RM-MSMSP Structured Follow-up Task Force Meeting

Jan. 20, 2005, 4-6pm

UCD North Classroom Rm 4009

Attending: Carole Basile, Linda Morris, Mike Marlow, Richard Krantz, Margaret Iadarola, Kathryn Smukler, Alicia Andersen, Barbara Bath

The group agreed that Structured Follow-up (SFU) is an essential part of the project if we are going to show gains in student achievement. A key statement from the proposal was taken and discussed at length: “In these sessions teachers will receive support in course development and curriculum implementation, effective teaching strategies that foster problem-based learning in mathematics and science, and insight into appropriate assignments/activities and effective assessment.”

We started by identifying the key issues:

  • Number of participants and staffing needs
  • Is SFU required for each course?
  • What if a participant takes multiple courses?
  • Should we withhold credit until SFU is successfully complete?
  • Products/Outcomes of SFU
  • Logistics – dates, locations, make-ups for missed sessions
  • Divide by content or region (content connection essential?)
  • SFU for the Summer courses vs. Fall/Spring courses

Possible models were identified:

  • Model 1, the C-squared model. Content class on Tuesday, Implementation class on Saturday once a month.
  • Model 2: Summer Institutes. Participants write Implementation plan during the summer. SFU takes that unit and examines how it was implemented
  • Model 3: Lesson Study. Focus is on student learning. Requires lots of outside work and having teachers released. Pattern is: Plan, Lesson I, Debrief, Lesson II, Closure. Videotaping may be essential.
  • Model 4: Critical Friends Protocols. Look at students’ work. Puts focus on that work instead of on teachers. Structured conversation.
  • Model 5: During school year, teachers choose a unit and then discussion focuses on various aspects of it such as assessment, pedagogy.

The group decided that SFU must be required for each course.

To manage that, the following recommendations were made:

  • Participants can take only two SummerAcademy courses.
  • $500 will be withheld from the course stipend until SFU is completed (making the course stipend $1500 and the SFU stipend $1500).
  • SFU will be offered in both the Fall and Spring semesters for all 7 courses.
  • There will be four Saturday (8 hour) sessions followed by individual coaching supervised by the math/science coordinators in each district.

Dates were set!: Fall: Sept. 17, Oct. 8, Nov. 5, Dec. 3

Spring: Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Mar. 4, April 8

  • Missing a session will result in forfeiting $250 of the stipend.
  • Participants must commit during the summer course which SFU session (Fall or Spring) they will be in.
  • To successfully complete SFU and receive course credit and stipend, three of the fourSaturday sessions must be attended.
  • Ideally the same staff for summer courses will do the SFU.

The guidelines for the Development Teams in designing the SFU were as follows:

  • There must be consistent products across the course SFUs that all participants are responsible for.
  • There must be structured time for looking at student work including small group protocols.
  • There must be opportunity to consult with both content (CLAS) and education (SOE) staff.
  • There must be a system for communicating which products the participants will bring.
  • There must be a system for communicating (email or Blackboard) to drive Question and Answer discussions during the sessions.
  • They should establish assessment methods for driving instruction.
  • SFU should be incorporated into plans for Fall/spring courses.

In summary, each SummerAcademy participant will be expected to complete the SFU. The question of withholding credit is unresolved. The Individual Coaching Models will be developed by the coordinators in the districts and will need to be discussed during the next Leadership Team meeting (February 16th, 4-6pm).