The SDC AZ is dedicated to student success by cultivating professional learning for all.
Links
National Staff Development Council web site: www.nsdc.org
Designing Powerful Professional Development for Teachers
and Principals by Dennis Sparks: Free
Online Book
AERA: 4-p. meta-analysis of PD research: Teaching Teachers: Professional Development to Improve Student Achievement - This brief reviews research on learning opportunities for teachers that are explicitly aimed at increasing student achievement. Recommendations for policymakers: (1) make sure that professional development focuses on the subject matter teachers will be teaching; (2) align teachers’ learning opportunities with their real work experiences, using actual curriculum materials and assessments; (3) provide adequate time for professional development and ensure that the extended opportunities to learn emphasize observing and analyzing students’ understanding of the subject matter; (4) ensure that school districts have reliable systems for evaluating the impact of professional development on teachers’ practices and student learning. (American Educational Research Association, Summer 2005)
http://www.aera.net/uploadedFiles/Journals_and_Publications/Research_Points/RPSummer05.pdf
McREL: Meta-analysis of PD research (see p. 14 forward) with policy recommendations: Professional Development Analysis - Professional development for teachers can have a positive impact on student achievement if it: (1) is sustained over time; (2) focuses on specific content areas or instructional strategies; (3) supports the collective learning of most if not all teachers in a school; (4) aligns with school and teacher goals; and (5) provides opportunities for teachers to practice and apply new knowledge. However, this report finds that in general, teacher professional development does not reflect these characteristics, which results in mixed results in improving student achievement. The report provides recommendations for those planning professional development. (Ravay Snow-Renner and Patricia A. Lauer, McREL, 2005)
http://www.mcrel.org/PDF/ProfessionalDevelopment/5051IR_Prof_dvlpmt_analysis.pdf
The Finance Project: study of PD spending: Inside the Black Box: School District Spending on Professional Development in Education - Virtually all teachers participate in, and many school districts spend significant time and money on, teacher professional development. This study examines professional development spending in five large urban districts as a first step to get inside the "black box" of professional development. The authors list their findings starting on page 11, which include six lessons learned from the five districts, and the conclusion on page 14. (Karen Hawley Miles, Allen Odden, Mark Fermanich and Sarah Archibald, The Finance Project, 2005)
http://www.financeproject.org/Publications/insidetheblackbox.pdf
