While the Work Samples are designed to evaluate a candidate’s readiness for an Oregon teaching license in science or mathematics, the Master’s Project, along with the Oral Examination, is the summative assessment for the Master’s degree. These two activities allow the candidate to demonstrate competence in their understanding of high quality teaching and learning at the Master’s level.
Projects are grounded in the Principles of High Quality Teaching for thinking about ambitious teaching and learning. The project allows candidates to reflect on and analyze their practice of teaching connected to the community and school environment in which their teaching and learning is situated. Projects will consider the relationship between (1) community/families and (2) teachers, students and content (hereto called instructional triangle). In the diagram above the community and school environment (including Cultural and Linguistic Diversity) are essential context for understanding the instructional triangle. The instructional triangle illustrates the interactions among students, teachers, and content within educational contexts.
The project will include: (1) a statement that identifies an issue or question relevant to ambitious teaching and the Community Environment & Instructional Triangle diagram. Second is an analysis of literature that argues for the relevance of the issue or question. Third is an examination of evidence drawn from coursework and teaching experiences to further understand the issue or question. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of paper for practice and professional learning. Initial work on the project, developing an issue or question, will begin in Fall term with the bulk of the project taking shape in Winter to conclude in Spring term with your Oral Exam. Your graduate advisor will provide support for the identification of a question. Winter term a course will be focused on developing the components of the project.
Principles of High Quality Teaching:
- Teachers must design instruction for all children to do rigorous academic work in school and to have equitable access to learning.
- Ambitious instruction requires clear learning goals.
- Teachers must know and connect with their students as individuals and as learners.
- Teachers understand that children are sensemakers.
- The measure of good teaching is student learning.
- Teachers represent the nature of the discipline (mathematics or science) with integrity.
- Teachers engage their students in reflecting on their own learning.
- Teachers must be responsive to the requirements of the school and community environments at the same time consider how schools function and how they may need to improve.
Required Sections:
i Title Page
ii Abstract – The abstract is a brief overview of the chosen project focus and relevant findings. It will be sent to your committee members in preparation for your Oral Examination. (500 words)
iii Identification of a question or issue — concise statement of the problem
iv Literature Review – The literature review includes an examination of the relevant professional literature around your chosen project focus. A minimum of five professional sources are required and are to be included in the project. (1000-1500 words, not including references)
v Evidence from Practice – The discussion paper highlights relevant evidence from your Fall, Winter, and Spring teaching in relation to the project focus. Relevant evidence (e.g. lesson plans, student work, evaluations, etc.) are included. (1000-1500 words)
vi Evidence of Professional Learning – This discussion highlights the relevant evidence of learning from your coursework and other professional activities to support your practice discussed in the previous section. Examples of relevant evidence includes: readings, assignments, notes on class discussions, conference handouts, etc. (1000-1500 words)
vii Implications for Future Practice and Professional Learning – The discussion stipulates implications for your future practice and professional learning as related to your project focus. (500-700 words)
