Fresno Assessment of Student Teachers (FAST)
Overview
The Fresno Assessment of Student Teachers (FAST) is a Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) system designed for exclusive use at California State University, Fresno. FAST assesses the pedagogical competence of teacher candidates, including interns, with respect to the Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs).
FAST consists of two projects. Single Subject and Multiple Subject candidates complete the Site Visitation Project during their initial student teaching placements. Candidates and interns complete the Teaching Sample Project during final student teaching (including internship).
Each assessment evaluates multiple TPEs using a task-specific rubric for each section of the task. The tasks are scored by trained faculty and supervisors. To pass, each section of the project must earn a score of a 2 on a 4-point scale. Scores are reported to the candidate by task section. This disaggregated reporting provides useful feedback to candidates, to induction programs, and to university personnel. FAST is completely embedded into the credential programs, with formative assessments included as part of course work, and the summative assessments required as part of the field work.
FAST is completely embedded into the credential programs, with formative assessments included as part of course work, and the summative assessments required as part of the field work.
Tasks
Site Visitation Project: This task assesses teacher candidates’ ability to plan, implement, and evaluate instruction. The three parts of the project include (1) Planning: planning documentation for a single lesson incorporating state-adopted content standards and English language development, (2) Implementation: an in-person observation and videotaping of the teaching of the lesson, (3) Reflection: a review of the entire video, selection of a 3- to 5-minute video segment, and a written evaluation of the lesson. (TPE 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 4.7, 6.1)
Teaching Sample Project: This task assesses teacher candidates’ ability to (a) identify the context of the classroom, (b) plan and teach a series of at least five cohesive lessons with a focus on content knowledge and literacy, (c) assess students’ learning related to the unit, (d) document their teaching and their students’ learning, and (e) reflect on the effectiveness of their teaching. Teacher candidates document how they are addressing the needs of all their students in the planning, teaching, and assessing of the content. (TPE 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 2.1, 2.3, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 5.8, 6.1, 6.3, 6.5)
Statement of Intended Use: The Fresno Assessment of Student Teachers (FAST) is designed to provide evidence on the pedagogical competence of Multiple and Single Subject Credential Candidates and Interns at California State University, Fresno as measured by the California Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs). Tasks are to be completed in a particular sequence and scored by trained scorers using FAST task-specific rubrics.
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