The real value from the use of a system is not only the collection of data in a
systematic and consistent manner but also the ability to recover, view and
analyze it in different ways, for improvement of quality of the entire program.
The authors will discuss specific reports that will reflect the ability of the
system to perform:
a. Program improvement based on real and systematic data
Reports based on student-assessments and teacher-qualifications allow better
candidate field-placements based on actual candidate requirements, the
qualifications of supervising teachers, and facilities available at cooperating
sites. Other reports reflect the distribution of field-placements between
candidates and various cooperating sites and cooperating teachers, allowing
better distribution of placement of candidates. Aggregated performance
reports over time allow program improvements to be monitored and correlated
with actual data.
b. Consistent and transparent assessments
The authors will show reports of observations and assessments performed by
field supervisors and cooperating teachers on candidate artifacts and field
performance. The system can also be used for assessment of cooperating sites
and cooperating teachers by candidates.
c. Community involvement in the development of richer
programs for improvement of teacher quality
Consistent with the demand of accreditation bodies for community
involvement in designing and making improvements in clinical practice of
candidates, the system has built-in collaborative mechanisms for involving the
community. It allows surveys to be sent to various stakeholders, for reports to
be generated from the results of surveys and for survey data to be combined
with assessment and program data for analysis and program improvement.
d. Improved diversity in programs
Systematic use of the system for field placement, and recording the
demographic information of the candidates, cooperating teachers, field
supervisors and the pupils in the classrooms allow the system to deliver
reports on diversity-based interaction of the candidates.
e. Ease of institutional reporting
The authors will discuss creation of reports that will deliver accurate,
immediate information for use in institutional reports.
f. Better tool – less time spent on repetitive tasks, more on
improvement of program quality
Technology is well suited to the performance of repetitive tasks. The system
easily takes on the ability to perform tasks such as communication with
cooperating sites and teachers based on placement and on providing
placement-based feedback to candidates. This allows more time to be spent on
designing better programs and less on mundane chores.
Convention