Web-based Tools for Enhancing Teacher Preparation Programs - Helping to Build a High Quality Teaching Workforce

This paper presents the ongoing work for designing, developing, and deploying a webbased support tool for pre-service credential candidates in special education teacher training programs. Our application is divided into two major components: E-portfolio Manager and Lesson Plan Creator. To help reduce the workload of credential candidates as well as improve their professional teaching skills, we have designed the lesson plan creator system with an idea of shortening the amount of time required for creating sound lesson plans. Another parallel and equally important goal is to help faculty manage credential candidates’ progress throughout their university credential program. Additionally, ePortfolio collects and manages statistical data for program improvement, thus increasing the quality of teaching. This paper offers our discussion on the advantages of the presented technology, as well as our future plans for further development of this evolving system.