What is Effective Dissemination? April 2009 Pandora Bedford Cynthia Cuellar Astrid Fossum Janis Freckmann Connie Laughlin This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No

MTL Leadership Training Connections March to April March Big Ideas 1.Knowledge of Levels of Concern (CBAM) 2.Addressing levels of Concern 3.Change has to be supported April Big Ideas 1.Working with Dissemination Strategies

To understand dissemination strategies To understand all three levels of dissemination strategies for formative assessment practices.

What specific actions do you take to disseminate Formative Assessment Practices in your school?

Group Dissemination Discussion Each MTL shares one strategy they do to disseminate information about formative assessment practices. Highlight a list of words (verbs and short phrases that capture the action) MTLs used as they described their dissemination strategy. Using the list of verbs and phrases, develop a definition of dissemination. Post definitions.

Alternative Definitions of Dissemination 1. A process of communicating information to specific audiences in order to extend knowledge and practices. 2. An organized effort to convey information about practices, including knowledge from actual practice, in order to achieve similar results.

Types of Dissemination Activities ImplementationTraining, assistance, and support for using a new program or practices. Outcome goal : Systemic ExchangeSharing information, materials, or perspectives, related to refining practices or ideas; when information,products, or observations are shared. Outcome goal : Individual/small group practice SpreadOne way of broadcasting information to increase awareness. Outcome goal: Knowledge What questions would teachers ask you that lead to each type of dissemination strategy? (Topic is WALT..)

Dissemination Continuum Spread Exchange Implementation

Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles to Promote Formative Assessment Strategies ObstaclesStrategies

Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles to Promote Formative Assessment Strategies SpreadExchangeImplementation

Closure….. Goals To identify outcomes of dissemination strategies To understand all three levels of dissemination strategies for formative assessment practices. Reflection The most important thing I need to do to improve my dissemination effectiveness is ……

Extra slides – we will probably not use!!!

Outcomes of Dissemination Increased Knowledge (K) Changed Individual Practice (I) Changed systems, cultures, organizational structures (S)

Teachers as Learners …. According to constructivism, “the user” acts upon information by relating it to existing knowledge, imposing meaning and organization on experiences, and in many cases, monitoring understanding throughout the process. The “user” becomes an active problem solver rather than a receptacle of information.

Matching Dissemination with Outcomes Look for a mismatch between dissemination strategy and outcome for the strategy. Brainstorm new dissemination strategies to match the intended outcome. Share table examples.