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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
176 views35 pages

Making Good Choices SPED

Uploaded by

jen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Making Good Planning

Choices Instruction

in Special Education Assessment


_______________________________________________________

Candidate Support Resource Analysis of


Teaching
Academic
Language
Version 01

MGC_SPE_v01
Copyright © 2018 Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved. The edTPA trademarks are
owned by The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. Use of the edTPA trademarks is permitted only
pursuant to the terms of a written license agreement. This document was authored by the Stanford Center for Assessment,
Learning and Equity (SCALE) with design assistance from Evaluation Systems.
edTPA Making Good Choices in Special Education Candidate Support Resource

Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2
Getting Started................................................................................................................................ 4
Planning Task 1: Planning for Instruction and Assessment .......................................................... 10
Instruction Task 2: Instructing and Engaging the Focus Learner .................................................. 22
Assessment Task 3: Assessing Learning ........................................................................................ 31

Introduction1
This support guide will help you make good choices as you create and implement your edTPA
learning segment. It is not a substitute for reading the handbook. Instead, it should be used as a
reference where you can find supplementary advice for completing specific components of
edTPA as needed.
Read the entire handbook before you start your edTPA work. The handbook is dense. Reading
it thoroughly before you start will help you navigate the requirements once you begin the work.
Don’t skip any sections, text boxes, or footnotes. Everything in the handbook provides
important information that will help guide you in your decision making.
Once you have read the entire handbook, Making Good Choices in Special Education will
support your decision making as you develop artifacts and respond to commentary prompts in
each of the three tasks. By reading and reflecting on the questions and suggestions in Making
Good Choices in Special Education, you will develop a deeper understanding of edTPA and have
many of your questions addressed. This document will help you think about how to plan,
instruct, assess, and reflect on learning, not only for completing edTPA, but also for effective
teaching well into the future.
On the pages that follow, each section of this document addresses key decision points that you
will encounter as you complete your edTPA. Use the live links from the questions in the
overview chart to locate answers to inform your decisions. Bold text in the answers provides
specific directions to guide your choices.
You may find some questions repetitive across tasks. This “repetition” is intentional. The
questions that appear across tasks represent threads that tie all the tasks together, for
example, your knowledge of the focus learner or the learning goal for the learning segment.

1 This version of Making Good Choices in Special Education replaces earlier versions posted on the edTPA.com and
edtpa.aacte.org websites. SCALE recognizes Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, Kelli Appel and John Snakenborg for their
contributions to the Special Education version of Making Good Choices.

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Questions that appear to be similar are couched in terms of the task that you are completing.
For example, you will respond to questions about how your knowledge of your focus learner
was used to plan, instruct, and assess. When considering your understanding of your learner in
Planning Task 1, you should include references to how the learner’s assets are reflected in your
instructional strategies and materials. When you respond to a similar prompt in Instruction
Task 2, you should describe and provide evidence for what you and the learner actually said and
did in the video clip(s) submitted. Therefore, when you encounter a prompt that seems similar
to one you already answered, think about how the context in which the prompt appears might
guide your response.

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Getting Started

Key Decisions
 How do I get started with my edTPA preparation?
Planning Ahead  How much time do I need?

 What evidence do I have to submit?


Organizing  How do I represent my thinking and teaching in
writing?

 How do I understand the rubrics?


Understanding the Rubrics  How do the commentary prompts align to
rubrics?

Planning Ahead

How do I get started with my edTPA preparation?


Since it is important to understand the whole edTPA before you begin, read through the edTPA
handbook, including the rubrics and glossary, and any other support materials you may have
been given by your preparation program. Once you have done this reading and understand the
assessment, you are ready to begin.
The three tasks that structure edTPA (Planning Task 1, Instruction Task 2, and Assessment
Task 3) are connected together. Acquiring a complete understanding of the evidence that you
need to submit in Instruction Task 2 and Assessment Task 3 will help guide you as you plan the
learning segment for Planning Task 1.
The edTPA Special Education handbook focuses on the teaching and learning for one focus
learner. It is important to obtain written consent for video recording and for citing relevant
goals, modifications, and accommodations from the IEP to help inform planning as early as you
can so that you do not have to choose a new focus learner if consent is withheld. Some districts
and schools do not allow candidates to view IEPs directly, so you may need to get this
information from the cooperating teacher after you obtain the consent.

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You will likely be instructing your focus learner in a class or group setting. Instruction should
proceed as it typically does in this group setting. Remember that you will be planning,
instructing, and assessing the entire group or class, but your edTPA will highlight what you are
doing specifically to support and meet the needs of your focus learner. This will likely include
strategies for the entire group/class as well as some strategies specifically designed for your
focus learner.
Back to Getting Started Key Decisions Chart

How much time do I need?


The edTPA is composed of 3–5 consecutive lessons. The exact length of time will be determined
by the length of each lesson, how many lessons you include in your learning segment, and how
long it takes you to respond to the commentary prompts and assemble and submit your work
for scoring. Although the edTPA can be completed in a matter of a few weeks, you should not
assume you will be able to do this, as student teaching is typically composed of many
requirements. As a result, time management is critical for successful completion of edTPA.
Begin planning your edTPA portfolio as soon as possible, but be sure you know your focus
learner well enough to plan with knowledge of his/her strengths and needs. Do not
procrastinate.
Back to Getting Started Key Decisions Chart

Organizing

What evidence do I have to submit?


For edTPA, you will submit artifacts (e.g., information about your Context for Learning, lesson
plans, video clips, copies of assessments, and materials for your lessons) and commentaries.
Response templates are provided as a structure for organizing your responses to the Context
for Learning questions and the three task commentaries.

When completing the commentary response templates, note that there are page limits.
However, supplementary information you may be directed to add to the end of commentaries
as needed does not count toward those limits (e.g., citations of materials from others,
transcriptions of inaudible portions of videos, any required translation of materials in a
language other than English,2 copies of the assessment analyzed).

All of the requirements about what to submit (and information about the optional elements)
are introduced in the Tasks Overview Chart and then specified in more detail in the Evidence
Chart at the end of the handbook. Read the Evidence Chart and be sure that you understand
the requirements and all necessary evidence you must submit before you start working on your
edTPA. You may find it helpful to use the Evidence Chart as a checklist as you ensure that you

2If you are submitting materials in a language other than English, see the Submission Requirements for
more detailed translation requirements and guidelines. Requirements vary by subject area.

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edTPA Making Good Choices in Special Education Candidate Support Resource

have submitted all necessary evidence according to the requirements, including artifact format
(e.g., live hyperlinks to materials are not permitted). Portfolios with missing, inaccessible, or
inappropriate evidence will receive condition codes (see the Submission Requirements).
Back to Getting Started Key Decisions Chart

How do I represent my thinking and teaching in writing?


Although the rubrics do not address the quality of your writing (and you will not be penalized
for writing errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax), you should be mindful that your written work
reflects your thinking and your professionalism. Try to let your own voice come through in your
writing. Writing errors may change or cloud the meaning of your commentaries, so
proofreading is essential. When writing your edTPA commentaries, consider the following
guidelines:
 Note the originality requirements included within the edTPA Professional Standards
and Submission Requirements. As indicated in the subject-specific edTPA handbooks,
you and your teacher preparation instructors can and should discuss how the various
aspects of edTPA connect with each other and to your preparation coursework and field
experiences, including the placement in which you complete your edTPA portfolio.
However, the specific choices that go into the Planning, Instruction, and Assessment
Tasks that are part of edTPA should solely reflect your thinking, based on your
knowledge of pedagogy and your focus learner’s strengths and needs. All writing
should be your own—edTPA uses software to detect plagiarism.
 Originality requirements apply to settings where co-teaching and collaborative
planning may take place. Even if you are co-teaching, collaboratively planning
with another candidate or your grade-level team, or in a context with a uniform,
prescriptive curriculum,3 you must be the lead teacher for the lessons
documented in the learning segment and submit original commentaries. You
may choose to incorporate help from other classroom personnel during your
learning segment (e.g., teacher’s aides or parent helpers) but, again, you must be
the lead teacher, and these strategic decisions should be addressed in your
commentaries. In your Context for Learning artifact, you will explain your
placement setting and any features that influence your planning process. Your
commentaries for each task must provide your own justification for planning
decisions and analyses of your teaching and the resulting learning.
 Outside editing support of your official edTPA submission that includes direct
revisions to the content of your writing is not permitted. Consult with your
program leaders for guidelines for acceptable support while developing your
edTPA materials.

3
See the “Planning for Alignment and Learning” section of this document for more information on how
to address prescribed curricular requirements.

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 Respond to commentary prompts in either bulleted or narrative form.


 Page limits indicate the maximum number of allowable pages. Although you may
write up to the maximum as needed, you may not need to reach that maximum
in order to sufficiently complete your commentaries.

 Read each prompt carefully and completely. Be sure to respond to all parts of the
questions using simple straightforward sentences or bullets.
 Pay attention to conjunctions (“and”, “or”). When the prompts are bulleted,
make sure to address each bullet point.
 Incomplete, superficial, and unelaborated responses are not sufficient. One or
two sentences for each prompt will not contain enough information for a
reviewer to understand your intentions, what or how you have taught, or what
your focus learner has learned.

 Move beyond showcasing or summarizing your classroom practice and show that you
understand your learner and how to support his/her development of knowledge and
skills, as well as to identify and analyze the evidence of his/her learning to support
further learning and inform your future instruction. edTPA provides an opportunity to
reflect on your beginning teaching practice and what you have learned by planning,
instructing, and assessing student learning. Perfect teaching is not expected.

 Pay attention to the verbs in the prompts. They will guide the depth of your writing.
When asked to “describe,” do that: tell about what you planned or did. When prompted
to “explain,” include more detail, and give reasons for your decisions. “Justify” requires
analysis; you must explain why you did what you did and include evidence to back up
your response with supporting details.

 Provide specific, concrete examples to support your assertions. Do not merely repeat
prompt or rubric language as your responses to commentary prompts—you must
always include examples and evidence of your teaching. If you suggest that the focus
learner was able to understand a concept, provide concrete examples from the focus
learner’s written, oral, or other performance work that demonstrate and support your
claim. For example, you might point to a specific aspect of the focus learner’s response
or behavior on an assessment that supports your statement. Your assertion that the
focus learner understands what you have taught must be backed up with evidence that
you specify. Use time stamps to direct a scorer’s attention to specific points of
instruction and provide concrete evidence for your commentary statements. Time
stamps can be approximate; they need not be accurate to the second.

 You may find some prompts repetitive across tasks. This “repetition” is intentional. Key
prompt elements that appear across tasks represent threads that tie all the tasks
together, for example, your knowledge of students or the central focus of the learning
segment. Questions that appear to be similar are couched in terms of the task that you

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edTPA Making Good Choices in Special Education Candidate Support Resource

are completing. Therefore, when you encounter a prompt that seems similar to one you
already answered, think about how the context in which the prompt appears might
guide your response.
Back to Getting Started Key Decisions Chart

Understanding the Rubrics

How do I understand the rubrics?


Each edTPA task has five rubrics, and each rubric has five levels of scoring. As you work on
responding to the commentary prompts, refer to the associated rubrics and read them again
before and during your writing process. Carefully read the qualitative performance differences
across levels found in bold text in each of the rubric descriptions. Pay attention to the
conjunctions (“and”, “or”) in the descriptions so that you are sure to provide all of the
information required. Be sure to review the Level 1 rubric descriptors carefully, as these point
out particular issues to avoid.

If there are particular rubrics that you want to learn about in more depth, refer to the
Understanding Rubric Level Progressions (URLP) resource for Special Education. This resource
gives a detailed description of the differences in rubric levels and provides subject-specific
examples of what evidence might look like on each level.
Back to Getting Started Key Decisions Chart

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Alignment of Rubrics and Commentary Prompts


The rubrics and commentary prompts align as depicted in the charts below.

Planning Commentary & Rubrics


Rubric # 1 2 3 4 5
1a–d, 2a–d, 1c, 2a–d, &
Commentary 1a–d 2a–d & 3a–d 4a–b 5a–b
&
Prompt
3a–d

Instruction Commentary & Rubrics


Rubric # 6 7 8 9 10
Commentary
Prompt 3a–b 4a–c 5a–c 6a–b 7a–b

Assessment Commentary & Rubrics


Rubric # 11 12 13 14 15
Commentary
Prompt 1a–f 1d–f & 2a–c 2b–c 3a–c 1d–f & 4a–b

NOTE: Although particular commentary prompts align with certain rubrics, all of the required
artifacts and commentary responses for each task are taken into account during the scoring
process. For example, your lesson plans, assessments, instructional materials, and video(s) are
key artifacts in the scoring process that may provide relevant evidence for multiple rubrics. So
while you will not find a rubric that “scores” these items in isolation, they all inform and are
part of what will be used in evaluating your responses.
Back to Getting Started Key Decisions Chart

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edTPA Making Good Choices in Special Education Candidate Support Resource

Planning Task 1: Planning for Instruction and Assessment

Key Decisions

 How do I select a focus learner?


 How do I select a learning segment?
 How do I select a learning goal?
 What do I do after I select my learning goal?
Planning for
 What should I include in my lesson plans?
Alignment and
 What if I have particular lessons that I am required to teach
Learning in a prescribed way or if my school or grade level has a
RUBRIC 1 standard curriculum?
 What instructional arrangement(s) should I consider in my
planning?
 What else should I think about?

 What do I include as baseline data?


 What information should I convey about my focus learner?
Knowledge of the  How do I support my decisions for instruction and assertions
Focus Learner about the focus learner regarding his/her learning needs and
strengths?
RUBRICS 2 & 3
 How specific do my references to research and theory have
to be?

Communication  How do I identify the communication skill for the learning


Skill goal?

RUBRIC 4

Planning  What kinds of assessments should I choose for my edTPA


Assessments learning segment?
RUBRIC 5

Planning Task 1 Key Points

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edTPA Making Good Choices in Special Education Candidate Support Resource

Planning for Alignment and Learning


Tasks 2 and 3 are dependent on your choices in Planning Task 1. Re-read all of Planning Task 1,
including the rubrics. Be sure you understand the key concepts, description of requirements,
and components of the task. Read the footnotes to clarify “IEP” and terms in the rubrics.
Additionally, use the glossary to ensure you understand critical terms (e.g., baseline data,
communication, generalization, learning goal, maintenance, and self-determination).

How do I select a focus learner?


The focus learner must have an exceptionality identified on his/her individualized educational
program/plan (i.e., IEP, IFSP or other plan). Select a learner that is representative of the
varied/range of learner needs on your caseload or in your class. The focus learner selected
should have multiple learning or support needs (do not select a focus learner with the fewest
needs). You want to be able to demonstrate your ability to meet the complex needs of a
learner. As a candidate, you are not evaluated on whether or not your focus learner is able to respond
correctly to each learning task. You are evaluated on your ability to plan for, respond to, and evaluate
and assess the focus learner’s strengths and needs. A learner with varied challenges will provide
opportunities for you to demonstrate your skill in planning, instruction, and assessment. At
least one of these needs (academic needs, identified by an IEP goal or support needs, identified
by either an IEP goal and/or required accommodations/modifications) must be aligned with
the focus learner’s IEP. The learning goal you develop or the specific planned supports to help
the focus learner achieve the learning goal must be based on the focus learner’s IEP. Finally,
because you are required to document that learner’s performance over a number of days, you
will want to choose a focus learner who typically has consistent attendance.

Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

How do I select a learning segment?


When developing a learning segment for your edTPA, identify your focus learner’s individual
learning needs for instruction (this must be based on an IEP goal the learner is working toward
or a support need identified in the IEP). However, if your focus learner is learning any
academic content (including early literacy, early numeracy, or functional academics), the
learning segment must address an academic learning goal. The learning segment itself may be
part of a larger unit of instruction. The learning segment you plan should be consistent with
your normal teaching responsibilities. One-to-one teaching is not a requirement for edTPA,
rather, you teach in the context in which the focus learner is typically taught (whole class, small
group, pull out, etc.).

In addition, the learning segment should provide opportunities for instruction and assessment
of a learning goal and allow you to provide specific planned supports for your focus learner. As
with any learning segment, decisions about what to teach should be driven by what the focus
learner is expected to learn at his/her particular grade level as well as the content of the
learner’s individualized education program/plan. You will want to think carefully about how

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much content to address in your edTPA learning segment; this is a significant decision about
manageability, not only for the scope of your edTPA portfolio but also for the capacity of the
focus learner to learn within the 3–5 lessons of the learning segment. District guidelines, school
goals, and learner interests must be considered as well. While your cooperating teacher must
not choose a learning segment for you, his/her input can be useful in guiding you to consider all
of the relevant factors.

Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

How do I select a learning goal?


After identifying the content of the learning segment, you will need to specify the learning goal,
the standards and objectives, and the specific planned supports that will help your focus
learner to achieve this learning goal.

Specify one learning goal: The learning goal is selected first.

 For a focus learner with academic learning needs, the learning goal should address
academic content that the focus learner can reasonably be expected to achieve in 3–5
lessons. Academic content includes traditional subjects of the general education
curriculum (English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies); functional
academics; and early literacy/numeracy. The learning goal may or may not align with an
IEP goal. However, if the learning goal does not align with an IEP goal, the specific
planned supports must be related to an IEP goal or the required modifications and
accommodations identified in the focus learner’s IEP.

 General education curriculum is the same curriculum as that established for


students without disabilities. Instruction in traditional subjects of the general
education curriculum may include adaptations (accommodations and/or
modifications).

 Functional academics are composed of academic skills needed for independence


in everyday life. This includes skills in traditional content areas: reading, writing,
math, social studies, and science. Examples of functional academics include
reading signs in the community, rounding costs up to the next dollar, retelling
stories, holding books right side up and turning pages from left to right when
role-playing reading, and counting a small number of objects.

 “Early literacy . . . [refers to] the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that precede
learning to read and write in the primary grades (K–3)” (Roskos, Christie, &
Richgels, 2003), including “[developing] alphabet knowledge, phonological
awareness, letter writing, print knowledge, and oral language” (National Institute
for Literacy, 2009).

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 “Early numeracy represents a collection of skills that develop during the pre-
kindergarten years including number and operations, geometry, measurement,
patterns and algebra, and data analysis and classification” (Wackerle-Hollman,
2014).

 For a focus learner not working on any academics, functional academics, or


early literacy/numeracy content (e.g., infants/toddlers or learners with the most
severe and profound learning needs), the learning goal may address functional
skills that the learner is working toward achieving (e.g., physical or motor skills;
social, emotional, or behavioral goals; vocational or career readiness goals; or
communication skills). However, in this case, the learning goal AND specific
planned supports (see “Develop Specific Planned Supports” in the next section)
must then align with an IEP goal and/or required accommodations and
modifications.

Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

What do I do after I select a learning goal?


Align with Standards
After determining the learning goal for the segment, you should identify the standard(s) (early
childhood, academic content, modified, or alternative standards) that you will address in the
learning segment. These can be national, state, or locally adopted standards (relevant to your
context). Though you may find many standards that relate tangentially to your planned learning
segment, choose only one standard for the learning goal. If you are teaching academic content
to a class, be sure to select a standard that reflects your focus learner’s applicable IEP goals,
strengths, and needs, which may or may not differ from those of the rest of the class. In your
Planning Commentary, complete the table in prompt 1 by listing the standard you have
selected that is central to the learning goal. You may include the standard(s) on your lesson
plans, but that is not required for this assessment. If your state does not have early childhood,
modified, or alternative standards, there may not be a relevant standard related to some
learning goals. In that case, state that there is none when asked in the Planning Commentary
prompt 1 table.

Create and Sequence Lesson Objectives


Next, you will create measurable lesson objectives, which contain explicit, operationally defined
criteria related to the learning goal. Identify them on the lesson plans and in the table in
Planning Commentary prompt 1. Daily lesson objectives must be measurable, describing what
you expect your learner to exhibit by the end of the lesson. Pay particular attention to the
behavioral verb you choose. For instance, if you say that your focus learner will “understand”
something, you may be creating an objective that is not measurable since it is not possible to
observe and measure what someone “understands.” It is better to use a verb such as

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edTPA Making Good Choices in Special Education Candidate Support Resource

“identify” because it would be possible to tell whether a focus learner was able to correctly
“identify” a piece of information.

Your lesson objectives should be sequenced to build on one another, moving the focus learner
toward achieving the learning goal. This generally means the objectives will be different for
each lesson. However, for some learners, lessons may focus on the use of planned
opportunities, repeated trials, or repeated practices to enhance skills, acquisition, and/or use.
In these cases, the lesson objectives and learning goal may overlap and lesson objectives may
not differ across the lessons. If this is the case, there are other ways to demonstrate a “logical
sequence” in the lessons. You can use slightly different, more challenging materials from lesson
to lesson, or you may fade the use of supports through the learning segment. You will have the
opportunity to explain the logical sequence of the lesson objectives, learning tasks, materials,
and planned supports in Planning Commentary prompt 1d. The educators who score your
edTPA will carefully examine the match between your learner strengths and needs, the learning
goal, and lesson objectives to determine if such overlap is appropriate.

Develop Specific Planned Supports


Next you will develop specific planned supports to assist the focus learner in achieving the
lesson objectives and, ultimately, the learning goal. You will briefly list the planned supports
(including specific Universal Design for Learning strategies) in the table in Planning Commentary
prompt 1a, illustrate their use in the lesson plans, and explain how they support the focus
learner in Planning Commentary prompts 3a–d and 4b. Furthermore, you will explain how the
supports are aligned with the learning goal and/or the focus learner’s IEP in Planning
Commentary prompt 1b. These supports should provide the focus learner with opportunities to
participate in or demonstrate learning for the learning goal.

Specific planned supports may include changes to the learning environment; the use of explicit
instructional strategies, learning tasks, or materials tailored to meet the individual needs of the
focus learner; accommodations or modifications; the use of assistive technology; and the use of
a prompting strategy or a scaffolding strategy. Special educators are required to use research-
based strategies in delivering special education services. It is important that you identify the
underlying evidence base, which supports the use of the planned instructional strategies and
specific supports. These research-based instruction and support strategies should be
incorporated into the lesson plans. You will justify your instruction and support strategies in
prompt 3c of the Planning Commentary. Rather than designing the learning segment and
lessons and later looking for research to justify those decisions, it is suggested that you engage
in these processes simultaneously, conducting a database search to identify available research
related to the needs of the focus learner, the academic content area, the age and grade level of
the focus learner, and the specific identified disability of the focus learner and then
incorporating the specific individualized supports into the planned lessons.

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The specific planned supports must be associated with either an IEP goal or required
modifications/accommodations if
 the academic/functional academic/early literacy or numeracy learning goal is not
associated with an IEP goal OR
 the learning goal is nonacademic.

Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

What should I include in my lesson plans?


You will submit a lesson plan for every lesson taught and documented in your edTPA learning
segment. The plans should provide enough detail so that educators scoring your edTPA can
determine the sequence of the lesson objectives and learning tasks and activities, the plan for
assessment, and a description of what you and the focus learner will be doing during each
lesson. If you are teaching a group, including working as a co-teacher, write the plans for the
group lesson, including any accommodations and modifications. While you are planning for the
group and may have specific strategies and adaptations for learners other than the focus
learner, you may remove any strategies or adaptations that apply solely to other learners if
you are over the lesson plan page limit. In that case, include only those strategies and
adaptations that apply to the focus learner. Confirm that the specific strategies and adaptations
for the focus learner are clearly delineated in the group plan.

Be sure to address all lesson plan components described in your edTPA handbook while
making sure that each submitted plan is no more than 4 pages in length. If you are using a
lesson plan model that extends beyond that limit, you will need to condense them or excerpt
the necessary components listed below. Planned assessments/data collection forms will be
attached as separate artifacts as noted in the Evidence Chart.

Each day’s lesson plan should include the following:


 one measurable lesson objective, with explicit operationally defined criteria per
lesson (more lesson objectives obligate you to collect more assessment information)
 a list of instructional resources and materials
 a description of the lesson activities, learning tasks, instructional strategies, and
specific planned supports, including adaptations or modifications for the focus learner
 list of assessment tools and data collection procedures for the lesson objective

NOTE: Do not put explanations and rationales in your lesson plans, as scorers are instructed
to look to the commentary prompts for explanations of your thinking and justification for your
plans.

Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

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What if I have particular lessons that I am required to teach in a prescribed way or


if my school or grade level has a standard curriculum?
Many teachers plan lessons that are from published or prescriptive curriculum guides that are
required in a particular district, school, or department. In some cases, pedagogy is prescribed by
the curriculum or IEPs. If this is the case for you, your Context for Learning artifact, plans, and
commentary should describe the requirements. If the curriculum needs modification to meet
your focus learner’s needs, the commentary should also address what you did to make the
curriculum more appropriate:

 how you selected or modified curriculum materials with your focus learner’s
background, strengths, and needs in mind, and/or
 how you adapted a lesson to meet your focus learner’s learning needs (e.g.,
alternative examples, additional questions you ask, or supplementary activities).

Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

What instructional arrangement(s) should I consider in my planning?


The learning segment should occur in the setting in which it would normally occur, whether
that is a general education classroom, preschool classroom, job setting, or some other place.
Additionally, you should use the instructional arrangement(s) normally used in your setting. For
example, if instruction in your classroom typically includes using cooperative groups, you
should teach your lessons within the context of cooperative group activities. Unless your focus
learner requires individualized instruction as the regular setting, there is no advantage to
working with your focus learner in a 1:1 instructional arrangement, and it may in fact work
against you, as the focus learner may not be used to working in a novel arrangement and may
not respond in a way you would typically anticipate. Teaching the focus learner in the typical
instructional arrangement will provide more opportunities for you to demonstrate your skill in
planning, instruction, and assessment. Additionally, for learners who regularly participate in
group instruction, it provides you with greater opportunities to demonstrate dynamic, active
learning by capitalizing on the interactions between and among learners.
Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

What else should I think about?


You will be asked to describe the strategies used to foster greater independence for your focus
learner—maintenance, generalization, self-determination, self-directed learning, self-
instruction, etc. Think about what you can do to support the focus learner to move toward
greater levels of independence, even if the learner has not yet mastered the targeted
knowledge/skills. For example, you can model or prompt the learner to focus on cues to help
shape a response or direct the learner to engage in verbal rehearsal to set the stage for him/her
being able to do this independently.
Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

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Knowledge of the Focus Learner

What do I include as baseline data?


You need to have baseline data for the learning goal. Baseline data is broadly defined in the
handbook glossary. Baseline data tell you what the focus learner knows or can do before you
begin instruction in the learning segment toward the learning goal. As such, they are crucial to
show learner progress as well as to justify strategies and supports. You can collect the data
yourself or you can obtain information from teachers who have experience with the focus
learner or relevant student records. However, baseline data should be directly related to the
learning goal and collected prior to planning the learning segment. When possible, collect
baseline data that will mirror what will be collected in the assessments during the learning
segment. Baseline data should allow you to describe your focus learner’s prior learning
experiences, including prerequisite knowledge and skills related to the lesson objectives.
Academic/functional or academic learning goals should have baseline data in the form of a
pretest, performance assessment, or previously completed assignment.
Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

What information should I convey about my focus learner?


Planning Task 1 requires you to demonstrate your depth of knowledge of your focus learner in
relation to the learning goal you have planned. Making casual references or surface level
connections to the learner’s background, interests, strengths, and learning needs will not be
enough—you will need to collect baseline data. You also need to describe your focus learner in
terms of strengths, needs, and interests.

When describing how your knowledge of the focus learner affects your instructional and
support decisions for Planning Task 1, your response should provide relevant detail about your
focus learner’s prior learning/experiences, development, and strengths (including personal,
cultural, language, and community assets) in addition to his/her learning needs. Your written
commentary and lesson plans should reveal what you plan to do in the learning segment to
capitalize on your focus learner’s strengths and to meet his/her varied needs. Your
commentary responses should clearly communicate how you structured the learning segment
to reflect the needs, assets, and interests of the focus learner.

Be sure that your descriptions are based on your observations of your focus learner and not
on assumptions or stereotypes associated with his/her disability; age; or ethnic, cultural, or
socio-economic background. A good way to ensure you are avoiding stereotypes or
assumptions is to ask yourself if you can back up your assertions with evidence and to include
that evidence in your responses.
Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

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How do I support my decisions for instruction and assertions about my focus


learner regarding his/her learning needs and strengths?
It is vital that you provide specific, concrete examples to support your assertions. When
describing your focus learner’s strengths, personal/cultural/community assets or prior
academic/functional or academic learning experiences, specifically describe what the asset or
prior learning encompasses and how it is related to your learning segment. In order to support
your explanations, refer to the baseline data and the instructional materials and lesson plans
you have included as part of Planning Task 1.

Do not merely repeat prompt or rubric language as your responses to commentary prompts—
you must always include examples and evidence of your teaching. Provide specific and
concrete examples of strengths and needs from your focus learner’s prior written, oral, or
demonstrated work that demonstrate and support your claim. See the two different examples
of academic and nonacademic prior instructional histories below:

Academic: When tested at the beginning of the year, Terry could read 24 simple CVC words
independently. By January, he was reading 62 words correctly with several self-corrects. He is
now working on CVCe (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant with silent e) words to reach his IEP goal of
75 CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) and CVCe words read correctly by the end of the year.

Vocational: Sonya is good about using her checklist to complete regular tasks in her work
placement. However, if she completes these tasks early, she does not check to see if there are
additional tasks that could be done. She also did not notify her supervisor last week when she
was sick. She gets very upset when she makes mistakes and shuts down. Therefore, I am
working with her on communication in the workplace, identifying different scenarios, and using
role-play and error prevention to help her learn what she might say.
Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

How specific do my references to research and theory have to be?


When including research/theory in your edTPA, you should justify what you are doing. Justify
your instructional choices from your plans, i.e., your choice of teaching strategies and materials.
You may include the principles of research and theory you have learned in courses in your
preparation program, your independent reading, or elsewhere. Draw upon educational
philosophy and specific theories of development, learning, group work, and motivation, as well
as conceptions and research-based practices of the subject-specific discipline you are teaching.

In order to make a clear connection to your focus learner’s strengths and needs, justifications
should reference specific research-based instruction and/or support strategies related to the
learning goal and lesson objectives. You should explain the theoretical concepts and lines of
research that support/inform what you have planned to do (i.e., why you think that your plans
should be successful with your focus learner). Do not merely name drop a theorist (e.g.,
Vygotsky or Bloom said . . .), mention a textbook author, or describe a concept without being

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explicit about the theory or research finding, how it reflects knowledge of your focus learner,
and how both are reflected in your plans for instruction. Be sure your justification centers on
instructional and support choices that move the learner toward meeting the lesson objectives
and learning goal.

Formal citations are not required when referencing research/theory—only when referencing
copyrighted materials such as textbooks. If you do list citations, provide them at the end of the
commentary; they will not count toward the page limits.
Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

Communication Skill

How do I identify the communication skill for the learning goal?


Teaching is inherently a reciprocal exercise. When presenting information to students or
requesting that they demonstrate some type of skill or competency, educators are expecting
learners to communicate in some way what they know or understand. An educator
communicates an idea, and then a student communicates an understanding. The
communication skill used in a learning task may include expressive communication skills (i.e.,
speaking, writing, demonstrating), and in some instructional content areas, representational
language skills (e.g., using symbols, notation), and/or receptive communication skills (i.e.,
listening; reading text, pictures, or signs), which are needed by the focus learner in order to
engage in the learning task and demonstrate learning successfully. Communication skills are so
embedded in instructional activities that you may take many for granted. In identifying a
communication skill and planning to support the focus learner’s use of the communication skill,
you will need to anticipate a moment during instruction when you will expect the focus learner
to use expressive/receptive communication to participate in learning tasks and/or demonstrate
learning. As a special educator you will likely work with students with a range of communication
abilities. The communication skill you identify needs to be related to the learning goal. The
learning segment may include multiple opportunities for the focus learner to use a
communication skill related to the learning goal. You need to identify only one example of the
focus learner’s use of the communication skill, providing an example from the lesson plans of
how you supported the focus learner to use the skill.

The communication skill should make clear what the focus learner will do with
communication to participate in learning tasks and/or demonstrate learning for the learning
goal. Often, the standards and/or objectives for the learning segment will include
communication skills embedded in the content to be learned—look to the verbs used (i.e.,
explain, signal, compare, argue, request). Choose one communication skill that the focus
learner will need to develop in order to participate in instruction or demonstrate learning
across the learning segment for the learning goal.

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As previously mentioned, you are also asked to explain how you will support the focus learner
in developing and using the communication skill. The support strategies should be specific to
the use of the communication skill and not merely related to helping the focus learner in
achieving the learning goal. Planned supports for communication can include instructional
strategies such as vocabulary development, modeling, guided practice; materials such as
graphic organizers, dictionaries, spell-check; or accommodations such as assistive technology. It
is the candidate’s responsibility to describe how the communication skill allows the focus
learner to participate in learning tasks and/or demonstrate learning and how the identified
supports will assist the focus learner in acquiring, maintaining, and/or generalizing the
communication skill.

For additional examples of communication skills and related supports, see Understanding
Curriculum-Related Communication in edTPA, which will be included under Academic
Language Handouts.
Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

Planning Assessments

What kinds of assessments should I choose for my edTPA learning segment?


The assessments and daily assessment records for your selected learning segment should be
aligned with and directly measure the focus learner’s progress toward the learning goal. As a
result, they should provide opportunities for a focus learner to show his/her understanding of
content or skills in relation to all of the lesson objectives of the learning segment. A simple way
to show that you have planned to measure each lesson objective is to not only include the
assessments you will use to measure each lesson objective, but also to create an assessment
record in a table format that lists the learning goal, summarizes the baseline data, lists each of
the lesson objectives, and allows you to describe whether or not the individual lesson
objectives have been met. You are encouraged to include both formal and informal
assessments throughout the learning segment.
Back to Planning Task 1 Key Decisions Chart

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Planning Task 1 Key Points


What to Include What to Avoid

 A focus learner that has multiple learning and  Avoid assumptions or stereotypes associated
support needs as identified in his/her IEP with the focus learner’s disability; age; or
 A learning goal, which for the vast majority of ethnic, cultural, or socio-economic
selected focus learners addresses academic background
content  Content inaccuracies
 Standards and IEP goal(s) for the learning goal  Inappropriate, unreasonable scope and
 One lesson objective for the learning goal per sequence in the learning segment
lesson in daily lesson plans  Generic, unrelated support strategies
 Specific support strategies to assist the focus  Lack of alignment between IEP goals,
learner in achieving the lesson objectives, standards, the learning goal, lesson
which are based on the needs of your focus objectives, learning tasks, and assessments
learner  Responses to commentary prompts that are
 All rationales and explanations for your too brief or that do not directly address the
instructional choices written in your prompt (if you feel like you are repeating
commentary (not elaborated in your lesson yourself, you may not be detecting the
plans) different nuances between the prompts)
 Explicit justification of why your instructional
strategies, materials, and specific planned
supports are appropriate for your focus
learner
 Identification of and support for the learner’s
use of an expressive/receptive
communication skill for the learning goal
 Explanations of assessments and a daily
assessment record that show how you plan
to monitor the focus learner’s progress
toward all lesson objectives and the learning
goal
 Three to five lesson plans, each no more than
4 pages in length
 Instructional artifacts to help scorers better
understand the learning segment

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Instruction Task 2: Instructing and Engaging the Focus Learner

Key Decisions
 What if video recording is not allowed in my
placement?
 What are my professional responsibilities for
maintaining confidentiality?
Video Recording  What are the features of a quality edTPA video?
 How do I prepare my edTPA video recordings for my
learning segment?
 What resources do I need to consider (equipment,
software, and tutorials)?

 What do I look for when selecting clip(s) that


demonstrate respect and rapport?
Learning Environment
 How do I demonstrate a positive learning
RUBRIC 6 environment that supports and challenges the focus
learner?

Engaging the Focus  How do I select my video clip(s) to show active


Learner engagement of the focus learner in developing
knowledge and skills related to the learning goal?
RUBRIC 7

 How do I show that I am deepening the focus


Deepening Learning
learner’s understanding of knowledge and skills
RUBRIC 8 related to the learning goal?

Analyzing Teaching
 What is important to consider as I identify changes I
Effectiveness
would make to the learning segment?
RUBRIC 10

Instruction Task 2 Key Points

Re-read all of Instruction Task 2, including the rubrics. Be sure you understand the key
concepts, description of requirements, and components of the task. Read the rubric footnotes
to clarify terms in the rubrics. Additionally, use the glossary to ensure you understand critical
terms (e.g., respect, rapport, and challenge).

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Video Recording
What if video recording is not allowed in my placement?
Some placement settings (e.g., psychiatric facilities, juvenile correctional institutions, and
hospitals) do not allow video recording for safety or security reasons. If you are placed in one of
these settings with such a policy, then contact your edTPA coordinator for guidance in
developing alternative evidence. Candidates are expected to provide video recorded evidence
of instruction for all other placement settings. If video recording is not allowed because of a
district, school, or institutional policy, which is not related to safety or security, then contact
your university supervisor to either gain assistance in securing permission or finding another
placement.
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

What are my professional responsibilities for maintaining confidentiality?


You are required to collect consent forms for all learners—not just the focus learner—and from
any adults who appear in your video clip(s) for edTPA. Your program will provide you with a
consent form to use. If someone without consent accidentally appears in the video, you may
blur the face and use the video. In those cases, choosing to blur faces will not count as
impermissible editing. In addition, while you should remove identifying information from your
edTPA, if the video includes identifying information for the school that cannot be avoided or
readily blurred out, for example, the name of the school is on a learner’s sweatshirt or on a wall
in the background where you are working, you do not need to remove it; the scoring system is
secure and scorers are trained to keep all portfolio information confidential.

It is vitally important that you only use the video for the purpose of completing your edTPA.
Video of your teaching should never be posted in public venues like YouTube, Facebook, etc.,
or shared with people not involved with the edTPA assessment (e.g., potential employers or
your family) without additional permission, as this violates the confidentiality of the children
you teach and their families. Even when intending no harm, this is a serious breach of
professional ethics.
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

What are the features of a quality edTPA video?


There is no requirement or expectation for you to create a professional-quality production.
The use of titles, opening and closing credits, a musical soundtrack, or special effects must
be left to Hollywood, as reviewers will be examining only what the video shows you and
your learner(s) doing within the learning segment. However, while it is not necessary to be
technically perfect, it is important that the quality of the video (clarity of picture and
sound) be sufficient for scorers to understand what happened in your classroom. In most
cases, the sound quality will be most important, but if the learning task demands skills or
communication (e.g., American Sign Language) that are best understood through viewing,

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then the video quality will be important. If communication that is important to understand
is occasionally inaudible or, in the case of sign, visible, in the clip(s), you may provide a
transcript with your commentary, embed quotes in your commentary response, or insert
captions in the video clip (a permissible edit) (see the Instruction Task 2 section of the
Special Education edTPA Assessment Handbook for more information).
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

How do I prepare my edTPA video recordings for my learning segment?


 Advise your cooperating/master teacher and the principal at your school of your need
to video record lessons for your learning segment. If the school is new to edTPA, you
may ask your university supervisor to help facilitate arrangements.

 Although a camera operator is often unnecessary, discuss any plans for someone to
operate the camera. If you use a camera operator, look to people who already have
approval to be in classrooms (e.g., your cooperating teacher or your university
supervisor). For any others, be sure that you obtain prior approval well in advance and
that your invited camera operator knows and follows school procedures for visitors.

 Collect the necessary consent forms from a parent/guardian of your learner(s) or, if
eligible, from the learner(s), as well as adults who might appear in the video.
Respecting learners’ privacy, as well as protecting yourself and your cooperating teacher,
is a professional responsibility that should not be ignored.

 Read your edTPA handbook carefully to note the limits on length of clips. NOTE: These
limits may differ for Tasks 2 and 3.

 Make arrangements for the necessary video/audio equipment well in advance. If you
do not have ready access to video equipment, reach out to peers, family members, your
cooperating/master teacher, university supervisor, or university/school technology staff.

 Location. Location. Location. Think about where you and your learner(s) will be located
in the “classroom” during the activities to be portrayed in the video and where to place
the camera. If you are filming in a public community setting (e.g., store), visit the setting
at the time of day when you plan to film to assist in your planning. Regardless of
location, ask yourself the following questions: What evidence do the rubrics call for that
the camera will need to capture? Where will the camera/microphones need to be
placed in order to optimize sound quality? In particular, think about where to place any
other learner who may have withheld permission to be filmed so that she or he can
participate in the lesson off-camera. If you do need a camera operator, meet in advance
to share the lesson plan and video needs.

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 Practice video recording before teaching the learning segment. Practice will provide a
chance to test the equipment for sound and video quality, as well as give your learner(s)
an opportunity to become accustomed to the camera in the room.

 Try to record the entire set of lessons in your learning segment. Recording more than
what you plan to submit for edTPA will provide you with plenty of footage from which
to choose the clip(s) that best meet the requirements for edTPA. It is also helpful to
have extra footage to use in case of technical problems or the future need for a retake.

 Your face must appear in at least one video clip to confirm your identity. If the camera
angle to best capture interactions does not include your face, your face may appear
briefly and the camera angle can be adjusted while the camera is running so that the
video clip is continuous.

 Be natural. While recording, try to forget the camera is there (this is good to explain to
your focus learner as well) and teach like you normally do. If possible, record other
lessons prior to the learning segment so that the camera is not a novel item. If using a
camera operator, advise him or her not to interject into the lesson in any way and to
minimize camera movement.

 Be sure to select and submit clips with quality audio so that those viewing your clips can
hear you and the focus learner as well as any relevant discussion the focus learner may
have with other learners. It is often helpful to watch the video recording each day so that
you can check for audio quality. As you watch, note possible examples of evidence with
time stamps for later consideration in choosing the clip(s). It will be important to identify
specific instances of the video recording with time-stamp references in your
commentary responses. While it is fresh in your mind, record a transcription for
occasionally inaudible parts for the video that you might want to include in your
submission.

 Identify and address key portions that are inaudible. As you view and listen to the
video clips, note any inaudible portions where transcription is necessary to help an
educator better understand and evaluate the teaching and learning. You may provide a
transcript, add captions for these portions, or provide a time stamp and quotes for the
inaudible sections in your commentary. Be selective—you do not need to address all
inaudible comments, but the majority of the video should be clearly audible and show
both you and your focus learner. In addition, transcription for this purpose should be
limited to addressing audibility concerns; further analysis or explanation of your
teaching belongs in the commentary.

 Address any portions of the video that require translation. Captions or transcriptions
may be necessary if the instruction is in a language other than English. See the
Submission Requirements and your handbook for specific direction on when translation
to English is needed.

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 Your video clips are the primary sources of evidence used in scoring Instruction Task 2.
The evidence you need to collect for Instruction Task 2 should demonstrate how you
engage the focus learner while teaching. Read the handbook instructions carefully.
Read each prompt AND read each rubric to fully understand all of the evidence that your
video should demonstrate. When choosing your clips, consider what the focus learner is
doing. It is helpful to watch your clips to be sure that they provide evidence for all of the
required elements. When responding to your prompt, consider using time stamps from
the video to support your written commentary and direct a scorer’s attention to what
you want him/her to see. Consult the Evidence Chart in your handbook for specific
requirements for your clips.

 Choose clip(s) that meet requirements for content and length. Review the video, using
any notes you have made, to identify excerpts that portray the focus required in
Instruction Task 2. Then go back to select the clip(s) and identify starting and stopping
times for the excerpts. Any break in the continuity of events signals the start of a new
clip to scorers, so count the number of clips/excerpts carefully. CAUTION: You may
receive condition codes if you exceed the number of clips permitted, if the total time of
your clips exceeds the maximum, OR if the total number of minutes represented in your
clips for Instruction Task 2 is less than 3 minutes.

 Be sure to review the instructions for downloading and saving both the video and audio
from the camera if you are not already familiar with them and ensure that you backup
your files once downloaded. As soon as the video recording is downloaded, view the
video to ensure the video and audio quality will allow a scorer to understand what is
happening, and make a backup copy of the video and audio on a hard drive, a USB
drive, or a CD/DVD.
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

What resources do I need to consider (equipment, software, and tutorials)?


edTPA does not require any particular software, cameras, or editing equipment, although there
are formatting requirements outlined in the Evidence Chart in your handbook. An expensive
camera is not necessary for the demands of this assessment. Many low-end cameras are
capable of producing a picture and sound quality that is suitable for your video needs.
However, certain situations (groupings where the learners are not facing the camera
microphone, lots of ambient noise, etc.) may necessitate the use of some kind of external
microphone.

Video equipment and cropping your clips for edTPA: Since the clip(s) you submit for your
edTPA must consist of a continuous teaching without any edits, you will need to use cropping
tools to extract a clip from the longer video you record. If you are new to video recording or to
the camera you are using, be sure to read the instruction manual that comes with the camera.
Even if the manual has been lost, most manuals are available online at the manufacturer’s
website. Manufacturers may also have online tutorials to help you learn how to use the

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camera. YouTube has a plethora of videos that demonstrate how to set up and operate a
camera.

The free video editing software that comes with most computers is perfectly adequate for
preparing and saving the clip(s) in the format required in your edTPA handbook. PCs have the
program Windows Movie Maker (found in the START menu under PROGRAMS), while Macs
provide you with iMovie. There are many online tutorials that will support you in learning how
to use these programs. Contact your edTPA coordinator and program IT support for
suggestions.
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

Learning Environment

What do I look for when selecting clip(s) that demonstrate respect and rapport?
Establishing respect and rapport with your focus learner and all other learners is critical for
developing a mutually supportive and safe learning environment. Respect is the positive feeling
of esteem or deference toward a person and the specific actions and conduct representative of
that esteem. Rapport is a close and harmonious relationship in which members of a group
understand each other’s ideas, respectfully collaborate and communicate, and consider one
another’s feelings. Both respect and rapport are demonstrated by how you treat learners and
how they treat each other, and you should work to make them evident in your videos. While
you may be working with learners who face challenges in these areas, your video should show
you are actively working to create an environment of respect and rapport within the context of
your learner’s(s’) disability-related characteristics. Learners with disabilities may require very
individualized strategies over a length of time to develop respect and rapport, and each learner
may demonstrate rapport in a very unique way. For learners who have severe challenges in
social and communication skills, respect and rapport may be revealed in learners’ body
posturing, proximity, or eye contact, as well as absence or lower levels of undesirable behavior.
Be sure to consider the modes of communication and all levels of social behavior most
applicable to your target learner when identifying evidence of respect and rapport. In your
commentaries, cite specific scenes (time stamps are very helpful) from the video clips that
illustrate the respect and rapport you have established with all learners. Remember that
scorers do not know your learner(s), so you will need to both cite and explain more subtle and
individualized evidence of respect and rapport for a particular learner.
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

How do I demonstrate a positive learning environment that supports and


challenges the focus learner?
Examples of support and challenge should be related to the learning goal. Choose a video clip
that shows you using supports that are consistent with the focus learner’s needs and prior
learning experiences. These need not be unique to the focus learner if she or he has common

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needs with other learners in the video. Challenge is defined as probing ahead of the focus
learner’s current ability levels. Challenge can be demonstrated by including prompts or
opportunities for the focus learner to learn content or demonstrate learning beyond his/her
current performance level. It is difficult to demonstrate challenge if your focus learner appears
to automatically know and understand all of the content of the lesson.
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

Engaging the Focus Learner


How do I select my video clip(s) to show active engagement of the focus learner in
developing knowledge and skills related to the learning goal?
The evidence you need to collect for Instruction Task 2 should demonstrate how you engage
the focus learner while teaching. The video should feature instruction where there is focus
learner–candidate or focus learner–other learner interaction with an opportunity to engage in
learning tasks that increase the focus learner’s understanding related to the learning goal. In
addition, the clip should provide evidence of how you link prior learning to new learning to
engage and motivate the focus learner.

The pacing of the lesson and learning activities is important. A well-planned lesson, in which
the focus learner remains engaged, can be facilitated by the pace of instruction and smooth
transitions between different activities. Excessive downtime or a prohibitively fast-paced
lesson can be barriers to your focus learner’s engagement in the learning activities.
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

Deepening Student Learning


How do I show that I am deepening the focus learner’s understanding of
knowledge and skills related to the learning goal?
The video clip(s) should show how you elicit responses (by providing instruction related to the
learning goal) from the learner(s) and how you respond to the performance and application of
learning. The purpose of this interaction should be to deepen learning by helping the learner
develop greater understanding of the skills/knowledge related to the learning goal or more
fluency in their application.

You can draw upon any of the interactions in the video to highlight how you prompt, listen to,
or observe the focus learner and any other learners and respond in such a way that you are
supporting him/her/them to develop and/or apply their new learning. Your feedback can be
verbal or nonverbal (such as pointing) and should be more specific than “yes” or “no” or other
general comments. At a minimum, the clip should show you eliciting responses, closely
monitoring learner progress, and providing feedback to the focus learner with opportunities
to respond, but you should not be ignoring other learners in the class or group. If you are

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teaching a group, unless you have provided evidence to the contrary, scorers will assume that
the focus learner will be learning from your and his/her interactions with other learners and
from your feedback to them. However, be sure to include some interactions directly with the
focus learner.
Back to Instruction Task 2 Key Decisions Chart

Analyzing Teaching Effectiveness


What is important to consider as I identify changes I would make to the learning
segment?
Analyzing teaching effectiveness requires you to answer two primary questions:

1. Considering my learner’s responses to instruction, if I could teach this lesson again, what
would I do differently?
Answer this question by analyzing and describing what you have learned about teaching toward
the learning goal to this focus learner. Base your analysis on your observations of how the
learner responded to the instructional strategies and materials you used in the video clip(s)
submitted.

2. Why would I make the changes?


Use the analysis from question 1 to identify what you would do to improve your teaching to
better facilitate learning. Be specific about any changes you would make if you were able to
teach the lesson(s) again. The changes may address some logistical issues (time management,
giving directions, etc.) but should focus mostly on how you would improve the actual
instruction to draw upon the focus learner’s strengths and to address and support the focus
learner’s needs in relation to the learning goal.

You will also need to cite evidence that explains why you think these changes will work.
Consider how research and theory inform your decisions about needed changes. Be sure to cite
specific examples of what the focus learner understood/could do and did not
understand/could not do (as well as any other strengths and needs), and describe the
concepts from theory and/or research that support your proposed changes. Be explicit about
any knowledge of the focus learner that also informed the changes that was not obvious from
the video. (Click here to return to Planning Task 1 explanation of citing research.)
Back to Instruction Task Key 2 Decisions Chart

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Instruction Task 2 Key Points


What to Include What to Avoid

 Clip(s) that contain evidence addressing each  Sharing your video publicly on YouTube,
criterion in the rubrics Facebook, or any other website. It is both a
legal and ethical obligation to respect the
 References in your commentary responses to
privacy of learners.
specific examples found in your video clip(s)
 Choosing a clip that shows you making
 Time stamps identifying evidence from the
significant content errors
video clip(s) in every response
 Showing disrespect to any learner or allowing
 Information about the focus learner that is
learners to be disrespectful to each other
needed to support your conclusions that may
not be evident from the video for an educator  Mismatches between instruction and support
who does not know the learner choices and focus learner’s needs and
strengths

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Assessment Task 3: Assessing Learning

Key Decisions

Analysis of Focus
Learner’s Performance • What kind of assessment data should I analyze for my
edTPA?
RUBRIC 11

 What types of learner feedback should I include in my


Feedback edTPA?
RUBRICS 12 & 13  How do I explain how my focus learner will understand
and use the feedback I give?

Analyzing the Focus


Learner’s Use of • How do I identify evidence of the focus learner’s use of
Communication the targeted communication skill?
RUBRIC 14

Use of Assessment to
 What do I need to think about when determining “next
Inform Instruction steps” for my teaching?
RUBRIC 15

Assessment Task 3 Key Points

Re-read all of Assessment Task 3, including the rubrics. Be sure you understand the key
concepts, description of requirements, and components of the task. Read the footnotes to
clarify terms in the rubrics. If necessary, re-read the glossary for terms used in “What do I need
to do?” (e.g., baseline data, assessment).

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Analysis of Focus Learner’s Performance

What kind of assessment data should I analyze for my edTPA?


You will use the baseline data, daily assessment records, and a completed work sample to
inform your analysis of performance for the learning goal. There are multiple options for the
format of your submitted focus learner work sample (document, time stamp in video clip, or
an additional video clip), so read the handbook specifications charts closely. These options
make a work sample possible for any type of learning goal. It is important for you to provide the
analysis of the work sample and evidence you provide. Scorers will not interpret the meaning of
the focus learner’s work. You must do this. Successful candidates do much more than simply
state whether the focus learner was able to achieve the lesson objectives and learning goal.
Analysis requires you to dig into the evidence to uncover patterns of the focus learner’s
performance, identifying strengths and needs as well as how successfully your instruction and
specific planned supports facilitated learning toward the learning goal for the focus learner.
Again, if you suggest that the focus learner was able to understand a concept, provide concrete
examples from the focus learner’s written, oral, or other performance work or from patterns in
the daily assessment records that demonstrate and support your claim.
Back to Assessment Task 3 Key Decisions Chart

Feedback
What types of learner feedback should I include in my edTPA?
The feedback should be related to the learning goal and should be the actual feedback given
directly to the focus learner. Feedback should offer the focus learner clear and specific
information about his/her performance around the lesson objectives and align with the analysis
of learning for the learning goal. Think about strategies for feedback that address patterns in
the focus learner’s performance and also attend to unique student work. At the very least, your
focus learner should be made aware of his/her strengths and errors. Effective feedback should
specifically identify areas where he/she did well and where he/she needs to improve related
to the specific learning objectives. Percent correct and nonspecific comments such as “Good
job” are not sufficient, as the focus learner will have little idea what exactly he/she did well.
In contrast, comments such as “Great job recognizing that ‘who’ questions refer to people
[academic learning goal]” or “You are doing better waiting for Mr. Johnson [boss/supervisor]
to finish before you start speaking [vocational or communication learning goal]” direct
attention to the details of performance, deepening the focus learner’s understanding of the
progress toward the learning goal.

The same expectation applies to feedback on how the focus learner can improve. For example,
citing the number of problems the focus learner completed incorrectly [academic learning goal]
is not sufficient. In order to identify an area for improvement, the focus learner needs to know
what it is that needs correction. Your feedback must be related to the learning goal. Following

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are two examples of feedback addressing needs and reinforcing strengths related to both an
academic and a nonacademic learning goal:

 Feedback related to an academic learning goal, written on the focus learner’s paper:
“You’ve got a great idea for the content of this paragraph. Now work on your topic
sentence. It needs more focus.”
 Oral feedback related to a nonacademic learning goal (motor skills): “Great job cutting
on the line, but you seem to be having trouble holding the paper still as you cut. Watch
what I do. [Teacher models holding paper to cut.] See how my thumb is on the top of
the paper and pointed up when I hold it? Make your thumb look like mine.”
Back to Assessment Task 3 Key Decisions Chart

How do I explain how my focus students will understand and use the feedback I
give?
The purpose of giving feedback is to help your focus learner understand what he or she knows
and can do and what he or she still needs to work on. Research shows that the opportunity to
apply feedback promotes learning. When responding to this prompt, make sure you address
how the focus learner understands and uses feedback. Think about feedback for the work sample
you plan to analyze for Assessment Task 3. If feedback is to be applied immediately after it is given,
what will you do to assist the focus learner in understanding and using the feedback? An example of
immediate feedback and opportunities to understand and apply it is illustrated by the example
of cutting with scissors in the previous question. If feedback will not be applied immediately,
what are you going to do to ensure that the focus learner understands the feedback that he or
she was given? Then think about the upcoming lessons and the feedback given to the learner.
What opportunities are there in the next lessons for the focus learner to apply the feedback?
Would revision of the work sample be a more powerful learning experience? Is there additional
support that might scaffold the application of the feedback and support learning? Does the
focus learner have different needs that imply different choices? Your explanation should
demonstrate that you have considered how and when the focus learner might best apply the
feedback to support or extend his/her learning.
Back to Assessment Task 3 Key Decisions Chart

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Analyzing the Focus Learner’s Use of Communication

How do I identify evidence of the focus learner’s use of the targeted


communication skill?
You will explain in your analysis and provide evidence that your focus learner used or
attempted to use the targeted expressive/receptive communication skill related to the learning
goal. The communication skill was identified in Planning Task 1. You must support your
explanations by citing specific evidence from video clip(s) using a time stamp and/or the
learner work sample. The evidence cited must clearly demonstrate how the focus learner
used or attempted to use the identified communication skill to participate in instruction
and/or demonstrate learning related to the learning goal.
Back to Assessment Task 3 Key Decisions Chart

Use of Assessment to Inform Instruction

What do I need to think about when determining “next steps” for my teaching?
Informed by your analysis of the focus learner’s performance on the learning goal in the
learning segment, "next steps" should detail the instructional moves you plan to make going
forward in relation to the learning goal. These next steps may include additional feedback to
the focus learner, a specific instructional activity/learning task, or other strategies. The next
steps should aim to maintain, support, or extend learning of the learning goal. Describe your
next steps in language specific enough that another educator could carry them out. You will
also need to justify your next steps with principles from research and/or theory. (Click here to
return to the Planning Task 1 explanation of citing research.)
Back to Assessment Task 3 Key Decisions Chart

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Assessment Task 3 Key Points


What to Include What to Avoid

 Completed daily assessment record (and  Superficial analysis of the focus learner’s
baseline assessment, if not evident in daily performance without citing evidence from the
assessment record) baseline data, daily assessment records, and
the work sample
 Graphic (table or chart) or narrative that
summarizes the focus learner’s progress  Misalignment between the daily assessment
toward the learning goal records, learning goal, lesson objectives,
and/or analysis
 Description of performance patterns in
relation to specific planned supports used  Feedback that is developmentally or age-
inappropriate or contains significant
 Completed work sample for the learning goal
inaccuracies
(the work of the focus learner only, not a
group project)  Identifying next steps for learning that are not
related to your analysis of the focus learner’s
 Evidence of the feedback that you provided to
progress toward the learning goal
the focus learner related to the learning goal
 Specific references to the focus learner’s work
sample and/or assessments to support your
commentary responses
 Concrete evidence of the focus learner’s use
of the communication skill (video clip or work
sample)

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