Professional Development: Learning From the Best A Toolkit for Schools and Districts Based on the National Awards Program for Model Professional Development By Emily Hassel The toolkit is available in a web version, as Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf) files which you can download and read. The Acrobat Reader is available free. You can download the Adobe Acrobat Reader version of the toolkit as one big file or you can download the individual sections of the toolkit. Toolkit Facilitator's PowerPoint Presentation and Guide. The Whole Toolkit Professional Development: Learning From the Best (2.8 MB) Individual Sections of the Toolkit Introduction and Overview (480k) Contents Professional Development Action Planners Organizer Checklist Step One: Designing Professional Development (1.5MB) Overview Include Participants and Organizers in the Professional Development Design Process Make a Clear Plan That Includes How Professional Development Supports the School/District's Long-Term Plan Make a Clear Plan That Includes a Professional Development Needs Assessment Process Make a Clear Plan That Includes Professional Development Goals Make a Clear Plan That Includes Professional Development Content, Process, and Activities Make a Clear Plan That Includes Research That Supports the Chosen Content/Process for Professional Development Make a Clear Plan That Includes Resources Available to Support Professional Development Make a Clear Plan That Includes Professional Development Evaluation Steps Share the Plan With the School Community Step Two: Implementing Professional Development (384k) Overview Stay Abreast of and Incorporate Best Practices into Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Make Sure School/District Policies and Practices Support Actual Professional Development Implementation for Staff in Schools Ensure That Resources Remain Available to Organize and Implement Professional Development Make Professional Development Part of Everyday Life at School Step Three: Evaluating and Improving Professional Development (208k) Overview Use Professional Development Design Goals to Determine Evaluation Measures and Standards for Success Clarify Who Is Accountable for Collecting, Analyzing, and Reporting Data and for Facilitating "PD Next Steps" Decisions Use Evaluation Findings to Make Improvements in Professional Development Ensure That Evaluation Criteria Include at Least: (a) Improvement in Teaching, (b) Improvement in Student Learning, and (c) Narrowing of Student Achievement Gaps Step Four: Sharing Professional Development Learning (144k) Overview Document Your Decisions Clearly Keep Implementation Materials Organized and Available to Others Appendices (192k) Appendix A: U.S. Department of Education Award Criteria and Step-by-Step Actions Appendix B: Professional Development Resources Appendix C: National Awards Program for Model Professional Development Winner Profiles Appendix D: What the Research Says About Professional Development That Works Action Planner Tools (these are individual pages from the toolkit above) Tool 1, Part A--Professional Development Design Stakeholder Summary (from page 12 of the Toolkit) Tool 1, Part B--Professional Development Design Participation Planner (from page 13 of the Toolkit) Tool 2--Action Accountability Planner (from page 14 of the Toolkit) Tool 3--Align Educational Goals (from page 17 of the Toolkit) Tool 4--Needs Assessment: Student Learning Goals Versus Actual Performance (from page 22 of the Toolkit) Tool 5--Needs Assessment: Teacher Skill/Competence Versus Actual Performance (from page 23 of the Toolkit) Tool 6--Clarify Professional Development Principles (from page 28 of the Toolkit) Tool 7--Clarify Specific Professional Development Goals (from page 29 of the Toolkit) Tool 8--Professional Development Organizing Process Planner (from page 35 of the Toolkit) Tool 9--Professional Development Content and Activity Planner (from page 36 of the Toolkit) Tool 10--Research Summary (from page 39 of the Toolkit) Tool 11--Financial Resource Planning (from page 43 of the Toolkit) Tool 12--Evaluation Planner (from page 47 of the Toolkit) Tool 13--Keeping the School Community Informed About Professional Development (from page 51 of the Toolkit) Tool 14--Implementation Planner (from page 63 of the Toolkit) info@ncrel.org Copyright © North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer and copyright information.