School of Education

2007-2008 Annual Faculty Assessment

Dr. Jonathan Becker

Assistant Professor
Department of Educational Administration

Dr. Jonathan Becker presented his 2007-2008 Work Plan, 2007-2008 Final
Activity Report and Narrative, and his 2008-2009 Initial Work Plan and supporting
documents. His materials are complete and provide good evidence for
reviewing his work and his contribution to the Department and School. Dr.
Becker had allocated 30% to teaching, 40% to research and scholarly activity,
15% to service, and 10% to other, to include the dissertation advisement he is
finishing at Hofstra University.

Teaching
Dr. Becker taught a four course load, as appropriate for an initial appointment.
Dr. Becker taught three sections of ADMS 611 (School Law) and one section of
EDUS 710, Educational Research Design. His average course size was 16.25,
at the upper end for the department Jonathan is already chairing 7 dissertations
at VCU in addition to 5 at Hofstra, 4 of whom graduated in 2007-2008. Dr.
Becker’s teaching load this year required development of two new syllabi and
learning and including the details of Virginia education law.

Dr. Becker presented course syllabi and end-of-course student ratings for all his
courses. He also presented an extensive narrative of his teaching goals, his
approach to teaching, decisions he made based upon student feedback, and his
continuing plans for technology.

Student evaluations from Fall 2007 showed that Dr. Becker is seen as strongest
in his knowledge base, his preparedness for class, and his concentration on
discussion and participation. Although quite respectable, his first semester
evaluations were somewhat lower than his student evaluations at Hofstra, where
he was regularly the highest rated member of the faculty. I would expect that I
will see differences in his Spring semester evaluations and that, once settled, he
becomes one of the highest rated professors.

Student comments were interesting, particularly in light of department curriculum.

Where there were suggestions for change, they tended to focus on resistance to
the Socratic method and case analysis – both components of the course
endorsed by the department. Students noted Dr. Becker’s passion for the
material, the completeness of his preparedness for each class, his extensive
knowledge, his energy, and his patience. School law is one of the courses in
which values surface and, as such, requires skill beyond legal understanding.
From student comments, it is clear that Dr. Becker brings this added dimension
to his teaching. Students wrote that Dr. Becker “Was very knowledgeable and
allowed for diversity of opinions, a safe learning environment.” “He was very
open and made me think! He brought the group together with lessons, no matter
how controversial.” ”Good at managing discussion.”

In addition to his school law course, Dr. Becker taught doctoral research methods
course. I observed his teaching in both courses. I was very impressed with the
level of understanding the students demonstrated in their final research projects
of measurement, survey design, sampling, and analysis. This course requires a
tremendous amount of coverage – too much, in my opinion, for one semester –
and Dr. Becker was able to pull it together.

Dr. Becker maintained a heavy emphasis on service on doctoral dissertations,

prepared comprehensive exam questions in law and as part of the research team
in research methods. He read and evaluated comprehensive exams. , eleven
different committees as either chair or methodologist. She also

Last year Dr. Becker has an excellent year in teaching.

Research and Scholarship

Dr. Becker’s research and scholarly work plan was largely achieved. Dr.
Becker’s research agenda includes inquiry into technology use, methodological
approaches to studying technology, and issues in school law.

His focus was on 4 publications and a major online book project. Each of his
article submissions was first presented at a peer reviewed professional meeting
and then revised and submitted for publication. An important strand of his work
is his description of novel methods used to collect data in a statewide evaluation
of technology integration support program in West Virginia. This paper was
presented at AERA in April 2007 and submitted for publication, to Practical
Assessment, Research and Evaluation, a peer reviewed journal. Dr. Becker
received positive feedback from the editor and is awaiting a publication decision.

Two additional manuscripts are emerging from a paper presented at UCEA and,
in a revised format, at AERA this year. “Facilitating Technology Integration:
Results from an Evaluation of West Virginia’s Enhancing Education Through
Technology (EETT) Model School Project” summarized Dr. Becker’s three year
statewide evaluation of technology integration in West Virginia. These two
papers persuaded Dr. Becker that he had two publishable manuscripts. He is
completing one of these articles for submission and, during the last week of May,
is collecting additional data in site visits to West Virginia schools for the second
article. He expects that both manuscripts will be submitted by August 2008.

A fourth manuscript has been submitted to the Journal of Educational Computing

Research and presents research on which Dr. Becker has been working for two
years. The Digital Horserace: An Analysis of Differences in Student Computer
Use Across the States and Across the Years uses NAEP data to examine the
differences and effects of state technology policy decisions. No decision has yet
been made by the journal on this submission.
Dr. Becker has submitted, with Dr. Scott McLeod, a fifth manuscript and is
awaiting a decision from the Journal of Law and Education. This piece, “FOIA,
FERPA and Other Acronyms Not Necessarily Beginning with F”

Finally, Dr. Becker’s biggest writing and research project is his online school law
guide that he is developing with Scott McLeod for the National Association of
Secondary School Principals. This is a very visible and important piece that put
these two scholars at the center of the school law genre. They are taking
textbooks out of the print realm and into the digital world. This project includes
modules, links to published opinions in major cases, test yourself interactive
quizzes, FAQ sections, and much more. This is very exciting and is expected to
go online in Beta format this summer.

Dr. Becker’s scholarship and research this year has been excellent. He has a
strong research focus and he is both gathering new data for future publication
and publishing the results of several large studies.

Service
Dr. Becker’s service for this year was to include 10% of his workload. He was
active in the department, the School of Education, and in the professional world.
He served on the school wide committee on research, helping to organize a
faculty research colloquium. He was also a member of a research advisory
board for Dean Warren and worked to craft comprehensive recommendations on
where the School might go with research. At the department level, Dr. Becker
was active in developing department curriculum, doctoral procedures,
comprehensive and qualifying exam questions and processes, and admission
criteria. Further, he was active in the department development of the Ed.D.

Professional Development
Dr. Becker attended both UCEA and AERA.

Summary
Dr. Becker had a very good first year at VCU. His teaching is strong and will get
stronger, his research is exciting and diverse, and he is a good organizational
citizen.

Dr. Becker’s performance in the three areas of responsibility, and in professional

development, is assessed as follows:

Teaching 5 Excellent
Research and Scholarly Activity 5 Excellent
Service 5 Excellent
Professional Development 5 Excellent
Summary Rating

Dr. Becker’s summary rating is excellent.

Dr. Becker is recommended for a continuing contract.

Signed _________________________________________
Date____________________
Charol Shakeshaft, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Educational Leadership

The faculty member’s signature below indicates that this document has been
read and reviewed. It does not necessarily reflect agreement. If desired, the
faculty member may submit a response and attach it to this assessment.

Signed _______________________________________
Jonathan Becker, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership
Date____________________

Rejoinder from Dr. Becker: yes, attached no