Section 3: Evaluating, Implementing, and Managing Instructional Programs & Projects

1. Chapter 10 discusses evaluation in instructional design and provides you with two evaluation models, the CIPP and Kirkpatrick models for evaluation. Search for at least two other models used for evaluation and summarize these models. Describe how you would use them to evaluate your instruction.

The Logic Model is an evaluation model that can be used to determine if an intervention in the form of resources or a program is effective. The four components of this model include challenge, input, output and outcomes. As a current long-term substitute for reading intervention, I am using this model to evaluate my current instruction. My school received funding to hire me for three months for the challenge of students who are not academically ready in reading for standardized testing this April. I expect the input of more instructional reading time to help students reach their goals of increasing their reading levels, while meeting the school’s assessment expectations. I am currently experiencing an output of the progress of students as they complete reading activities from the Power Up reading program. The outcome will be in the form of the improved reading skills of students and success in their assessments.

The Judicial/Adversary Model is an evaluation that has two main components which include finding positive and negative aspects of an innovation before deciding on its use in the classroom. This model has been very effective as a new teacher because it allows me to continuously collaborate with other teachers about the effectiveness of a program before implementation. Their experience and creativity has been helpful, but I have also been able to use research literature to see the effectiveness of programs as well.

2. Think about a technological innovation within your social system that was recently introduced (social system = place of work, home, etc.). Any innovation has what is known as perceived attributes - relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Describe these attributes of the innovation and which of the attributes assisted and/or hindered adoption of the innovation. For example, was it not compatible with the existing beliefs of the system or was it overly complex to use or understand?

A technological innovation that I have owned, but rarely used is my digital camera. I initially thought of it as a tool to quickly take pictures and to store in my computer for later development. Unfortunately, I usually ended up with images stuck in a camera that I did not have time to process. As a student teacher last year, I was looking for motivational writing prompts for my fifth grade students. On a day that the school was closed for snow, I took my digital camera and took pictures of my family’s activities outside and inside. I wanted students to see how I was affected by the weather. I loaded the pictures onto my computer, because I had nothing but time, and saved them on a flash drive to show on the large projector screen in class. Since many of my students rarely had an opportunity to experience pure snow, the pictures I took and showed were exciting to them. I received the best writing papers of the semester from the prompt of the pictures. This tool provided a relative advantage over processing film and passing pictures around the class. In first observation, the digital camera looks like it can be just as easy as the older film cameras. However, it has been convenient and showed great compatibility when used in collaboration with the projector screen and computer. I always thought this camera would be complex in use, but after taking the time to read through the manual, I have found it to be relatively painless. However, the trial-ability of this innovation was low because I found it to be ineffective without the manual. Using my digital camera has made me analyze other technological tools that would enhance my classroom as well as my home life.

3. Chapter's 12 & 13 focus on project management and how to manage projects when resources are scarce. You have been assigned to develop a series of professional development sessions focusing on technology use in the classroom for teachers. How will you use Situational Leadership to facilitate this project?

To develop a series of professional development sessions I would set objectives for my team before beginning our learning process. Taking into account the scarceness of resources, I would attempt to find in house resources within our school. For example, I would ask a technology professional at our school to demonstrate the use of new programs. I would also use free websites that I have found to effectively demonstrate technological development. My goal is to provide my teachers with the support of experts in the program without compromising the school budget. Even though I would definitely start with a direct style of leadership, I would also pay attention to the skill level of my teachers to help me gauge my leadership style as we are progressing through the sessions. As the sessions end, I would provide my teachers with technical help in the classroom in the form of individuals and online tutorials that can help them in the future.