CredentialNet qualifies teachers-in-training

By Derek Daggett, On-line Forty-Niner

April 29,1998

 

Jean Casey is piloting an innovative program. The Cal State Long Beach education professor developed CredentialNet, a program that may help California teachers who have emergency permits to earn their permanent credentials in the comfort of their own homes.

 

The program, in its first semester, uses instructional videos, e-mail and the Internet to provide classroom instruction even though students are in their own homes.

 

"One of my students, the father of two boys, takes the class after getting home from work and still has time to read a story to his little boys at night," Casey said.

 

The program originated from initiatives by the California State University Institute for Teacher Reform and a California Senate panel addressing the growing crisis of unqualified teachers.

 

Officials blame this problem on several factors, including rapid student growth in grades K-12, veteran teachers beginning to retire, and a reduction in class size mandated by state law.

 

Officials hope CredentialNet will be the answer.

 

The program was started in Los Angeles, where the greatest number of teachers working without credentials is based.

 

Currently, 15 teachers are taking part in the program and calling it a success.

 

"I can come home in the evening, access lesson ideas and view videos of master teaching," said Stephan Strobele, a fourth grade teacher with an emergency permit in the Little Lake School District.

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Casey's ... expertise in technology and computer-assisted

learning have helped the program get off the ground.

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Officials credit Casey with the early success of the program.

Casey's course, a reading instruction manual, is the first in the CredentialNet program, and her expertise in technology and computer-assisted learning have helped the program get off the ground.

"Without Jean Casey's leadership and ability to train other teachers, we would not be where we are today with this program," Executive Director of CredentialNet Jeri Hopkins said.

The program hopes to eventually involve faculty from 20 CSU campuses, many of which will start up in the summer.

Within the next two years, Casey hopes all 15 units of practical instruction needed for teaching credentials will be on-line.

"The teachers need the 15 units of practical class time, and that is what CredentialNet provides," Casey said. "They also need 5 hours of classroom experience, but many of the students are already completing that in their own grade school classes."

CredentialNet has corporate sponsors, including Simon and Schuster and AT&T, that have donated money to get the program started.

Casey said she feels the on-line instruction provides a better classroom environment.

"I feel like I know [the students] better," she said. "They talk more on-line. Students who may be afraid to speak up in class do not hold back here."