Academic Programs - Science Education
Master of Education
(M.Ed.) Professional Portfolio Requirement
Portfolio Requirements
The construction of a teaching/learning portfolio is the culminating experience in the M.Ed. program in Science Education. The portfolio is intended to document a master teacher’s knowledge, understandings, and applications of important ideas related to science teaching and learning.
The framing document for the portfolio is the National Science Teachers Association’s Standards for Science Teacher Preparation. These standards were approved by the Board of Directors of NSTA in November 1998, most recently revised in 2003, and are available at http://nsta.org/ (choose the popup menus for “Professional Development” and then for “NSTA Standards for Science Teacher Preparation”). Click on the following link for the NSTA Standards (PDF format).
Each student is responsible for gathering evidence to be included in a teaching/learning portfolio. The evidence should reflect how the master’s program coursework and school teaching experiences have enabled the student to achieve the standards.
Note that it is highly advisable to complete and submit the portfolio during the semester in which the last course hours in the degree program are taken. The reason for this is that Graduate School rules state that a student must be enrolled for at least 3 semester hours of credit during the semester in which the final requirements for the degree are completed. Note, therefore, that students who do not complete the portfolio until after all coursework for the degree has been completed will be obliged to register (and pay) for 3 hours of credit above and beyond the degree requirements.
Portfolio Contents
The portfolio will address five standards based on those in the NSTA document, with three being mandatory and two others being selected by the student. The mandatory standards are (a) content/nature of science (combination of NSTA standards 1 and 2), (b) curriculum (NSTA standard 6), and (c) social context (NSTA standard 7).
The following indicators are added to the social context standard to make the multicultural nature of science teaching and learning explicit:
- designs and employs a range of learning activities that address the needs of culturally, ethnically, and economically diverse learners
- demonstrates an understanding of students with special needs and ways in which their special needs may be accommodated in the science learning environment
The details of the portfolio contents are specified in the rubric attached to this description. Three pieces of evidence for each of five standards must be represented in the portfolio, in addition to a Table of Contents and a Critical Autobiography.
Portfolio Submission
Students will submit portfolios for scoring near the mid-point of the semester in which they intend to graduate and will be informed of their scores within three weeks of the time of submission. There is no expectation that students will orally present their portfolios to a faculty committee. As a personal repository of evidence reflective of the five standards, the portfolio may be submitted as a folder, binder, box or in an electronic format (e.g., CD or Web site).
The due date for M.Ed. Portfolios for Fall Semester 2012 is Friday, November 16.
Portfolio Scoring
Each portfolio will be scored by two members of the Science Education Department faculty, or their graduate assistants, using the analytical rubric available at the link below. At least one of the scorers will be a member of the faculty. A third faculty member will become involved in the scoring process when initial scoring results in a mixed decision (i.e., one passing and one failing vote).
The maximum possible score for the portfolio is 204 points. Evidence related to each of five standards may receive up to 36 points, for a total of 180 points for the five standards. The minimum passing score for each of the five sections is 24 points. Additionally, up to 24 points may be awarded for other aspects of the portfolio (table of contents, critical autobiography, variety of evidence, and overall portfolio presentation). The minimum overall passing score for the portfolio overall is 153, including a passing score for all five standards.
Results are reported to the student, the faculty, and officially to the Graduate School as three nominal categories: Pass with Distinction, Pass, and Fail. A grade of Pass with Distinction normally is earned by scoring a minimum of 184 points (90%).
A student who fails to achieve the minimum overall passing score or a passing score on one or more of the five standards may resubmit the portfolio on the next scheduled submission date. In the event of failure for a particular section(s) only the section(s) of the portfolio that correspond to the standard(s) that received the failing score will be re-scored.
