UM: Teacher Assessment

The Detroit News publishes an op/ed by Deborah Loewenberg Ball, dean of UM’s School of Education, who argues that Michigan should award teaching licenses based on the ability to teach: ”It is time that we build a system that would guarantee that every teacher, wherever she is prepared, can perform the work. To do this, we must design valid and credible assessments of the core teaching practices that help youth learn and of the specialized knowledge required for the work. These assessments must confirm teachers’ ability to do things such as explain concepts clearly, give useful feedback, orchestrate a whole-class discussion, and assign and support appropriate homework.” [Source]