MUNCIE, Ind. – A new guidebook created by Ball State University provides a model for evaluating future teachers at other universities and colleges.

The Evaluation of Student Teachers Guidebook, developed by an interdisciplinary team of Ball State faculty, public school educators and community leaders establishes standards to review the work of education majors teaching in K-12 schools.

The guidebook defines what a beginning teacher should know and be able to do, said Patricia Hughes, director of the Office of Field Experiences.

"The evaluation is performance-based with the levels of expectations clearly defined," she said. "All students will know what the expectations are as they enter student teaching."

The guidebook is being marketed nationally by Phi Delta Kappa International, a Bloomington-based center for professional education development and services.

The materials are based on the standards for beginning teacher licensing and development as defined by the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium, which have been adopted by 30 states, and overlays them with educator Charlotte Danielson’s nationally known rubric.

Ball State used 2000-2001 to implement the guidebook and supplemental materials. Ball State hosted a series of workshops across the state to explain the materials last summer. More will be conducted this summer.

Phi Delta Kappa International has already received inquiries from 125 American colleges and universities as well as from institutions in Australia, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

Ball State plans to use royalties from the sale of the guidebook and supplemental materials to fund professional development for supervising teachers in the field. Team members who created the materials have waived their rights to any royalties.

The Ball State team included Kay Stickle, elementary education professor; Marilyn Buck, physical education professor; Fred Dykins, educational studies professor; Don Ester, music professor; Linda Hargrove, special education professor; Sheryl Proctor, educational studies professor; Nancy Farley, former principal of Harrison Elementary School, Harrison-Washington School Corp.; Philip Metcalf, former state chair of the Indiana Professional Standards Board; and Ben Bennett, retired executive with Muncie-based Maxon Corp.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Hughes at phughes@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1861.)