Each year, the CPE convenes work groups around priority concerns that emerge from the ongoing review of our programs.  Presently we have two workgroups that are co-sponsored by the Teachers for a New Era Project, funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

E-Portfolio Faculty Work Group.   UWM’s 34 professional education programs began shifting to an electronic format for portfolios during the 2006-07 school year.  Using a three-year “phase-in” process, all new students enrolled in our professional education programs began using the electronic format by Fall, 2009.  Much of early preparation for e-portfolio implementation focused on technical aspects (e.g., getting e-portfolio templates ready; conducting “how to” start-up sessions for faculty and students). The intention of this faculty work group is to go beyond the technical and develop meaningful, research-based guidelines about key components such as the artifacts candidates include and the reflections that they write. These guidelines, along with program samples, will be shared through the CPE website. 

Teacher Education Field Experience Work Group.  At the heart of our urban teacher education program is the field experience component.  In November, 2008 a work group was convened to examine the many features of a powerful learning experience in the field.  The feature of supervision is the focus of this work group.  The work will lead to two important products:  (1) University Supervisors:  What this Role Involves and How it is Supported; and (2) Observation Methods and Tools (including two or three tools that will be piloted in Fall, 2009).