.
10. Revenue Generated by Program-Tuition (program allocated; grant income)
11. Student Satisfaction Rate
12. Alumni Data
13. Employment Data and Employer Feedback
14. Program Added or Cancelled at Nearby Institutions (PCC,GCC, Hawaii Schools, UOG, CMI, NMC). None
15. Transfer Rate/Follow Up. The information available for the office is for students who enroll into the Teacher Preparation program. Information for students transferring to other institutions is not available.

Recommendations:

1. Assessment of Course Learning Outcomes. Expectations and training for inputting data on TracDat should be clearly articulated to faculty. Faculty should complete and submit course level assessments every semester on a timely manner.
2. Course outlines need to be reviewed and updated. Course level assessment results and recommendations need to be taken into account when updating course outlines.
3. Assessment of Program Student Learning.
   
   1. There is a need to review the composite exam used for PSLO #1 for validity and reliability.
   2. The division needs to determine on how to assess PSLO # 3.
4. Program Enrollment. There is a need do an extensive recruitment at the high schools and participate in recruitment visits.
5. Average Class Size. There is a need to plan and schedule courses accordingly, for some of the courses have low enrollment.
6. Course Completion Rate. Though the course completion rate is above average, there is a need for proper student advising and counseling to encourage and motivate students. Instructional strategies need to be taken into account to meet the different learning styles of students.
7. Persistence and Retention Rate. There is a need to develop mechanisms to help students focus and prepare on their studies. There is also a need to integrate different teaching strategies to help motivate students and improve class attendance and fulfillment of course requirements.
8. Graduation Rate by Academic Year. There is a need to advise students properly so they can graduate and transition into the Teacher Prep. Program. Students need to be aware of the requirements of the TYC and the Partnership programs.
9. Student Satisfaction Rate. Awaits results from IRPO.
10. There is a need to develop a mechanism to help with alumni data, employment data, employer feedback, and transfer rate/follow up.