Overview
Surveying and then analyzing the needs of adult learners is paramount to aligning learning opportunities with professional growth. By understanding specific goals, experiences, and challenges, curriculum leaders can design tailored programs that ensure the relevance and practicality of learning experiences. Meaningful professional development supports adult learners in achieving short-term and long-term goals and objectives.
Imagine that you have surveyed 70 educators at your school site to determine the areas of professional development they would most like to experience. Analyze the “EDU-585 Needs Assessment Data” to determine what professional development is needed.
Part 1: Reflection
In a minimum of 350 words, discuss the following:
- What professional development topics would be most beneficial for this group of educators and why? Be sure to consider both the needs assessment data in the table and the qualitative data below the table.
- Research and discuss 3-4 available learning opportunities that are either within your organization or from outside resources, to support the PDs identified as most needed.
- Why is it important for curriculum leaders to continually gather and evaluate feedback about professional development needs?
- What would be the next step if the needs assessment survey results are not consistent with the school site or district goals?
Part 2: Yearlong Professional Development Plan
Based on your evaluation of the needs assessment survey results, create a yearlong plan that includes a professional development topic for each month of the school year (August-May). For each month, include the following:
- The title and rationale explaining why professional development is being offered. Include if there was a reason for offering it in that specific month or time in the school year.
- Identify and justify the professional development model that would be most appropriate for each offering.
- Provide a 3-5 sentence description of each professional development that would be given to the staff, including at least one activity that is appropriate for adult learners.
- At least one professional resource to support or enhance the session.
Support your work with a minimum of three scholarly resources.
Submit your reflection, yearlong plan, and scholarly resources as a single document.
While APA Style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.