5.3 Program Evaluation
Candidates design and implement program evaluations to determine the overall effectiveness of professional learning on deepening teacher content knowledge, improving teacher pedagogical skills and/or increasing student learning. (PSC 5.3/ISTE 4c)
Artifact: GAPSS Review Part A and Part B
Reflection:
The GAPSS (Georgia Assessment on School Standards) Review was completed for course ITEC 7460, Professional Learning and Technology Innovation. For this assignment we were asked to describe the current professional learning taking place at our school, including needs and opportunities offered (including those in instructional technology), and assessment. The answers are based on the school’s School Improvement Plan, an interview with the principal, as well as my own personal experiences as a teacher at this school. This artifact was completed alone.
Standard 5.3, Program Evaluation asks that candidates design and implement program evaluations to determine the overall effectiveness of professional learning on deepening teacher content knowledge, improving teacher pedagogical skills and/or increasing student learning. In order to evaluate the current reality of professional learning at my school I began with an interview with the principal. Through this conversation I learned the school considers training in instructional technology an area of need. According to the district’s Technology Plan and the school’s School Improvement Plan, the current vision for improving technology in our school and county-wide includes having interactive whiteboards in all classrooms and for all students to have laptops. The goal of these improvements is for both teachers and students to have better access to online resources and also to promote better student engagement (identified as a root cause of school’s improvement needs) in the learning process. According to my principal, professional learning is aligned to the school’s improvement goals, but within the last year my school has provided no technology-related professional learning.
Through completing this artifact, I learned a great deal about my school and school district’s plans for improving teacher and student access to instructional technology. I also learned to research a school’s current reality in professional learning in order to make recommendations for improvement. If I could back, I would also interview some of the teachers on the School Improvement Team to get their perspective of the professional learning currently taking place and their vision of how it could be improved to better meet the goals of the School Improvement Plan.
Knowing how to complete a GAPSS Analysis will impact both school improvement and faculty development. Knowing the current reality of the professional learning taking place will help inform decisions of the improvements that must be made to help align faculty development with the school’s goals. These improvements can be assessed through observations, professional learning attendance rosters, and teacher surveys.
The GAPSS (Georgia Assessment on School Standards) Review was completed for course ITEC 7460, Professional Learning and Technology Innovation. For this assignment we were asked to describe the current professional learning taking place at our school, including needs and opportunities offered (including those in instructional technology), and assessment. The answers are based on the school’s School Improvement Plan, an interview with the principal, as well as my own personal experiences as a teacher at this school. This artifact was completed alone.
Standard 5.3, Program Evaluation asks that candidates design and implement program evaluations to determine the overall effectiveness of professional learning on deepening teacher content knowledge, improving teacher pedagogical skills and/or increasing student learning. In order to evaluate the current reality of professional learning at my school I began with an interview with the principal. Through this conversation I learned the school considers training in instructional technology an area of need. According to the district’s Technology Plan and the school’s School Improvement Plan, the current vision for improving technology in our school and county-wide includes having interactive whiteboards in all classrooms and for all students to have laptops. The goal of these improvements is for both teachers and students to have better access to online resources and also to promote better student engagement (identified as a root cause of school’s improvement needs) in the learning process. According to my principal, professional learning is aligned to the school’s improvement goals, but within the last year my school has provided no technology-related professional learning.
Through completing this artifact, I learned a great deal about my school and school district’s plans for improving teacher and student access to instructional technology. I also learned to research a school’s current reality in professional learning in order to make recommendations for improvement. If I could back, I would also interview some of the teachers on the School Improvement Team to get their perspective of the professional learning currently taking place and their vision of how it could be improved to better meet the goals of the School Improvement Plan.
Knowing how to complete a GAPSS Analysis will impact both school improvement and faculty development. Knowing the current reality of the professional learning taking place will help inform decisions of the improvements that must be made to help align faculty development with the school’s goals. These improvements can be assessed through observations, professional learning attendance rosters, and teacher surveys.