Professional Development Needs-Sensing Instrument

To collect information on the planning process for professional development, the North Central Mathematics and Science Consortium at the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory has developed the following needs-sensing instrument:

"PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS-SENSING INSTRUMENT

Notes to Professional Development CD-ROM Design Team Members and Prospective Interviewers

Notes to the Interviewer

Purpose:

The North Central Mathematics and Science Consortium is working collaboratively to design and produce a CD-ROM focused on professional development. The purpose of this CD-ROM is to provide educators with a comprehensive tool for use in planning professional development to support systemic reform of science, mathematics, and technology education. In order to produce a useful product for our intended audience, we are seeking your input. We would like your responses to the following questions regarding professional development and the potential design of this CD-ROM. The instrument is divided into three main segments: information about the interviewer and interviewee, interview questions, and additional comments or insights.

Recommendations for Use:

The information that is collected from this instrument will aid us in the design process of the CD-ROM and assist in the development of case studies and scenarios. This instrument may be used during an informal interview, or the respondent may complete a written copy of the form at his or her own convenience. If you choose to interview the respondents, we encourage you to audiotape the conversation as well as to take notes so as to fully capture what is being iterated.

Information about the Interviewer and Interviewee:

• Name of individual conducting interview and their affiliation.

• Who is the individual or group you are interviewing?

• Where are they located?

• How would you describe their context (projects and/or background)?

Interview Questions:

Current thoughts on and practice of professional development

• What does the term professional development mean to you?

• How do you currently conduct your professional development planning?

• As you do your professional development planning, what human and material resources do you find valuable?

Design Aspect of CD-ROM

The following five stages have been proposed to be a part of the professional development planning process: (1) organizing for improvement; (2) establishing direction; (3) developing a plan; (4) implementing the plan; and (5) assessing impact.

• Examining each of these proposed five phases, what tasks, activities, or processes would you undertake within each?

• organizing for improvement (e.g., collecting/analyzing data, identifying/clarifying needs, analyzing gaps):

• establishing direction (e.g., examining/reaffirming vision and beliefs, identifying goals):

• developing a plan (e.g., examining options, aligning efforts, choosing resources):

• implementing the plan (e.g., facilitating, building/providing leadership, just doing it, celebrating):

• assessing the impact (e.g., examining evidence of improved student learning, changed practice, and own/user's learning; identifying 'lessons learned'):

• Does this language represent what you do or would like to do when planning for professional development? If not, what language better reflects the planning process?

• Assume these five phases are a part of the design structure for the CD-ROM, and that you are the user of the CD-ROM. Think of a real task that you have related to professional development planning. How would you describe the task (who, what, where, when, why, and how)?

• At which of these phases would you enter?

• Why would you be entering?

• What would you hope to find?

• Where would you go next?

• What would you hope to find there?

• And then what would you do?

• What artifacts or examples of your professional development efforts do you have which would be helpful for the professional development CD-ROM design team (i.e., memos, plans, sample agendas)?

Additional insights or comments from the interviewer

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