Ready for 2014: GED Professional Development in Minnesota Amy Vickers, Minneapolis Adult Education...
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Transcript of Ready for 2014: GED Professional Development in Minnesota Amy Vickers, Minneapolis Adult Education...
Ready for 2014: GED Professional Development in Minnesota
Amy Vickers, Minneapolis Adult EducationAstrid Liden, Minnesota Department of Education
Objectives for today
Explore the guiding principles of the MN GED 2014 PD initiative as an effective PD model
Apply principles from the MN GED PD experience to inform your approach to large-scale PD challenges in your own contexts
Access resources/tools developed through MN GED PD work
So…who stays for the last session of the conference?
Which high school equivalency exam(s) is/are being used in your state?
What are your challenges in preparing and delivering PD for your state’s test(s)?
Our challenge
Minnesota ABE professionals will understand the content domain and
format of the 2014 GED test.
We will acquire the strategies, skills, and resources needed to confidently prepare learners to pass the test and equip them
with 21st century skills.
ABE in Minnesota
Large state with significant distances between programs in rural areas
More than 500 delivery sites
Over 1,100 teachers, 170 paraprofessionals,180 administrators, and 2,400 trained volunteers
Majority of ABE programs are required to use K-12 licensed teachers or teachers with a college degree in ESL
About 75% of paid instructors are part-time
ABE PD in MN
ABE PD Specialist at MN Department of Education
Eight state-funded professional development providers
Statewide PD committee
Recent move to centralized coordination of regional PD
Minnesota ABE’s Related PD Priorities
Anticipating the integration of College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education
Prioritizing technology-based PD as a strategy for reaching ALL practitioners. Statewide webinar tool Collaborative identification of best practices and
development of resources
Cultivating more practitioner presenters and leaders
Minnesota’s 2014 GED PD Initiative
Limited GED-focused PD in recent years
Proactive approach to change in GED test
ABE grant funded GED PD project established in July 2012
Grant awarded to large ABE program with a designated project coordinator
Goal of maximizing existing PD structures and resources
Year 1 Process: July 2012 – June 2013
Convene PD planning groups
Create a vision
Gather & disseminate information
Identify & prioritize PD
needs
Develop PD & communication
s plan
Deliver targeted PD
Year 2 Process: July 2013 – June 2014
Analyze Data
Identify PD Needs & Priorities
Plan PD ActivitiesDeliver PD
Evaluate PD
Guiding principles
1. Follow a data-driven planning cycle
2. Work collaboratively
3. Develop practitioner leaders
4. Use varied delivery modes
5. Find new ways to utilize technology
6. Take a long-term broad perspective
1. Follow a data-driven planning cycle
Use a variety of data sources
Involve stakeholders
Set clear objectives & prioritize
Be responsive
DISCUSSION
What data are you using to
identify needs?
What potential “game changers”
are on the horizon?
2. Work collaboratively
Maximize existing PD structures and expertise
Develop diverse planning teams
Shared responsibility and excitement
Innovations are shared & advance the field
2014 GED Advisory Group example
Have expertise in different content areas
Are involved in a variety of statewide initiatives
Represent different regions of the state
Work in different types of programs
Practitioners who…
3. Develop practitioner leaders
Problem: ongoing need for effective PD presenters
Solution: Develop local leaders in varied contexts
---------------------------------------
Builds buy-in and sustainability
Keeps PD grounded in reality of the classroom
Fosters a culture of reflection and professionalism
GED Writing Cohort example
Full-day institute led by national expert + ½ day cohort meeting
3 monthly webinars led by national expert
Online professional learning community facilitated by local teacher leader
Full-day training incorporating … Best practices in effective workshop facilitation Guided workshop development with local PD leaders
Cohort participants lead workshops at regional and statewide PD events
DISCUSSION
How are you developing practitioner leaders?
How could you build in more opportunities for leadership?
4. Use varied delivery modes
Consider the audience and the purpose. How can impact be maximized and barriers
be minimized?
Vary the scale
F2F, remote, or hybrid
Short-term or long term
Self-accessed or facilitated
Mathematical Reasoning example
Webinar to introduce module through the lens of the existing numeracy PD initiative (MNI) (March 2013)
Regional “Exploring the Math Module” workshops (Spring 2013)
Math Institute content refresher for algebra, geometry, data (May 2013)
ABE Summer Institute (August 2013) Pre-conference content refresher (formula sheet) Sessions on instructional strategies
Regional instructional strategy workshops (Fall 2013)
E-quip math webinars(Fall 2013)
Tools and resources
Centralized info on website: www.2014inMN.org
FAQ on website and distributed at PD events
Program planning tools and activities for administrators and support staff
Digital literacy resources
5. Find new ways to utilize technology
Leads to creative and innovative thinking
Possible to reach a wider audience
Engages tech-oriented practitioners & those who want to develop technology skills.
Culture of digital literacy will be shared with learners
E-quip Math PD Series example
Topics to date:1. Exploring the Tools of the Computer-based Testing Environment
2.Connecting and Interpreting Graphs and Functions
3.Connecting Coordinates, Lines, and Equations
4.Solving Quadratic Equations
5.Finding Surface Area and Its Related Dimensions
Archived at: www.2014inMN.org
E-quip Math Webinar Model
Part I: Do I have the background knowledge needed to get the most out of this webinar?PRE-webinar Preparation
Part III: Modeling Instruction
(30 minutes)
Part V: What could this look like in my context?POST-webinar Follow-Up
Part II: Building a Foundation(10 minutes)
Part IV: Reflecting on the Experience
(10 minutes)
GED Ready Reflection Webinars example
1 hour webinar on each of the GED Ready sub-tests
Conversation between host, guest “expert” and participants, guided by reflection questions that were available in advance
Encouraged a statewide discussion
Modeled a conversation that could happen locally
DISCUSSION
What strategies are you using to reach your practitioners?
6. Take a long-term broad perspective
Invest in a foundation
Long-term vision should inform decisions
GED PD served both as a catalyst to move us forward & an area to pilot emerging ideas
Instructional shifts example
We are already on the path to incorporating CCRS
As practitioners, we have developed a shared language around current research-based instructional practices
Digital literacy is actively integrated into instruction
Resources available at www.2014inMN.org
MN ABE 2014 GED planning process & PD plan
MN 2014 GED PD survey
One page FAQ about new GED test
One page summary of instructional shifts
Program planning tools and activities for administrators and support staff
Recorded E-quip episodes
Recorded webinars
Digital literacy resources