Page 22 - The Architecture of Professional Development
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Value
Understanding why the assessment informa on is important (value) helps shape the purpose as well
as provides the jus fica on for carrying out the professional development evalua on. To begin, the
purpose would determine whether the assessment was forma ve, e.g., to provide informa on to
monitor and adjust professional development prac ce, or summa ve, e.g., to make judgments about
the overall quality of professional development and choices regarding its future. Within these two
broad categories, assessment data from the evalua on of professional development provides valuable
informa on for‐‐conduc ng cost‐benefit analyses; understanding outcomes for learners and their
clients; making adjustments in the design, delivery, and content of learning opportuni es; building
individual and collec ve capacity in schools; diagnosing cri cal gaps in knowledge, skills, prac ces, and
condi ons to support professional learning; repor ng to policy makers; and, documen ng professional
learning for teacher evalua on, pay for performance teacher compensa on systems, and professional
licensure.
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