Article: Preparing Facilitators to Use and Adapt Mathematics Professional Development Materials Productively
Publication: International Journal of STEM Education, a peer-reviewed journal
Publisher: Springer
Publication Date: November 23, 2017
Related WestEd Author: Nanette Seago
Related WestEd Program: Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics

Determining whether a professional development program can be enacted with integrity in different settings and by different facilitators is critical to understanding efficacy. This recent article describes the two-stage preparation process of a facilitator planning to use and adapt the highly specified Learning and Teaching Geometry video-based professional learning materials with fidelity. The latter stage of the preparation process was the facilitator’s rehearsal, during which the research team used two instruments to measure fidelity.

The authors used two existing instruments to explore fidelity through different lenses, including timing and modification of activities and learning goals. Results from both fidelity instruments indicate that the facilitator used the materials as intended by the developers. However, these instruments did not capture important information about modifications the facilitator made, including timing and content-focused adaptations.

The article makes suggestions about measuring fidelity, preparing facilitators, and supporting productive adaptations.

Read the full paper.