NLA Discussion: Program Management

[Sally Gabb]

Sue, Sherry and all -

At our agency, The Genesis Center in Providence, RI, we  have moved into a
team staff development and management process that is benefiting the
agency, teachers, and learners.  While Rhode Island doesn't yet have
Adult Teaching Competencies, I am interested in the process through 
which these were developed in PA, and in the ad hoc process at your agency, 
Sue.  I applaud the problem solving focus of the teams you describe:  it 
sounds as if there is an active critical process in place which sounds 
exciting.  In line with the philosophy of EFF, this participatory 
developmental process can best inform practice, in my opinion.  Thanks for 
the contributions:  I am copying the exchange for my staff as well.  Sally


>From: "Sue Barton" <sbarton at i-plus.net>
>Reply-To: nla at europe.std.com
>To: nla at world.std.com
>Subject: NLA Discussion: Program Management
>Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 23:29:08 -0500
>
>Sherry,
>
>We here in the New River Valley join you in participating in participatory
>management of our program.  We have task teams composed of teachers with 
>the
>duty of solving problems and addressing the issues we face as adult
>educators.  The result is not only a suggestion for solution to a problem
>but a vision of future avenues of action to take.  Other benefits are
>camaraderie between staff members, sharing of ideas,and increased awareness
>of adult education issues and concerns.  Our task teams continue until the
>task is completed and then re-form around a new task.  It is strictly
>voluntary and teachers are compensated for their effort.
>Reflection and Evaluation are major components of each team's task and
>depending on the type of task, teams are encouraged to read the EFF 
>standard
>that addresses the issue or concern to be tackled.
>
>Sue Barton
>NRCC
>Dublin, VA
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Sherry Royce <sjroyce at earthlink.net>
>To: nla at world.std.com <nla at world.std.com>
>Date: Monday, November 22, 1999 12:42 PM
>Subject: NLA Discussion: The Philosophy of Measurement
>
>
> >
> >Dear Anne and others interested in Pennsylvania's initiatives,
> >
> >Sandy Strunk is the Equal team leader and should really be answering your
> >questions. But to put matters in a simplistic framework, Pennsylvania's
> >Adult Teacher Competency Standards places the onus on practitioners to
> >reflect upon their practice along with program administrators or mentors
>and
> >cooperatively determine practitioner action plans that will enhance their
> >teaching proficiency in areas identified by Pennsylvania's five ATCS
> >Standards (Adult Learning, Instructional Expertise, Community
> >Involvement,Professional Development, and Program Operations).
> >
> >This process recognizes that, like adult learners, practitioners learn 
>best
> >when they select activities in keeping with their personal learning 
>styles;
> >that they are at various levels of competency along a continuum that
> >stretches from entrance level (novice) to the experienced and expert
> >teacher; and that there should be inherent value to the program in the
> >projects they undertake.
> >
> >The Equal project on the other hand is an agency-based continuous
> >improvement process that includes participatory planning, agency
> >self-assessment based on Pennsylvania's Indicators of Program Quality, 
>data
> >driven decision making and targeted technical assistance based on annual
> >program improvement plans. The intended result is not only program
> >improvement in line with
> >Pennsylvania's quality indicators but the training and empowerment of
> >program personnel to reflect upon practice and to collect and analyze 
>data
> >for program improvement.
> >
> >Sherry Royce
> >1938 Crooked Oak Drive
> >Lancaster, PA 17601
> >Voice: 717.569.1663    Fax: 717.560.9903
> >sjroyce at earthlink.net
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: nla-approval at world.std.com [mailto:nla-approval at world.std.com]On
> >Behalf Of Anne764139 at aol.com
> >Sent: Friday, November 19, 1999 5:37 AM
> >To: nla at world.std.com
> >Subject: NLA Discussion: The Philosophy of Measurement
> >
> >
> >
> >Dear Sherry,
> >
> >    As a practitioner in MA, I have read with interest about the work in
> >Pennsylvania.  Could you expand a bit on how this philosophy of 
>measurement
> >is reflected in Pennsylvania's EQUAL project?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Anne Serino
> >Lynn, MA
> >
> >
>
>

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