Final answer:
The cooperating teacher should choose a learning segment for the edTPA portfolio that aligns with curriculum standards, facilitates the student teacher's reflection on strengths and areas to improve, and provides opportunities for meaningful student engagement. The portfolio should include various performance tasks and conclude with a reflective piece on the student teacher's growth and improvement.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to developing the edTPA portfolio, the cooperating teacher plays a crucial role in deciding the learning segment for the student teacher. The edTPA portfolio is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used by teacher preparation programs across the United States to emphasize, measure, and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need from day one in the classroom.
Creating a successful edTPA portfolio involves careful selection of a learning segment that showcases the student teacher’s strengths and addresses areas where improvement is needed. The cooperating teacher should consider the student teacher’s current capabilities, as well as the parts of their teaching practice they wish to strengthen when selecting the learning segment. This is important in allowing the student teacher to reflect on their own learning and illustrate, with specific examples, how well they have met the assignment objectives listed under the Self-Directed Assessment Evaluation.
Additionally, the teacher must ensure that the learning segment aligns with the curriculum standards and the educational goals of the class. It should also provide opportunities to engage students in meaningful learning experiences and attainment of the necessary educational outcomes. A key component of the portfolio is the reflection on what the student teacher has learned about themselves, the topic, and the writing process or other content-specific processes over the course of their teaching segment.
To further strengthen the edTPA portfolio, the student teacher should archive performance tasks, such as essays, photo projects, and other assignments that document their progress. By analyzing and discussing these artifacts with their cooperating teacher, they can receive valuable feedback and develop their teaching practice accordingly. The portfolio should conclude with a strong reflection piece that addresses questions such as which writing assignment demonstrates the most improvement, the nature and value of the work collected, and the strengths of various essays or tasks included in the portfolio.