From+Belinda+Gimbert


 * __Homework for Monday March 30, 2009 from Belinda__**

Dear UA Strategy 5 Colleagues: I think I followed the directions for the ‘homework assignment’ (due Monday March 30, 2009). Here was my process. I read and categorized each of the questions that were generated from the meeting on Monday March 16, 2009. I also added a couple of questions of my own. These are:

What is professional learning/professional development? What is, and how does, school and district leadership enhance professional learning? How does our professional learning align with the Ohio Professional Development standards? How does professional learning affect school and district culture?

The following categories emerged.
 * __Vision and Mission = V & M __**
 * __ Needs Assessment = __ N **
 * __ Student Learning (and data) = SL __**
 * __ Planning = P __**
 * __ Resources = R __**
 * __Implementation = I __**
 * __Focused professional learning = F __**
 * __ Collaboration, community, capacity building = C __**
 * __Evaluation = E __**

From this point, I then collected the categories under ‘big’ ideas. I used the word ‘curriculum’ only because I really prefer not to use the word ‘program’ as this word implies to me ‘something that is done to someone else, offered in a unilateral direction with little or no input from the participant.” One experiences a program that is delivered by someone else.’ Make any sense??? This is what I ended up with:
 * 1) **Diagnosing professional learning needs (DI)**
 * 2) **Designing a professional learning curriculum (DE)**
 * 3) **Implementing a professional learning curriculum(I)**
 * 4) **Evaluating professional development curriculum (EV)**


 * 1. Diagnosing professional learning needs (DI)**
 * __Vision and Mission = V & M __**
 * V & M = What is professional learning/professional development? **
 * V & M = Is there a PD vision? Are the PD opportunities leading to an ultimate goal? **
 * V & M = What is in the basement? What is our foundation/springboard for where we are headed? **
 * V & M = What does continuous, ongoing, systemic SD mean to us? To other districts? **
 * V & M = Who defines what the goals are for professional learning? What beliefs do we hold when determining a PL plan? **
 * V & M = Whatever we come up with, how can we best promote this to the community? **
 * V & M = How can we convince others that PD is needed even when our test scores don’t necessarily show that it is needed? **
 * V & M = **How and where do our current PLC’s fit into a framework for HQPD?
 * __ Needs Assessment = __ N **
 * N = How does a district create differentiated and meaningful SD for everyone? **
 * N = Are the needs for PD being met? **
 * N = What is systemic, ongoing SD would be responsive to the needs of new teachers? **
 * N = Is there anything in the teacher contract that outlines expectations for SD? **
 * __ Student Learning (and data) = SL __**
 * SL = What mechanisms are in place to receive and analyze student data to identify possible areas of PL? How do teachers access the data? How can it be broken down so that teachers better understand the data? **
 * SL = If we say that SD should be data driven, what data are we using when it covers multiple curricular areas? **
 * SL & D = How can we ensure alignment of PL with student learning? **


 * 2. Designing a professional learning curriculum (DE)**
 * SL & D = How do we ensure and promote student learning? **
 * __ Planning = P __**
 * P = How does a PL plan support and foster new teachers? **
 * P = How do we create opportunities for learning by doing? What would a PL plan look like which fostered active constructivists’ approach? **
 * P = What does systemic PD look like in other high achieving districts/nations? **
 * P = How does our professional learning align with the Ohio Professional Development standards? **
 * P = What and how does school and district leadership enhance professional learning? **
 * __ Resources = R __**
 * R = What is the current structure for allocating PD funds to the district, building, groups and individuals? **
 * R = What are the district resources to develop a comprehensive PD plan? Time, personnel and funding? Can we create the district resources? **


 * 3. Implementing a professional learning curriculum (I)**
 * __Implementation = I __**
 * I = How can we move to a model that is different than one stop get and sit? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 102);">I = What are the similarities and differences between HQ SD, coaching and training? When is each one appropriate? **
 * __<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Focused professional learning = F __**
 * <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">F = When we attempt to facilitate the learning of all students, how do we coordinate PL for content areas, technology, etc? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">F = What are the core items/areas that we focus on every couple of years? **
 * __ Collaboration, community, capacity building = C __**
 * C = What collaborative approaches to professional learning can promote school change that extends beyond the individual classroom? **
 * C = How does our PL plan work among districts? Sometimes districts work together? Where do we fit in with that practice? **
 * How are people taught, trained to be PD experts – leaders in PD for a district…how do they know how and what to learn? How do we pull out the experts among us? How do identify existing experts and human resources and develop future leadership capacity? **


 * 4. Evaluating professional development curriculum (EV)**
 * __<span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">Evaluation = E __**
 * <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">E = How can sustained and intensive SD relate to student achievement? How do you measure the achievement? How do we report it and share it? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">E = How do we get feedback, keep it, use it and share it? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">E = By whom, how and when should PD be evaluated? How is it monitored? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">E = What is good quality staff development? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">E = What does our plan look like? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">E = How and where do we monitor shifts in understanding, shifts in teaching practices and shifts in student learning? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102);">E = How does professional learning affect school and district culture? **