Lorna M. Earl - Böcker

This text focuses on "participatory evaluation", an approach that involves teachers and educational administrators as partners with researchers in a broad range of school and school system-based evaluation tasks with the explicit goal of using such data to improve practice.; Participatory evaluation is a natural, suitable and effective approach to school improvement and educational change, and has been practiced by the editors and several colleagues for many years. Though participatory applied research strategies are growing in popularity, there is a paucity of documented empirical support for the approach. presenting a set of original empirical studies and a critical analysis of them this book will add to our knowledge about variations in the approach, conditions that support it, its viability within the culture of schools and school systems and its likely impact defined in terms of the use of research data and organisational learning.; The book will be useful for educational practitioners interested in critically evaluating the potential of participatory evaluation as an integral part of their own approach to educational reform. It will also clarify an agenda for research to further our understanding of the organisational benefits of this type of collaborative systematic enquiry.

This text focuses on "participatory evaluation", an approach that involves teachers and educational administrators as partners with researchers in a broad range of school and school system-based evaluation tasks with the explicit goal of using such data to improve practice.; Participatory evaluation is a natural, suitable and effective approach to school improvement and educational change, and has been practiced by the editors and several colleagues for many years. Though participatory applied research strategies are growing in popularity, there is a paucity of documented empirical support for the approach. presenting a set of original empirical studies and a critical analysis of them this book will add to our knowledge about variations in the approach, conditions that support it, its viability within the culture of schools and school systems and its likely impact defined in terms of the use of research data and organisational learning.; The book will be useful for educational practitioners interested in critically evaluating the potential of participatory evaluation as an integral part of their own approach to educational reform. It will also clarify an agenda for research to further our understanding of the organisational benefits of this type of collaborative systematic enquiry.

Take the confusion out of assessment, and make it work to enhance the learning process—every day!

Assessment and evaluation are central to educational reform, and they represent major shifts in thinking about learning, about schools, and about teaching. Assessment as Learning represents one of these crucial changes, but it encompasses more than just using a variety of new techniques. The concept of Assessment as Learning allows teachers to use their judgment about children's understanding to inform the teaching process and to determine what to do for individual children.

This timely resource takes the mystery and confusion out of assessment by reframing its purpose in student evaluation and learning. It will provide teachers and school and district administrators with:

Mechanisms for effective use of assessment as learning in a variety of contexts Compelling, real-life examples and case studies drawn from the author's own experiences Sample rubrics and lesson plans as well as "Ideas for Follow-up" at the end of each chapter An understanding of the possible confusion surrounding assessment and its place in the learning process A detailed discussion of the changing role of schooling and our increasing knowledge about the complex nature of learning

Learn to embrace assessment, not just as a tool for student evaluation, but as a valuable strategy for everyday classroom learning.

Take the confusion out of assessment, and make it work to enhance the learning process—every day!

Assessment and evaluation are central to educational reform, and they represent major shifts in thinking about learning, about schools, and about teaching. Assessment as Learning represents one of these crucial changes, but it encompasses more than just using a variety of new techniques. The concept of Assessment as Learning allows teachers to use their judgment about children's understanding to inform the teaching process and to determine what to do for individual children.

This timely resource takes the mystery and confusion out of assessment by reframing its purpose in student evaluation and learning. It will provide teachers and school and district administrators with:

Mechanisms for effective use of assessment as learning in a variety of contexts Compelling, real-life examples and case studies drawn from the author's own experiences Sample rubrics and lesson plans as well as "Ideas for Follow-up" at the end of each chapter An understanding of the possible confusion surrounding assessment and its place in the learning process A detailed discussion of the changing role of schooling and our increasing knowledge about the complex nature of learning

Learn to embrace assessment, not just as a tool for student evaluation, but as a valuable strategy for everyday classroom learning.

This, the first book in the series, ‘Professional Learning and Development in Schools and Higher Education’, is edited by two experienced, committed and skilled educationists from different parts of the world but with converging values and viewpoints. The result is a rich mélange of authors from the USA, Australia, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand all of whom focus on the use of evidence informed decision-making in schools and classrooms. This focus makes for an unusual collection which acts as an antidote to change agendas which are entirely results driven. The book provides evidence from a variety of countries of how s- tem leaders, teachers in schools and higher education must now manage as part of their endeavours to provide the best possible learning and achievement opportu- ties for all students. What makes this book unique is its engagement with the rea- ties of the challenge of evidence informed conversations which all too quickly become ‘activity traps’ as teachers are steered away from evidence towards ado- ing short term pragmatic or ideological solutions which suit the policy agendas of reformists from outside schools and, more often than not, fail to result in real changes in teaching and learning.

Train educators on using the power of data to positively impact student achievement!

Based on the best-selling book Leading Schools in a Data-Rich World, this guide gives staff developers and workshop leaders the tools to facilitate book study groups, seminars, and professional development events to help school leaders integrate data as a catalyst for school change and enhanced student performance.

This easy-to-use guidebook offers step-by-step instructions to support training sessions that can help educators gain:

An understanding of data analysis and data interpretationAn inquiry "habit of mind" to view the use of data as an integral part of the school improvement processLeadership capacity that supports an inquiry process

Each chapter features:

Facilitator's notesDiscussion questionsTimed activities

The Facilitator's Guide to Leading Schools in a Data-Rich World is ideal for staff developers or anyone leading professional training for groups of any size—pairs, small workshops, or large seminars.

"Taking your school from great to greater—this compelling book gives you tools to use with staff for reflecting on and refining professional practices. You and your team will find tools for taking learners to the next level of improvement!"—Lynn A. Kaszynski, Principal Harrison Street Elementary School, Sunbury, OHNetworked learning communities: A powerful school improvement strategy for school leaders!Ideal for school leaders and superintendents leading change efforts, this book describes how separate professional learning communities can be linked across schools by common instructional and learning issues to create dynamic networked learning communities (NLCs). Drawing on their work with schools throughout North America and England, Steven Katz, Lorna M. Earl, and Sonia Ben Jaafar show how participants in NLCs can share professional knowledge that ultimately improves performance at the school and district level.Through a sample school narrative, the book illustrates how NLCs can significantly enhance instruction, increase student performance, and empower local professional learning communities. This resource examines:Collaborative inquiry as a process that challenges teachers′ thinking, generates new learning, and fosters trusting relationshipsThe development of formal and informal leadership roles in NLCsHow NLCs support systematic data analysis and accountabilityDemonstrating how NLCs—small or large, local or statewide—can promote critical reforms while strengthening the work of individual professional learning communities, this invaluable resource reveals how educators can join forces across school and district boundaries to generate deep, meaningful, and sustainable change.

"Taking your school from great to greater—this compelling book gives you tools to use with staff for reflecting on and refining professional practices. You and your team will find tools for taking learners to the next level of improvement!"—Lynn A. Kaszynski, Principal Harrison Street Elementary School, Sunbury, OH

Networked learning communities: A powerful school improvement strategy for school leaders!

Ideal for school leaders and superintendents leading change efforts, this book describes how separate professional learning communities can be linked across schools by common instructional and learning issues to create dynamic networked learning communities (NLCs). Drawing on their work with schools throughout North America and England, Steven Katz, Lorna M. Earl, and Sonia Ben Jaafar show how participants in NLCs can share professional knowledge that ultimately improves performance at the school and district level.

Through a sample school narrative, the book illustrates how NLCs can significantly enhance instruction, increase student performance, and empower local professional learning communities. This resource examines:

Collaborative inquiry as a process that challenges teachers' thinking, generates new learning, and fosters trusting relationshipsThe development of formal and informal leadership roles in NLCsHow NLCs support systematic data analysis and accountability

Demonstrating how NLCs—small or large, local or statewide—can promote critical reforms while strengthening the work of individual professional learning communities, this invaluable resource reveals how educators can join forces across school and district boundaries to generate deep, meaningful, and sustainable change.

Your key to understanding how formative assessment improves learning!

High-stakes tests and end-of-year assessments dominate educational planning and curriculum. Yet, formative assessments are proven to have the most impact on day-to-day learning.

Teachers who understand how to use assessment to spark learning unlock a powerful educational tool, and Assessment as Learning can show you how. Using clear explanations and poignant cases, this book illustrates how formative assessment can be used to understand student beliefs, inform classroom instruction, and encourage student reflection. Fully revised, this second edition features

Discussion of the complex nature of learningWays to use formative assessment in a variety of contextsReal-life examples and case studies of assessment in actionSample rubrics and lesson plans for easy implementationIdeas for Follow-up at the end of each chapter Insights into common classroom dilemmas along with viable solutions

Unraveling the mystery of formative assessment, this resource reveals how this teaching technique optimizes learning.

"Lorna Earl is an international thought leader when it comes to linking quality assessment to teaching, learning and student success."—Rick Stiggins, Author and Consultant

"Earl begins at the beginning, focusing on assessing what students believe is true and using assessment information to help students develop and extend learning from those initial beliefs. Readers should do likewise, asking themselves what they believe is true about assessment and then extending their learning with this book."—Susan M. Brookhart, ConsultantBrookhart Enterprises