Educator implementation of a professional development program: Examining Level of Use in relation to program participation, professional background, and organizational engagement - Softcover

Nimkoff, Tamara

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3639089685 ISBN 13: 9783639089684

Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, 2009

Synopsis

In order to drive educational reform and improve student outcomes, attention must be paid to maximizing the benefits of teacher staff development. The present study applied the Levels of Use framework to examine teachers¿ instructional practices following a program designed to help educators more effectively instruct students with learning difficulties. Teacher implementation was found to be positively associated with increased participation in the program, increased number of colleagues engaged in that same program, and perceived administrator support for the program. Further, implementation was not restricted by teachers' prior professional backgrounds related to working with students with learning difficulties. Results of this study will be of relevance to researchers concerned with forces that influence teachers' ongoing use of high quality professional development experiences, program developers seeking to translate their programs into educators¿ real life settings, and administrators concerned with the most effective ways to support the implementation of staff development programs in which they have invested.

About this title

About the Author

Tamara A. Nimkoff, PhD. Researcher and Program Evaluator: Degrees in Sociology and Special Education from the University of Georgia at Athens, and Educational Psychology, Measurement and Evaluation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Edition details

• Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3639089685
• ISBN 13: 9783639089684
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 212