Participants indicated that implementation of these Formative Assessment strategies into their daily instruction improved their ratings on the instructional rubrics.
The
district supported educator participation in the RIDE Formative Assessment
Modules. A sample PGG (Professional Growth Goal) was shared with everyone, and
many chose to adopt it as their own.
Many
participants started the modules in the 2012-13 school year, but glitches with
the system, including the cumbersome process for enrolling participants, made
it impossible to complete all modules.
Approximately 100 educators completed all
five (5) modules, including the Community of Practice sessions, during the
2013-14 school year. Facilitators ran CoP sessions across the district,
offering an average of five (5) different session options per module. These
facilitators were educators from our Pawtucket schools, elementary and
secondary represented.
What we found surprising about our involvement in Race to the
Top...The Community of Practice sessions were a very positive experience for participants. Initially people felt two hours after school was excessive, and some modules did have shorter/longer CoPs, but overall the time was busy and productive.
Feedback from participants indicated that participating in the modules gave them strategies that they were able to implement immediately. Implementation of these Formative Assessment strategies into their daily instruction improved their ratings on the instructional rubrics (self-reported).
We will be holding a focus session for facilitators and participants to get detailed feedback. We are also working on planning new sessions for the summer and even next year, if possible.
Contact Lynn Cristino, District Coordinator, at cristinol@psdri.net or (401) 729-7711