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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=249433318-06122007>I am sharing
thoughts from one of our Professional Development Center (PDC) staff and myself
below.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=249433318-06122007>Johan</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=249433318-06122007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=249433318-06122007>Uvin
Comments</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=249433318-06122007>_____________</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=249433318-06122007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=+0><SPAN
class=249433318-06122007>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>Are we
talking about professional development standards and/or professional
development staff/facilitator standards? They are different, I believe.</SPAN>
<SPAN class=655294020-03122007>I think we need a subset or different set that
deals with the standards that professional developers need to meet. These
will include subject matter knowledge<SPAN class=249433318-06122007>
(e.g., math PD facilitators should know math at least at the Algebra II
level)</SPAN>, facilitation/training skills, and
attitudes.</SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>I have become
increasingly concerned about the notion of professional wisdom as separate
from what we know from research. I know this is a widely used construct. If it
implies expertise, then I am fine with it. If not, I am concerned that it is
more about beliefs and values and I am not sure how relevant those are<SPAN
class=249433318-06122007> any longer</SPAN> in the absence of research
that backs them up<SPAN class=249433318-06122007> and given the outcomes of
our adult education programs</SPAN>.</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>I suggest reducing
the number of standards for professional development -- as an intervention [as
different from standards for professional developers] -- to two categories:
those supported by research on effective professional development and those
that deal with access (the last set). I <SPAN
class=249433318-06122007>would appreciate </SPAN>a more elaborate version of
what is there for the latter set now. </SPAN></FONT>
<LI><SPAN class=655294020-03122007><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>As for
research on effective professional development, here is what I think we know
from effectiveness research on PD<SPAN class=249433318-06122007> and the
standards should capture this, if they don't
already.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>Focus on
daily activities</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>Active
participation</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>Sufficient
time for learning to take place</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>Sustained
effort</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>Access to
outside expertise</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>Group
support</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=655294020-03122007>Collaboration</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=655294020-03122007>Focus on
curriculum and assessment aligned with curriculum</SPAN> </FONT></FONT>
<LI><SPAN class=655294020-03122007><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>Focus on
higher order thinking skills (as content of PD<SPAN
class=249433318-06122007>)</SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></LI></UL></LI></UL>
<DIV><SPAN class=655294020-03122007><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=249433318-06122007></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></SPAN></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=249433318-06122007>PDC
Comments</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=249433318-06122007>_____________</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=249433318-06122007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=249433318-06122007><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><FONT face="Times New Roman">This issue has been part of
an ongoing conversation that we're working to pull together by the end of the
month.<BR><BR>speaking only for myself, and from what I sense from the
field:<BR><BR></DIV></FONT></SPAN>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">What are
the most important PD standards or indicators from your
perspective? </SPAN></FONT><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT></SPAN></LI></UL>
<DIV><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px">The 11
principles articulated are all important, and, to some extent, interrelated.
Those that address practitioners' needs and strengths, and foster
interaction and learning communities are those that I would see as being
particularly important, but wouldn't say they are the most important separate
and apart from the other indicators.<BR><BR></DIV></SPAN></FONT>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">What are the most important standards to advance
PD in your area/state? </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT
face="Didot, Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"><BR>Fostering a
culture of respect for practitioners, and for their ongoing learning and
development.<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT>
<LI><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">What PD Standards would be easy to implement?
</SPAN></FONT><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"> </SPAN></FONT>
<LI><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">What would be hard to implement?
</SPAN></FONT><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px">
<BR></SPAN></FONT></LI></UL><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px">
<DIV><BR>I don't believe that standards are inherent easy or difficult to
implement -- shifting the culture from one where the perception that
external accountability favors numbers and outcomes to the exclusion of the
enabling elements (time, resources, compensation) are obstacles that need to be
overcome.<BR><BR>The standards as written provide a useful basis for state-wide,
or even program-based discussion as adult educators move forward in growing
lasting means of fostering professional
development.<BR><BR><BR></DIV></SPAN></FONT>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">Is there anything missing? </SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"></SPAN></FONT>
<LI><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">Is there anything that isn't clear?
<BR></SPAN></FONT></FONT></LI></UL>
<DIV><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">·</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9px">
</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">Are the proposed standards too general? Which ones? All
of them?<BR>·</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9px">
</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">Are they too specific, too prescriptive? Which
ones?<BR>·</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9px">
</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">The question of whether or not to have professional
development standards is still open. Are there good reasons not to have them?
Are there good reasons to have them? <BR>·</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9px">
</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">Do you think some or all of the proposed standards would
advance the field, help to improve teaching and learning? If so, which standards
would advance the field?<BR></DIV></SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face="Didot, Times New Roman"><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">What would need to be in place in order to make
these standards
possible? <BR></SPAN></FONT></FONT></LI></UL><FONT
face="Didot, Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>--------------------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Johan E. Uvin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>State Director</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Office of Adult Education</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>255 Westminster Street</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Providence, RI 02903</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>401.222.8950</FONT>
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