2007 - 2008 Projects

The body of educational research in the area of inservice teacher professional development reveals that the design and structure of the professional learning experience can enhance teacher skills and contribute directly to the success of students. To ensure optimal impact of the professional development sequence, the Center for Quality Teaching and Learning has embraced the Learning Standards for Professional Development advanced by Drs. Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins. When applied to achieve specific learning goals, these nine principles are often implemented in the form of long-term projects that engage teams of teachers and their students in relevant projects. The 2007-2008 Projects site presents a series of one- and two-year professional development projects that are currently in the implementation phase. The projects are on-going collaborative ventures of the school systems, the Center for Quality Teaching and Learning and the Educational Technology Training Center.

Learning Standards for Professional Development

Instruction is more successful when:

I. IT IS PERSONALIZED
Honor the learner’s interests, curiosity, and prior knowledge. Make the learner feel
they are a part of something larger than themselves.

II. IT TRANSFERS TO WORTHY TASKS
Ensure that learners use knowledge and skill in important tasks.

III. WORK AND EXPERIENCE BUILDS A SENSE OF USEFULNESS
Help learners see the value of their work when facing worthy challenges.

IV. BIG IDEAS CONNECT ISOLATED, INERT FACTS
Contextualize new challenges, skills and experiences.

V. POWERFUL IDEAS ARE DISCOVERED
Engineer learning experiences that lead students to make sense of ideas.

VI. STEPS ARE PRIORITIZED AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE IS APPLIED
Require work products that demonstrate compliance with standards.

VII. FEEDBACK IS REGULAR AND TIMELY
Coach students on progress toward goals and quality of work.

VIII. REFLECTION LEADS TO SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-ADJUSTMENT
Require self-examination as prior knowledge is applied to new situations.

IX. LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS REQUIRE RE-EXAMINATION OF THINKING
Establish a safe and supporting environment that encourages questioning.

*Adapted from "Examining the Teaching Life" Educational Leadership, March 2006