1-+What+is+Individually+Guided+Development


 * Definition: ** Individually-guided staff development refers to a process through which teachers plan for and persue activities they believe will promote their own learning. This allows teachers to find answers to self-selected professional problems using their preferred modes of learning while obtaining objective data and feedback (Sparks & Loucks-Horsley, 1989, p. 36).

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 * Video clip: ** This video clip lists five important components of professional development. The last area of the clip is the teacher's need. To ensure meaningful professional development, the information a teacher receives during training needs to be relevant on an individual basis and adaptive to the teacher's own classroom.

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= = ====** Theoretical and research underpinnings: ** A review of 97 inservice programs was performed by Lawrence (1974) and found that programs with individualized activities were more likely to achieve their objectives than those that provided identical experiences for all participants. ==== = =
 * Underlying assumptions **: This model assumes that individuals can best judge their own learning needs and that they are capable of self direction and self-initiated learning. It also assumes that adults learn best when they plan their own learning activiites. Furthermore, this model assumes that individuals will be motivated when they select thier own learning goals based on their personal assessment of their needs (Sparks & Loucks-Horsley, 1989, p. 37). =====

** Phases of activity ** : Individually-guided staff development consists of multiple phases and can be taken informally or formal.

 * identification of a need and/or interest (teacher considers what he or she needs to learn)


 * select a learning objective and develop a plan to meet that need and/or interest (workshop, reading, etc.)


 * the learning activities


 * assessment of whether the learner meets the identified need and/or interest


 * make changes to instruction based on interpretation of data