1. Framework for Teaching Proficiency System (FFTPS)
At Teachscape we believe great teachers create inspired learners. Great teachers are made not born and Teachscape partners with educators to help every teacher be great.

2. Agenda Teachscape introduction
Overview of FFTPS and what it takes to pass
Using the system check tool to assess IT requirements
Customer support: what to do when you need help

3. Our Mission
“Help all educators maximize effectiveness, enabling them to inspire inspiration in every learner.”
Our mission is to help every educator maximize their effectiveness enabling them to inspire inspiration in every learner.

4. Improving Teaching Effectiveness
Founded: 1999 Based in San Francisco, CA Observation Tools: Innovative and flexible Learning Content: Engaging and authentic Professional Services: Adaptive and comprehensive

5. Long Term Partner for Teaching Effectiveness
1999
Teachscape founded
2001
Carnegie Corporation
selects Teachscape and Stanford to develop
English language learning resources for teachers
2006
Teachscape partners
with McREL to develop online professional
development modules
2009
Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation selects
Teachscape for Measures
of Effective Teaching
project
2011
Teachscape partners
with ETS and Charlotte Danielson to develop first online proficiency test for classroom observers
2000
American Federation
of Teachers and
Teachscape develop New Teacher Support Series
2004
Teachscape launches the industry’s first classroom walkthrough software, implemented statewide
in Florida and Arkansas
2007
Teachscape launches its first online master’s degree program for K-12 educators
2010
Teachscape launches
Reflect 360-degree
observation and
evaluation system
Big messages of this slide:
Teachscape has been around and focused on improving teaching effectiveness for a long time
Our first efforts focused on bridging the gap between research and practice: Teachscape was the first to develop a digital library of video-rich learning modules in partnership with leading education researchers such as Stanford, McREL and the AFT.
Teachscape also pioneered the use of technology to support the classroom walkthrough process launching the nation’s first handheld walkthrough system in 2004.
In recent history we have continued to be at the leading edge of improving teaching effectiveness and have expanded our solutions for classroom observation through our work on the MET Project and with Charlotte Danielson

6. Teachscape’s offerings to support teaching effectiveness
Walk
Reflect
Framework
for Teaching
Proficiency
System
Professional
Learning
Suite
Development
and
Coaching
Online
Higher
Education
Programs
Teachscape
Reflect
Improve
Knowledge
and Skills
Observation
and Evaluation
of Teaching
Teachscape partners to provide tools, content and services that support both parts of the continuous improvement cycle.
How do you assess and measure teaching effectiveness? By looking at it! To support the effective and efficient assessment and measurement of teaching effectiveness, Teachscape provides a family of observation tools and training resources for observers to ensure that classroom observations of teaching are of the highest quality, reliability and validity.
To help teacher improve their craft, Teachscape provides a range of services and learning content that helps teacher improve their knowledge and skills with both instructional pedagogy and subject-area content knowledge.
This is our family of products.

7. Family of Observation Tools
Teachscape Walk
Quick classroom visits
Handheld devices
Formative monitoring of teacher practices
Reflect Live
In-class observation and scoring
Collect and score artifacts, evidence, and documents
Reporting and observation management tools
Reflect Video
Video-based observation and scoring
Collect and score artifacts, evidence, and documents
Reporting and observation management tools
Capture and share local best practices
Our family of observation tools includes:
Teachscape Walk – software on hand held devices for quick classroom walkthroughs for formative assessment and instructional planning purposes
Teachscape Reflect Live – a complete observation management and reporting system that combines observation scheduling, live observation, document/artifact management and reporting.
Teachscape Reflect Video – Platform for storing and sharing videos from any source. Includes commenting and scoring tools to support PLCs and teacher evaluation

8. Framework for Teaching Proficiency System
“The Framework for Teaching Proficiency System is a vital element of any fair and equitable approach to teacher evaluation. It provides assurance that when the Framework for Teaching is used for evaluation, it’s done with integrity and fidelity.”
-Charlotte Danielson

9. Professional Learning Suite
PLS is easy to use and navigate. Teacher friendly.

10. We Partner with The Best
Thought Leaders
Content Development
Teacher Effectiveness Systems
Associations
Accreditation
R & D

11. Improving Teaching Effectiveness Nationwide
NYS Teacher Evaluation Provider
Detroit
School Improvement
OSPI
Partnership
for District Improvement
Chicago
Title I
& Title II
Memphis
City
Schools
Denver
Public Schools
DeKalb County Learning Portal
LAUSD CWT
for Language Mastery
Schools
Client Stories:
Washington state department of education (OSPI): provided comprehensive services and tools to 88 schools in the lowest performing districts in the state. Services included institutes (HYS, ELL, Math, CWT) and coaching, combined with the Professional Learning Suite and Teachscape Walk software.
LAUSD: CWT institute and software in 40+ AEMP (pronounced “amp”) schools. AEMP = Academic English Master Program schools = schools with very high ELL and English Language Developing (ELD) population. Schoolwide focus on culturally competency and culturally relevant instruction. Customized standard look-fors to create custom AEMP Look fors that include cultural competence look fors.
Denver Public Schools: Uses our professional learning suite resources district wide to provide high quality on-demand professional development. They particularly like our ELL resources.
Texas: We provide online learning resources for over 600 early childhood programs across the state. Our early childhood online learning resources, developed with the Children’s Learning Institute at UT, Houston, are part of the statewide Texas School Ready! program to promote high quality pre-school statewide.
Escambia County Schools: Uses Teachscape Reflect video to support new teacher (self-reflection and as a tool for new teacher mentors). Also has purchased the Danielson Proficiency System.
DeKalb County Schools: Uses professional learning suite district wide. Have use the custom publishing tools extensively to build and offer their own courses.
Memphis City Schools: Uses professional learning suite and CWT/Walk district wide. Is also a MET district and has experience with the Reflect Video prototype.
Chicago Public Schools: Provide city-wide Title I and Title II professional development for nonpublic schools. Customize services (coaching, institutes) and PLS & Walk software delivered to over 80 schools.
Detroit Public Schools: Comprehensive school improvement work. Some schools funded through the School Improvement Grants (using Turnaround or Transformation model). Others are Title I-funded.
New York State: Teachscape and our partner Charlotte Danielson are approved by the state department of education as an approved provider of teacher practice rubrics for evaluation. Teachscape is the exclusive source for Danielson’s Framework for Teaching (2011 Revised Edition)
How Teachers, Coaches and Principals use Teachscape software tools
Diagnose common professional learning needs based on classroom observation
Group teachers into online study groups for professional learning
Study research-based teaching practices
Discuss their challenges with colleagues and receive coaching and mentoring from experts
Get feedback based on observational data from their coach or principal
Complete graduate courses or Masters degrees to deepen their understanding of effective teaching
Evaluate teacher performance through classroom observations
Texas
Statewide Early Childhood
Escambia Schools Teaching Effectiveness

12. Agenda Teachscape introduction
Overview of FFTPS and what it takes to pass
Using the system check tool to assess IT requirements
Customer support: what to do when you need help

13. A Complete Solution for High Quality Observations
Framework for Teaching Observer Training
Increase the reliability and accuracy of observers
Deepen observer knowledge of the Components and performance levels in the Framework for Teaching
Promote bias awareness
Framework for Teaching Scoring Practice
Provide observers with opportunities to practice before live observations
Deliver feedback to observers including answer key and evidence rationale
Framework for Teaching Proficiency Assessment
Train observers to deliver valid, reliable judgments based teaching evidence
Increase defensibility of the district’s evaluation system

14. FFTPS: Home Page Training Scoring practice Proficiency assessment
System check tool

15. Observer Training: Overview
~20 hours of training content
Self paced
Total training time can be faster or longer
11 online learning modules for observers
Orientation to observer training
Minimizing bias
9 modules on Framework for Teaching
Overview
Framework for Teaching Components in Domain 2 and Domain 3 detailed rater training on each component and performance level
Over 100+ master scored videos

16. Observer training: home page

17. Observer training: overview page

18. Observer training: master scored videos

19. Observer training: exercise example

20. Scoring Practice: description
Provide opportunities for observers to practice
Identifying and recording instructional evidence
Aligning the evidence to a specific component of the Framework for Teaching
Scoring classroom practice based on the evidence
Receiving feedback on the score versus expert-assigned rubric and rationale
Practice videos based on grade span user sets at registration
Users can be set up to view videos for five different grade spans: K–5, 6–8, 9–12, K–8, K–12
Practice videos available to user based on assigned grade span
Scoring practice provides extended practice opportunities using additional master scored videos.

21. Scoring practice: evidence and scoring page

22. Scoring practice: feedback page

23. Proficiency assessment: overview
Two stages. Recommend time to take each stage ~3-3.5 hrs
Stage 1: multiple choice questions and videos. Stage 2: videos
2 chances to pass each stage of assessment
Must pass stage 1 before moving to stage 2
Users typically only attempt one assessment (e.g., stage 1 or stage 2) in a day so they typically complete the assessment over multiple days
User must complete assessment in one session of maximum length of 6 hours
They can pause videos if they need to take a short break (e.g., restroom)
If the computer is idle for 60 minutes or the user logs out, they will fail the attempt
Detailed instructions are provided prior to each assessment attempt
Users must contact Teachscape support if they face technical issues during the assessment
Total (stage 1 + stage 2) assessment time
Best case: pass both stages on first attempt = ~6 hours
Longest: take 2 attempts to pass each stage = ~12 hours
Assessment videos based on the grade span assigned to user (e.g., K–5, 6–8, 9–12, K–8, K–12)
The Proficiency Test is the only test for classroom observers available on the market. Developed in partnership with ETS as a scientifically sound and psychometrically valid methodology for certifying observers, the Proficiency Test accurately and reliably evaluates teaching practice using the Framework for Teaching.
Each test will include video examples from the following subjects:
ELA, Math, Science OR
ELA, Math, Social Studies

24. Keys to passing the proficiency assessment
Conduct a system check every time you use the FFTPS
Contact IT department if you fail system check
Wired internet connection better than wireless
Spend enough time training
We recommend~ 20 hours of training
Train even if you have previous FFT knowledge
The training content supports latest version of FFT and is aligned with the assessment
Several users who considered themselves FFT experts and took the assessment without training failed on their first attempt. Once they trained they then passed.
Practice scoring early and often
Recommend 2+ hours of practice (e.g., score the entire set of practice videos 2-3 times)
Allocate enough time to take the tests
Each tests will take ~3-4 hours. Make sure your schedule is clear and avoid interruptions
Study hard but be confident!
Hundreds have trained and passed
If you study hard you will be prepared

25. Agenda Teachscape introduction
Overview of FFTPS and what it takes to pass
Using the system check tool to assess IT requirements
Customer support: what to do when you need help

26. Overview of system requirements
FFTPS training, practice, and proficiency assessment rely heavily on videos. Users systems must be optimized to view videos.
Network access
Local district IT administrator will need to update network settings to allow users to access Teachscape related websites from their school computers and school network
Internet connectivity
Recommend 2Mbps download speed but can support 1-2Mbps
Highly recommend using a wired connection while taking the proficiency assessment to ensure a consistent connection
Users need to avoid peak network usage times at school when average bandwidth may drop below minimum requirements
Hardware and software
Can use PCs or Macs that meet minimum requirements for hardware, software, and monitor resolution
Users should not use tablet devices (e.g., iPad) with FFTPS
Where to find details
Help section within the FFTPS provides detailed IT requirements
Use system check tool to determine if you meet IT requirements

27. System Check tool: the user’s and IT staff’s best friend
Where to access the “System Check” tool from home page

28. System check: determine if you meet IT requirements
In seconds, automatically detects if user meets system requirements for
Hardware
Browser
Monitor
JavaScript, Cookies, Pop Ups
Allows user to check if internet connection meets requirements (“speedtest.net”)
Allows user to watch a video and listen to audio as a final system test

29. Agenda Teachscape introduction
Overview of FFTPS and what it takes to pass
Using the system check tool to assess IT requirements
Customer support: what to do when you need help

30. 3 Keys to a successful user experience
1. Users should run the “System Check” every time they use FFTPS
Users that do not meet system requirements represent 90-95% of all customer support inquiries. System check helps users address issues before they start using FFTPS
2. Users should contact and work with local IT to resolve any issues identified in a “System Check” or with network access
Fixing any local hardware, software, connectivity, or network access issues almost always require local IT support
3. Users should contact Teachscape customer support if they run into problems during a proficiency assessment
If users are in the middle of an assessment and experience a system problem, they need urgent support especially if the problem prevents them from completing the assessment
Teachscape support:

31. Additional support resources available to users

32. THANK YOU