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Session Title: Professional Communities of Inquiry

Panel Session 433 to be held in Fairmont Suite on Thursday, November 8, 3:35 PM to 5:05 PM

Sponsored by the Pre-K - 12 Educational Evaluation TIG

Chair(s):

Helen payday loan  Apthorp payday loan ,  Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning,  hapthorp@mcrel.org

Abstract: This 90-minute panel offers different perspectives on evaluation and research as means of enhancing our individual and collective capacity to create quality learning environments. The three panelists, a researcher, consultant, and writer, work together in educational program development and evaluation. The panelists will present a brief overview of the past and current role of scientific thinking in education, a school-based model for a purposeful community and system of evaluating student work to improve instruction, and tips on how to translate educational research and evaluation results into accessible guidance. The session chair will pose discussion questions and encourage session participants to explore (a) how learning from evaluation and research might be enhanced and sustained for the broadest impact, and (b) how applying models of scientific thinking used in the other professions might both facilitate and hinder learning through evaluation and research in education.

Learning Through Experiments Helen payday loan  Apthorp payday loan ,  Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning,  hapthorp@mcrel.org It is often observed that personal whims, current fads, and advocates greatly influence educational decisions. However, with external pressure from accountability requirements, there appears to be increasing use of evidence and scientific thinking to justify educational decisions. Examples will be drawn on to trace the influence of science in education away from elitist expert opinion to publicly verifiable research conclusions. Current research and evaluation projects will be used to illustrate how rigorous methodological standards can be applied to conducting experimental studies in schools and gaining the knowledge stakeholders want. Dr. Helen Apthorp, Principal Researcher at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), has extensive research and evaluation experience conducting studies on professional development, curriculum, and instruction for school districts, state and federal agencies, and educational publishers.

Learning Through Purposeful Communities Sammye payday loan  Wheeler-Clouse payday loan ,  Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning,  swheeler-clouse@mcrel.org It is vital that principals and district administrators see the importance of a consistent process to use across their buildings to evaluate work. This is a three-tiered process: developing instructional leaders, establishing a purposeful community of learners, and systematic analysis of student work to affect instruction. When the vision and expectations are set, and when teachers develop a collaborative working relationship where trust is at the forefront, they begin to 'evaluate' themselves through a reflective process. An administrative model of expectations and evaluation will be presented. Several structures will be offered to organize learning communities within a school in order to openly share student work, measure learning, increase student achievement, and evaluate instruction. As a building and district leader in several Denver School Districts, Dr. Wheeler-Clouse has first-hand experience in developing instructional leaders and implementing protocols for teachers to assess student work. Dr. Wheeler-Clouse is a Principal Consultant at McREL.

Learning Through Translation Kirsten payday loan  Miller payday loan ,  Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning,  kmiller@mcrel.org Translating research and evaluation results into accessible guidance for practitioners can often seem a hit-or-miss proposition. However, the thoughtful translation of research into print guidance helps ensure that evaluation results lead to the broadest possible impact. This panelist will discuss how to write for a broad knowledge base, from beginning teachers to principals to state administrators and policymakers; how to link research, evaluation, and action; and how best to impart confusing or incomplete results. Kirsten Miller, Sr. Consultant for Publications at McREL, has extensive experience in translating research and evaluation results into prescriptive guidance. Her work has appeared in Principal Leadership Magazine, Phi Delta Kappan, and Principal's Research Review. She received a 2004 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers in the newsletter category, and was a two-time finalist in the journal category. In 2006, she received a MarCom Platinum award for her work on McREL's website.