A Roadmap for Professional Development Planning

1. A Roadmap for Professional Development Planning Astrid Liden, Minnesota Department of Education Kirsten Fuglseth, Northwest Service Cooperative

2. Session Objectives: • Reflect on your current process for PD planning • Follow a data-driven process for PD planning • Use templates provided to develop PD plans • Identify features of effective PD and choose PD opportunities based on identified needs • Review completed PD plans and provide constructive feedback for improvement

3. What is your current approach? • What is your current approach to professional development (PD) planning for your consortium? • How is this working for you? What do you see as the benefits and drawbacks of your current process?

4. Cafeteria approach “We always go to that conference.” “That sounds like a fun workshop.” “My friend is going to that session, so I’m going to tag along.” “The only trainings we participate in are regionals because that’s all we can afford.”

5. What is data-driven PD planning? • PD needs are identified and prioritized based on data • SMART objectives are developed based on those needs • PD activities align with identified needs & objectives

6. Why is it important? • Improved understanding of staff and learners’ needs and characteristics • Meaningful decisions about training offerings • Alignment of perceived needs with expected outcomes • Selection of effective activities & materials to support training goals • Effective use of limited resources • Impact of professional development is maximized

7. PD planning process • Assemble PD planning team • Collect & analyze data to identify PD needs • Identify and prioritize PD needs using a variety of data • Develop PD objectives • Identify and/or develop PD activities to meet objectives • Carry out/participate in PD activities • Reflect on & maximize impact of PD activities • Evaluate whether objectives have been met

8. Assemble the PD planning team • Include a mix of roles & perspectives • Leadership support and involvement

9. Establish a sustainable process for PD planning • Who is/will be part of your PD planning team? • When do/will you meet? What is/will be your planning cycle? • What resources do/will you need?

10. Collect & analyze data to identify PD needs Look at the PD planning template & discuss with a small group: • What data do you currently use to inform PD planning? • What data could you use in the future? • What other data would you include on this list?

11. Identify & prioritize PD needs • Which needs are supported by the greatest amount and diversity of data? • Which needs reflect local and state priorities & initiatives that need to take precedence? • Which needs are possible to address in the upcoming program year? • Which needs can be met with available personnel, resources, and technology capabilities?

12. Developing PD objectives SMART objectives are: • Specific – What? Why? How? • Measurable – How will I measure progress & know when I’ve achieved my goal? • Action-oriented – Can I take actions to accomplish this objective? • Realistic – Is this challenging but still possible to achieve? • Time-bound – What is my timeframe for this goal?

13. SMART objective Example: Improve reading instruction → SMARTer objective: By June 2013, basic skills teachers will be able to administer diagnostic assessments for the 4 components of reading & use the results to identify their students’ areas of reading strength and weakness.

14. Develop measurable PD objectives ___________ will be able to __________ by ________. Example: By June 2013, basic skills teachers will be able to administer diagnostic assessments for the 4 components of reading & use the results to identify their students’ areas of reading strength and weakness.

15. Features of effective PD

16. Matching PD objectives to PD activities • Traditional PD Conferences/Workshops • How do you make these more meaningful? • Choose sessions based on your identified needs • Focus your efforts-participate in a strand of sessions • Complete action CEU assignment • Share information with peers

17. Matching PD objectives to PD activities • Online courses • Study Circles • Professional working groups • Site visits • Peer observation/mentoring • Program & product development

18. Identify or develop appropriate PD activities & resources Discuss with your partner: • What PD activities would help achieve the objective you identified? • What resources (presenters, materials, etc.) would you need to carry out this activity?

19. Reflect on and maximize impact of PD activities • Reflective practice license renewal requirement • Activity log • Teacher journal • Staff meetings • Professional learning communities • Meeting with supervisor or colleague • Action CEU • ???

20. Action CEU’s:Put your learning into action! • Get new ideas off the shelf and into your classroom • Complete the Action CEU reflection assignment and submit it to ATLAS within 6 weeks of an ABE-sponsored professional development event focused on classroom instruction • Earn 5 CEUs • For more info: www.atlasABE.org (under CEUs & Graduate Credit)

21. Evaluating PD(adapted from Guskey, 2002) Level 5: Student learning outcomes Assessing student learning Level 4: Participants’ use of new knowledge and skills Assessing degree and quality of implementation Level 3: Organization support and change Assessing organizational advocacy, support, accommodation, facilitation, recognition Level 2: Participants’ learning Assessing new knowledge and skills Level 1: Participants’ reactions Assessing initial satisfaction with experience

22. PD plan review • Are the PD objectives SMART? Could they be made SMARTer? • Will the activities help the program achieve the objectives? What other activities should they consider? • What are the strengths of the plan? • Other suggestions for improvement?

23. Planning for next steps • Using the PEP in your program booklet, reflect on your next steps for PD planning. • Share with a partner.

24. Questions? Feedback? Astrid Liden: Astrid.Liden@state.mn.us Kirsten Fuglseth: kfuglseth@nw-service.k12.mn.us Updated PD templates will be available at www.mnabe.org