School Improvement - Louisiana Department of Education

Professional Learning Strategies and Their Level of Impact
When planning professional development, it is beneficial to know the research. In Student Achievement through Staff Development, 3 rd Edition,
Bruce Joyce and Beverly Showers provide information to make those decisions. The impact of coaching with feedback, school‐based study teams
and peer visits far exceeds that of the typical presentation style or even modeling with practice. It is helpful to remember, though, that variety is
the spice of life. Teachers who experience a consistent message in many different formats are more likely to implement new ideas in their
instruction. The table below demonstrates the relationship between different types of professional development strategies and the resulting
impact on teachers’ understanding.
Levels of Impact
Components of Training
Awareness Plus
Concept
Understanding
Skill Attainment
Presentation of Theory 10% 5% 0%
Application and
Problem Solving in
the
Classroom
Modeling
and Demonstration
Practice
and Low‐Risk
Feedback
Coaching with
Study Teams, Peer
Visits, Specialists,
Administrators,
and others
30% 20% 0%
60% 60% 5%
95% 95% 95%
Source: Joyce, Bruce and Beverly Showers, (2002). Student Achievement through Staff Development, 3 rd Edition. ASCD; Alexandria, VA.
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