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Click the arrow to the right to view the most frequently asked questions and answers. If you don't see a relevant question & answer listed below, preservice teachers, university faculty, supervisors, and mentor teachers are invited to submit their own question in the embedded Google form below.
NEW Questions for 2024-25:
Q: Where can I find the rubric for scoring on the PTP?
A: The rubric starts on page 19 of the PTP handbook. This handbook can be found on the PTP website but is linked here as well.
Q: What do I do with the recordings of the lesson debrief? Do I need to upload them and link them somewhere?
A: You need to save your recording(s) to your Google Drive or YouTube unlisted. Then create a document into which you paste the hyperlink to the recording. That document is then uploaded to your Instruction folder.
Q: Where is the rubric and handbook for the PTP? I have looked it up on the PTP website but cannot find either.
A: The rubric is part of the PTP Handbook. It starts at about pg. 19.
Q: Over the last couple of years we have used several formats for the SOU lesson plan in our classes. Is there a specific one that should be used for the PTP?
A: Great question. We are always revising and it makes sense that you would experience those "revisions". It's not a huge deal if you use a slightly different lesson plan template as the reviewers are not scoring the lesson plan itself. It is part of the whole picture to demonstrate your ability to fully prepare for instruction. Here is the link for the 2025 SOU lesson plan template.
Q: For the literacy learning segment plan, if I have a ELA curriculum that I'm required to use can the lessons/curriculum for my learning segment?
A: You are absolutely encouraged to use your district resources. If you choose to use a unit (learning segment) from your ELA curriculum, you need to create formal lesson plans. You can certainly use the resources within your curriculum, choosing the activities and questions you will use based on your knowledge of your unique students. Most of the PTP is your analysis of the learning process rather than your ability to "create" curriculum. You will note in the Context for Learning that you are using the district curriculum.
Q: What is a passing score?
A: Passing Score Multiple Subjects: 50 Passing Score Single Subjects: 40
Q: Is there a PTP Template available in a Google Doc format?
A: No - we are providing the Docx form which saves automatically within your Google Folder. This should provide the same benefits of a google doc.
Questions for 2023-24:
Q: Where do I see information about ORELA?
A: Please contact your coordinator regarding ORELA testing; that is not related to the PTP. You can find information on the ORELA website.
Q: What do students do with the recording of their PTP debrief? Do they need to hand it off somewhere, or is it part of their reflection on instruction?
A: The recording of the debriefing session should be uploaded to YouTube or Google Drive. Then create a document in which you identify - "This is the debriefing session recorded on (date)". Then hyperlink this phrase to your recording. This document is uploaded to the Instruction Folder within your PTP Folder.
Q: What is a passing score?
A: Passing Score Multiple Subjects: 48 Passing Score Single Subjects: 38
Q: I have a question regarding the "Instructional Segment Audio or Video" folder in my PTP Google Drive. I asked my supervisor what this audio or video is and she said that I should video our post-observation meeting to answer some review questions in my PTP. Is there anything I need to attach to that folder like the audio recording with my supervisor? She was unsure whether I needed to submit any kind of recording.
A: Yes -- you will do some writing/ reflecting prior to the debriefing session. Then you will record the debriefing and upload a link to this video or audio to your PTP Folder (Instructional Folder). Finally, you then write additional reflections on what you learned from the conversation with your supervisor.
Q: For segment 2 planning I need to hyperlink my lesson plans and blank assessments. In my Google Drive for the PTP do I attach these to "Planning Artifacts"? If so, do I attach documents from segment 3 instruction to "Learning Analysis Artifacts"?
A: The goal is to maintain a good system of organization. We provided folders for each segment, however, you may want to reference a document (artifact) in multiple segments within the template. That won't be a problem since you will be hyperlinking the document. The reviewer will be able to open it - look it over - and then return to the template. The benefit is the reviewer will not need to search through your folders to find something referenced in your writing.
(Note: There is a video on this PTP webpage that will help you with the PTP Folder organization and the hyperlinking process)
Q: Do all questions have to be answered? I see the examples are missing a question I am stuck on and did not know if it was added or an option. I was trying to find information on how long my answers should be.
A: Remember the samples reflect expectations from last year's handbook; some questions have been eliminated. The most notable changes are that we have added more information from the rubric to the template. It's still a good idea to review the rubrics for more clarity on expectations. You should answer every question! Length is not something we wanted to "require"; you should be thorough yet to the point remembering the reviewer knows nothing about your classroom, students, or curriculum.
Q: How long will it take evaluators to complete scoring? Will I receive a confirmation when I email that my PTP has been submitted?
A: Our reviewers will do their best to have scoring completed within three weeks of submission. If scoring is completed more quickly, the PTP Coordinator will send you your scores as soon as they are received. It is possible that scoring could take longer with so many portfolios coming in at the same time (the reviewers are full time faculty at EOU). If you want to submit earlier than the Target Date, that is okay. You will email the PTP Coordinator (for SOU - Susan Faller - fallers@sou.edu) when your portfolio is ready for scoring. Once that email is received, the coordinator will respond that your portfolio has been submitted for scoring.
Previous years' questions:
Q: Who are the scorers?
A: The scorers are trained faculty, supervisors, and education leaders from each respective university. All scorers will be trained by the assessment designers and must meet a minimum threshold to be approved to score.
Q: Should the narratives include an introduction and conclusion, or should we just answer the prompts?
A: The prompts guide students in writing a thorough and well-organized narrative about their teaching processes from start to finish. Consider the prompt responses to be interconnected; each prompt's response does not stand alone nor require a full introduction and conclusion.
Q: In the whole class summative assessment data chart for Segment VI, do we change the column heading to what the assessment criteria is or leave it as "Question or Assessment Criteria 1" etc.?
A: The assessment criteria should be made explicitly clear to the scorers. Students can change the column heading to include this information or, if more space is needed, write about it in the next prompt response.
Q: How long should each task be in terms of writing? Is there a template that we can use to organize all of our items?
A: Refer to the student examples on the website to guide you with writing your responses to each prompt. The PTP templates have been made available to students on the website as well.
Q: For the 4 sequential lessons, does it all have to be based on one standard? And do all the objectives need to be different for each lesson?
A: Yes, the 4 lessons should be a cohesive unit that teaches to the same standard(s). The objectives can be similar or different, depending on how you are scaffolding the learning over the course of those 4 lessons. If a skill/knowledge takes more than one day to learn, then the objective of meeting that skill/knowledge will be similar on more than one day. If multiple skills are being taught, then the objectives would be different.
Q: Where are the rubrics on the PTP website?
A: The rubrics are located in the respective PTP handbooks.
Q: What counts as "prior learning data" (Segment II - Question #6)?
A: Candidates can utilize data from a variety of student learning sources to document their students’ pre-instructional level of knowledge/skill for the identified content standard. Examples of where data could come from include a previous assessment, past assignment(s), a unit pre-test, student surveys or interviews, a KWL chart, etc.
Q: What does it mean to connect theory to practice (Segment IV - Question #9)?
A: Candidates should refer to learning theories or research that supports their instructional decisions moving forward. A strong connection is when the candidate connects a specific theory (ex: Cognitive Learning Theory), theorist's work (ex: Bloom's Taxonomy; Carol Dweck's growth mindset), or educational research (ex: SIOP strategies) to their practice. A loose connection is when the candidate "name drops" a theory, theorist, or research-based strategy, but does not explain how the theory or research relates to their practice.
Q: Question #9 from the Planning section asks: 1. Whether your assessment package was effective and 2. To describe how assessment methodologies have been modified based on student needs.
A: Please ignore the question that asks if the assessment was effective or not. This was an error in the original handbook. For Segment II Question 9, answer the following questions: Explain and justify your choice and design of the assessments used for each lesson. Why did you choose this as your assessment package? How will your assessment evaluate all objectives in the Lesson Plan?
Q: For the math reteach narrative can the student work products be images of their use of math manipulatives rather than paper pencil work?
A: Absolutely! Please make sure student identification (names and faces) are not visible in the images.
Q: Are the lesson plans themselves graded as part of the PTP? There is no information in the rubric about them.
A: No, the lesson plans are not being evaluated. However, the information that is included in the plans will be referenced to evaluate the responses in the template. Therefore, they should be well-written and contain all the required components to provide necessary and detailed context of the lessons.
Q: I'm unclear what Segment II - Question #4 (What activities will you use to provide your students with opportunities for practicing the authentic use of academic/disciplinary literacy?) is asking. Can it be clarified?
A: Consider the academic vocabulary that will be taught during the lesson. Ask yourself, In what ways will my students be practicing the use of new vocabulary to strengthen their understanding of the content area? Then, for Prompt #4, discuss the ways in which your students will acquire new vocabulary through the activites that you have planned for them.
Q: In segment I there is a chart that requires the PTP participants to fill out "Learner Contextual Information." The chart includes an area for four students, but the rubric says to describe "all students." Do we fill in information for all four students, or all students in our class?
A: Please reach out to your university's PTP coordinator for the directions for Segment I.
Q: What is the passing score for the multiple subject PTP?
A: The passing scores can be found in the handbook at the top of page 19.
Q: On the Segment I video, at the 6:54 mark, she specifically said that we are ONLY putting 4 students in our Learner Contextual Chart, but we were told to have ALL of our students from the class listed. What is correct?
A: Please reach out directly to your university's PTP coordinator for clarification on the Learner Contextual Chart in Segment I.
Q: When we are preparing to submit the PTP, do we need to delete the question prompts from each document?
A: No, do not delete the prompts from the document(s).
Q: Will teacher candidates receive a detailed score from each section on the rubric or will they just receive an overall score?
A: They will be able to see their individual scores for each indicator on the rubric.
Q: For Segment IV section 4, how do I appropriately label the appendices when inputting into the google folder?
A: Use a similar naming pattern as you have for other documents. For instance, Last Name_Analysis Student Work Sample 1 and Last Name_Analysis Student Work Sample 2.
Q: What does the lesson narrative section look like? Is it describing the lessons and outcomes or should be more substantial than that?
A: Narratives are descriptive in nature and should fully address the guiding prompts. Refer to the rubric to know if you should include examples, specific details, etc.
Q: How do I submit my PTP?
A: Students do not have to take any additional action steps to submit their PTP **other than making sure their Google Folder is shared with the PTP Coordinator**. On your submission date, your folder will be shared with the scorers via Drive as it is.
Q: Do we use APA 7 and double space or do we leave single spaced for all responses?
A: Responses should be 11 or 12-pt font and Times New Roman or Arial (or similar font type). Responses can be single spaced or double spaced. Beyond those formatting requirements, APA formatting should be referred to.
Q: Segment IV: Learning Analysis- The example graphs compare pre-assessment and summative assessment data from the entire learning segment; however, the directions ask that we compile and assess student data from only one lesson (not the entire unit). Is it enough to graph and write about learning 'patterns' just within that lesson?
A: Students should have baseline information about their learners prior to the learning segment. Use that data or previous formative assessments given throughout the learning segment to speak to learning "patterns" - either generally or specifically - in the lesson.
Q: When referencing our learner we identify the initials or my student I believe. While we address our school so we say "my school" or "our school" or the "community school" or can we use a name that is general if we can't name our school or district?
A: Yes, either is fine. It is best to refer to the individuals, school, and community generally and do not include identifying information.
Q: How will candidates be notified of their scores?
A: Candidates will be notified via email.
Q: Are we able to use pre-recorded videos from our student teaching last year?
A: Please reach out to your university's PTP coordinator for the directions for using previously-recorded materials as part of your portfolio.
Q: I have questions about the revision process. Where can I find information about how to revise my PTP?
A: Please reach out to your university's PTP coordinator for the directions for revising your submitted PTP.
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