Information About Tk20

Tk20 — A Message from the Department Chair

As you may know, our teacher preparation program was recently reaccredited in 2010 by NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) and reapproved by the MN Board of Teaching. We are very proud that our program was recognized for its “exemplary” preparation of teachers. However, part of the review indicated a need for a new assessment system that could support all of the work we need to do for our program’s continuous improvement and to help monitor individual candidate progress toward licensure.

After careful consideration regarding cost and effectiveness, our department selected Tk20 as our new assessment system. Many teacher preparation programs are utilizing systems such as Tk20 and several colleges and universities use systems like this campus wide for student and program assessment. We believe the use of Tk20 will greatly improve department efficiency as well as provide each of our students with the means to more fully engage in their individual progress throughout our program.

The Tk20 system will allow you to:

  1. Build your course and performance artifacts and evidence electronically online. Your artifacts will stay with you so you can use them for years as you enter into your chosen profession. This will be a great benefit to you as you seek to advance in your education career and build your career portfolio over time.
  2. Create electronic portfolios for documenting your work for presentation to faculty and prospective employers.
  3. Have a fully documented record of your field experiences and student teaching.

Additionally, the Tk20 system will help us serve you better by providing instant data for advising and program improvement.

As a student, you will need to subscribe to the program. The Tk20 subscription of $100 is a one-time only purchase. If you are only taking one course in the Education Department, you will be able to subscribe at a discounted rate of $65.00. You will be able to subscribe to the program directly online (see the link below). The use of Tk20 will require you to sign a data privacy waiver.

We do understand that a college education requires a significant investment of time and resources and we are committed to helping you achieve the greatest return on your investment. We have spent a considerable amount of time finding the best system to meet your needs and ours. As you become familiar with Tk20 and realize its potential and benefits, I am sure you will be pleased.

Purchasing Your User Account

Anyone pursuing a teaching license or who will be completing field experiences in the schools MUST purchase a user account. Visit https://tk20.stolaf.edu/campustoolshighered/start.do to purchase your user account.

Financial Assistance

If the purchase of your subscription presents a financial burden to you, please know that with all fees in the Education Department, there is a mechanism in place to provide some financial assistance to you should you have demonstrated need. If you would like to apply for fee assistance for Tk20, please use this form. If you are applying, DO NOT purchase Tk20 until you hear about financial assistance.