Student Teacher Candidates' Effect on Student Learning as Measured through Action Research Projects

The unit determined that "Assessment 5: Effect on Student Learning" would be best measured by student teachers and interns utilizing an action research activity in their clinical experience. Twenty four action research projects were evaluated by the Director of Student Teaching. Interraters blind to the Director's scores evaluated the projects. Projects possessing a difference in score greater then 10 percent between the Director and Interrater were evaluated by a second Interrater. An Alpha Cronbach reliability test revealed the alpha coefficient for the Student Teaching Director and the first Interrater was 0.40 and 0.53 for the Director and the second Interrater. The same test was applied to the first Interrater and second Interrater and the alpha coefficient was found to be 0.74. The first term of Action Research projects were generally of poor quality and the scoring across raters was unreliable. These data informed recommendations including modifications in the assignments and more training for scorers. (Contains 2 tables.)