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Facilitating Improvement in Teacher Practice: Professional Learning Modules

Professional Learning Modules

Description

This resource collection is designed for facilitators of professional learning, such as district coaches, principals, site-based coaches, and teacher leaders. The modules aim to prepare these facilitators to support teachers in improving Tier 1 instruction. Specifically, facilitators will learn to implement continuous improvement processes, guided by goals and data, and strengthen teacher collaboration.

The intended outcomes of the module series are to

  • Build the capacity of facilitators to lead teacher learning and develop teams
  • Support the establishment of collaborative structures and routines that embed continuous improvement methods and improve teacher practice
  • Provide guidance for developing a culture of collaboration that supports transparency and organizational learning

This resource collection consists of eight learning modules, each of which has a trainer slide deck, with suggested speaker notes, and a participant workbook. Additionally, there are four videos to supplement the series. Figure 1 shows the learning arc of the modules—with the green parts of the arrow representing setting up the context and developing the team and the purple parts of the arrow representing phases of the inquiry cycle.

Eight Learning Modules
  • Framing the Series
  • Systems Change
  • Team Development and Facilitation
  • Problem Identification and Needs Assessment
  • Root Cause Analysis and Challenging Assumptions
  • Prototyping Ideas for Change
  • Engaging in Rapid Cycles of Improvement
  • Collecting Data to Measure Results

Introductory Materials

Learning Modules Trainer’s Guide

Learning Module Trainer's Guide

This guide includes learning targets, key points, material lists and preparation tips for each of the eight modules. (Note: Trainers’ speaking notes are included in the slide decks below.)

Learning Huddles: Design and Facilitation Tips

Learning Huddles: Design and Facilitation Tips

This resource provides an overview of learning huddles, a key component of the teacher inquiry cycle that is introduced in the modules. Included in this resource are examples of learning huddle discussion protocols and tips for facilitating learning huddles.

Facilitating Improvement Professional Learning Series

This video introduces viewers to the Facilitating Improvement In Teacher Practice professional learning modules and provides an overview of continuous improvement. Learn about key components of the teacher inquiry cycle and how teacher inquiry can support the improvement of instruction.

Learning to Improve Instruction: One Team’s Story

Learn about a teacher team’s inquiry process and how the teacher inquiry cycle and improvement questions supported them to examine their practice and improve their writing instruction.

Learning Modules

Module 1: Framing the Series

Learning Module 1 Workbook

Module 1 provides an overview of the learning series, introduces continuous improvement, and launches the learning community. Key topics include learning about continuous improvement and why it’s important, defining success in schools and school systems, and developing community agreements.

Module 2: Systems Change

Learning Module 2 Workbook

In Module 2, participants learn about systems and how they can improve them, explore the role of equity in systems, and begin to develop a theory of improvement. Key topics include defining a system, seeing your system, surfacing inequities, and improving systems.

Module 3: Leading Improvement Work

Learning Module 3 Workbook

In Module 3, participants learn about routines and structures of continuous improvement, explore strategies for developing teams, and investigate their role as facilitators of improvement. Key topics include leading a team, promoting positive group dynamics and productive discourse, and facilitating effective meetings.

Module 4: Needs Assessment and Problem Identification

Learning Module 4 Workbook

In Module 4, participants learn about methods for conducting needs assessments and identifying a high-leverage problem to solve. Key topics include reviewing data, examining processes, conducting empathy interviews, and understanding the impacts of scope and scale in an improvement effort.

Module 5: Root Cause Analysis and Challenging Assumptions

Learning Module 5 Workbook

In Module 5, participants learn about ways to examine the root causes of problems and discuss the importance of challenging assumptions. Key topics include root cause analyses, methods for determining root causes, and surfacing mental models.

Module 6: Prototyping Change Ideas

Learning Module 6 Workbook

Module 6 provides guidance for identifying a change idea and developing a prototype for improvement. Participants will learn about the difference between a change idea and a prototype, discuss guidelines for selecting change ideas, and practice developing a prototype.

Module 7: Engaging in Inquiry Cycles

Learning Module 7 Workbook

In Module 7, participants learn about the steps of the teacher inquiry process and how rapid testing cycles can help an organization learn. Key topics include engaging in rapid cycles of improvement, an introduction to PDSA (plan-do-study-act) cycles, facilitating learning huddles, and building confidence in changes.

Module 8: Measuring Improvement

Learning Module 8 Workbook

In Module 8, participants learn about using data to measure improvement and explore different types of data visualization for teacher inquiry. Key topics include measuring improvement, monitoring progress, gathering data, turning data into information, and implementing and sustaining improvements.

Related Resources

Resource Details

Product Information

Copyright: 2023
Format: Video
Publisher: WestEd
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