Harold A. Johnson/ProfessorMichigan State University

April 22, 2010Video Conference Presentation

Council Bluffs, Iowa

“Tipping Point: An Alternative Model of Deaf Education Teacher

Preparation”

RecognitionLeadership:

Your role as state and national leaders, as decision makers, as individuals who have worked for decades to enhance teaching and learning with students who are deaf/hard of hearing (d/hh).

Resources:The professionals you represent are the single greatest

determiner, or predictor, of the academic performance of students who are d/hh and I know you work with some TERRIFIC professionals.

Challenges: While it has never been “easy,” current Federal

mandates, budget reductions, and professional retirements require the use of new strategies to address old problems. Your presence at this conference is indicative of your sharing and search for such strategies.

I commend you....2 H. Johnson/MSU

OpportunityWhat could do? How much could your accomplish?

How many fewer problems would you have to deal with if you had more teachers like ______________, and fewer teachers like _______________ ?

While there are no “magic bullets” in our field, there are teachers who seem to work “magic” with their students, parents, and colleagues.

Imagine if you had the ability to not only have more such teachers, but you could also retain the teachers you now have.

Imagine the recognition that would occur if your teachers were considered to be models for instructional effectiveness and innovation.

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StrategiesA. Instructional Excellence:

1. Identify your ten best Deaf Education teachers, then permit Deaf Education majors to document and share the teachers' instructional practices, topical interests, and “frequently encountered problems”

B. Teacher Retention & Recruitment:2. Supporting your existing teachers, while

identifying the teachers you need to hire. a. Retention: Use simple and sustainable technologies

(e.g., email, wiki, & Skype video) to permit Deaf Education majors to serve as “information workers” as they interact with the your best teachers.

b. Recruitment: Use the same technologies and interactions to identify and interview those Deaf Education majors that you would like to join your staff4 H. Johnson/MSU

Strategies (cont.) C. Professional Development:

3. Provide...“just-in-time,” just about anywhere, topically specific, instructionally focused, and empirically grounded learning opportunities for your

Deaf Education and related professionals. By using a slightly expanded array of technologies

(e.g., email, wiki, Skype, & iVisit) to enable your best teachers and the nation’s best faculty to interact with geographically dispersed professionals without the need for travel, substitute teachers, or conference rooms!

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Reality? The “Iowa Master Teachers” ...thank you

Marsha Gunderson!Deaf Education Community of Learners wiki

Instructional Excellence:Stories of SuccessFrequently Encountered ProblemsExpended, i.e., Home Based, Learning

Opportunities Teacher Retention & Recruitment:

Peer-to-Peer InteractionsProfessional to Family InteractionsCyber Mentors

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Reality? (cont.) Professional Development:

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OutcomesReduce IsolationRecognize ExcellenceFoster CollaborationRetain & Recruit Effective TeachersProvide Innovative & Cost Effective Professional

Development Opportunities Support & Enhance Deaf Education Teacher

Preparation by......linking Deaf Education majors with Master Teachers...linking theory and research, with current instructional

realities and proven instructional practices...increasing visibility and understanding of the value of,

and need for well prepared Deaf Education teachers.

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ChallengeWorking in a different way, with different

individuals. Recognizing and sharing both what we know

and what we need to learn. Pooling limited professional development

dollars to gain greater frequency, flexibility depth of opportunities and impact.Pooling dollars + strategies =

No need for substitute teachersNo need for travel costNo loss of time getting from ‘a’ to ‘b’No limit re. who is near and good, vs. just near and

available

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1st Step1. Individually decide if this idea is worth

pursuing. 2. Identify three + individuals who are also

interested in the idea. 3. One individual take responsibility for calling

Harold Johnson (517 432-3926) to set up a conference among interested individuals.

4. As a result of the phone conference, individuals can decide if, and if so how and when, they would like to proceed with the strategies outlined in this presentation.

I hope that several of you will decide to talk with me.

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