NSDC Standards

Learning Bridges Addresses the Standard

Learning Communities:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students organizes adults into learning communities whose goals are aligned with those of the school and district.

Teacher engaged in the Learning Bridges System participate in two (2) Professional Learning Communities whose focus is to improve learning: 

1.  The ONLINE Learning Community with which they collaborate through the Conference Center and with email.

2.  The ONSITE Professional Learning Community that is established as a result of the scaffolding Implementation Training AND COACHING to support the teachers’ learning.  The ONSITE Professional Learning Community focuses on topics that build capacity in teachers to improve student performance.

Leadership:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students requires skillful school and district leaders who guide continuous instructional improvement.

Learning Bridges provides training and one-on-one coaching over a 12-18 month period to a establish a Cadre of Trainer of Trainers who facilitate training and coaching support at all levels of the organization.  Some of the topics in the training are Leadership for Change, Systems Thinking, School Improvement Planning, Creating and Leading Learning Communities, and others which provide the knowledge and skills to support continuous instructional improvement.

Resources:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students requires resources to support adult learning and collaboration.

The Learning Bridges System requires that teachers be provided with the resources needed to support adult learning.  One of the tasks that the Professional Learning Communities engage in is how to integrate the tasks that are competing for time and resources so that adult learning and collaboration can occur.

Data-driven:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses disaggregated student data to determine adult learning priorities, monitor progress, and help sustain continuous improvement.

The Learning Bridges System allows teachers and principals a number of tools to make data-driven decisions:

1)  The Synthesis System for Planning allows educators to identify the research-based strategies that will make the MOST difference in student achievement based on the areas of low performance on the State Test.  It also allows educators to identify the research-based strategies that will make the MOST difference for a STRAND of State Standards.  Results can be printed.

2)  The Strategy Assessment System measures the proficiency of teachers on effective, research-based strategies aligned to State Standards to determine where to focus professional development.  Reports are provided for teachers (confidentially), and Composite Reports are available by School, Region, District, and for the State.  Changes in teacher proficiency can be measured over time.

3)  Instructional Strategy Implementation is an instrument that can measure the implementation of the newly learned instructional strategy in the classroom.  Co-developed by Learning Bridges and McREL (Mid-continent Research on Education and Learning), it can be administered online or in paper form.  Reports provide data by strategy and by content area (e.g., reading, writing, mathematics).

4)  Instructional Context is an instrument to measure the context for teacher learning.  Co-developed by Learning Bridges and McREL, it can be administered online or in paper form.  Reports provide data to inform decisions on creating an atmosphere conducive to learning for adult learners.

5.  Accountability System provides an online instrument to collect data on the variables that impact student performance, the goals from the School Improvement Plan on student learning and professional development, and the Composite Reports for the Strategy Assessment System and the NEW Teacher Assessment System.  Data is available at the school, District, Regional Office, and State level.

Evaluation:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses multiple sources of information to guide improvement and demonstrate its impact.

Learning Bridges is involved in a 3 year research project currently being conducted by McREL to measure the impact on learning of the Learning Bridges System.  We have just completed Year One of the study.

A Pilot Study was conducted by McREL in Minneapolis Public Schools resulting in the percentage of students scoring in Level 1 (significantly below grade level) of the MCAs (Minnesota Comprehensive Exam) being REDUCED BY ONE-HALF in both grades 3 and 5 in the area of focus – reading.  The percentage of students scoring in Level 2 and 3 (at or near grade level) DOUBLED. 

Schools in the PILOT involved these demographics:

100% free or reduced lunch

Title I SCHOOLS

85% or more minority students

30 – 48% English language learners

Evaluation tools available to the schools and districts are:

1.  Strategy Assessment System

2.  NEW Teacher Basic Skills Assessment System

3.  Instructional Strategy Implementation in the Classroom

4.  Context for Professional Development

Research-based:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students prepares educators to apply research to decision making.

The Aligned Instructional Database identifies the research-based strategies aligned to the State Standards in rank order of their power to impact learning based on the Effect Size from the research from which they were drawn.  An ES of .40 or higher was required for inclusion in the database. 

Staff development on the research-based instructional strategies aligned to State Standards impacts on academic achievement.  The impact on learning from the research will be maintained because of the alignment process utilized.

The online courses available utilize research and best practice on how adult learners best acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to impact student performance.  They are performance based – educators need to demonstrate that they can use the strategy in the classroom with students.

Designs and Strategies:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses learning strategies appropriate to the intended goal

The Aligned Instructional Database assures that educators know which teaching practices will make the most difference in learning for each State Standard.  The online courses contain ways to differentiate instruction (Lesson 5) and the modifications to close the gap in achievement so that ALL learners can be successful.  The Learning Bridges System provides the tools to improve academic achievement of State Standards through effective, research-based instruction…the most powerful predictor of learning that exists.

Learning:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students applies knowledge about human learning and change.

The online courses contain lessons on how the learning occurs with instructional strategies in Lesson 4 (Connections to Brain Research) 

Learning about change is taught through the ONSITE Professional Learning Communities as part of the scaffolding Implementation Training and Coaching.

Collaboration Skills:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students provides educators with the knowledge and skills to collaborate.

Teachers are required to collaborate with their ONLINE Learning Community within the courses themselves.  Teachers also collaborate with each other to share their knowledge and skills in the ONSITE Professional Learning Communities as they support each other to improve student learning.

Equity:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students prepares educators to understand and appreciate all students, create safe, orderly, and supportive learning environments, and hold high expectations for their academic achievement.

Embedded into each course are the modifications needed to close the gap in achievement for diverse learners – the Urban Learner Framework so that ALL students can be successful. 

Additionally, within the NEW Teacher Course of Study are specific courses on diverse learners, working with special populations of students, motivating students, and classroom management and discipline. 

Quality Teaching:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students deepens educators' content knowledge, provides them with research-based instructional strategies to assist students in meeting rigorous academic standards, and prepares them to use various types of classroom assessments appropriately.

The Learning Bridges System tools provide teachers with the MOST effective,  research-based instructional strategies for each of the State Standards.  The Online Professional Development System provides an opportunity to learn those on which proficiency is at the novice level.

Classroom assessment is addressed in the ONSITE Professional Learning Communities.  Teachers learn how to examine student work to determine curriculum calibration, and to create and use classroom assessment proficiently.  Classroom Assessment and Data Analysis is also one of the NEW Teacher Basic Skills Courses. 

Family Involvement:  Staff development that improves the learning of all students provides educators with knowledge and skills to involve families and other stakeholders appropriately.

The Learning Bridges NEW Teacher course – What Every Teacher Should Know About the Politics of Teaching includes learning on how to involve families, communities, and other support resources to assure that students are successful.

Staff development that improves the learning of all students

Essential Elements

Learning Bridges System addresses

Organizes adults into learning communities whose goals are aligned with those of the district and school

Shared vision and goals

Expectation for collaboration

Learning time

Two Professional Learning Communities exist with the Learning Bridges System:  one ONLINE and one ONSITE…both are focused on improving student learning.  The focus of the learning community is student learning.  Collaboration is provided among teachers in both formats of learning communities.  Teachers schedule the ONSITE learning time in their Professional Learning Communities together with building colleagues focused on the same goals, usually from the School Improvement Plan.  ONLINE Learning Communities provide an opportunity to participate 24/7 with asynchronous discussions, email, and virtual tools available. 

Requires skillful school and district leaders who guide continuous instructional improvement

Role of leaders

Distributed leadership

Policies and structures

The scaffolding Implementation Training and Coaching that occurs over a 12 – 18 month period builds the knowledge and skills to manage a systemic approach to instructional improvement with its focus on improving academic achievement.

Requires resources to support adult learning and collaboration

Financial and other support

Time

Access to learning opportunities

Assistance is provided to teachers and administrators in how to find time for learning, how to integrate existing tasks, how to prioritize tasks, and how to reward and celebrate learning by educators…how to create a learning community.  The McREL Context survey measures the context variables necessary for teachers to learn.

E-Learning Infrastructure Requirements

Learning Bridges addresses…

Hardware

Learning Bridges is Platform Independent and a PC or MAC can be used.

Software

The Online Professional System is set up to AUTOMATICALLY check your computer for the required components, to download and install any that are needed.

• Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP
• Microsoft Office 98, 2000 or XP
• OS 8, 9, OSX
• Appleworks 6.0
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or Netscape 6.0
• Shockwave
• QuickTime
• Acrobat Reader

The Learning Bridges System is an ASP system, located as a pass-through link on the District’s server.  Teachers can access the Learning Bridges System tools from either home or at school through the District’s server.

High-speed connectivity

Learning Bridges courses will run efficiently on a 56K modem with a dial up access.  High speed DSL, cable, or high speed wireless will improve speed.

Regular maintenance

Learning Bridges conducts regular maintenance to its online network systems and runs frequent tests to assure proper load balancing based on usage.

Planned upgrades

We review new hardware that is available on a regular basis to determine if upgrades in current equipment are necessary.  Course content is upgrade on a regular basis.

Specially prepared faculty

Technology/Support/Trainer of Trainers/Online Instructors/Authors – all of these requires special preparation, certified training, and support.  Learning Bridges has developed certified trainers and training materials for all of these positions.

Appropriate participant-instructor ratio

The ratio of instructor to educators is 1:20 in every Learning Bridges course.

Staff development that improves the learning of all students

Essential Elements

Learning Bridges addresses….

Uses disaggregated student data to determine adult learning priorities, monitor progress, and help sustain continuous improvement

Data disaggregation

Need analysis

Continuous Improvement

Learning Bridges provides a comprehensive systemic approach to improve learning.  The Implementation Training and Coaching provides educators with how to identify student performance goals based on data in the School Improvement Planning Process.  The Synthesis System links the student performance goals with research-based instructional strategies that will make the MOST difference in learning on those student achievement goals.  The Strategy Assessment System will identify the focus of professional development based on an assessment of proficiency on those strategies.  The Online Professional Development System, supported by both ONLINE and ONSITE Learning Communities provide an opportunity to build capacity in teachers to improve student achievement through instruction.  The Evaluation Surveys and the Accountability System measure the progress and impact of the system on learning as well as test data.

Uses multiple sources of information to guide the improvement and demonstrate its impact

Evaluation design

Learner evaluation

Student results

Evaluation is accomplished at many levels:

1.  Teacher proficiency on research-based instructional strategies as assessed by the Strategy Assessment System (or on the NEW Teacher Basic Skills Assessment System)

2.  Training and coaching on Classroom Assessments to measure student learning

3.  Assessments Tasks within courses to demonstrate both declarative and procedural knowledge of the course.  The final evaluation is based on a rubric.  Tests are incorporated into the courses as well.

4.  Assessment Tasks for the ONSITE Training and Coaching to demonstrate proficiency.

5.  Assessment surveys of the implementation of research-based instruction in the classroom

6.  Assessment surveys of the context variables that impact on learning.

7.  Measures of the percentage of educators trained on the components that impact student performance.

Prepares educators to apply research to decision making

Access to research

Application of research

Action research

The Teacher Practices Guide provides a comprehensive bibliography on the research underpinning its alignment to State Standards.  Each course provides a complete bibliography and web links to additional resources and research.  Research is provided in every course including its application in the classroom.

Uses learning strategies appropriate to the intended goal

Delivery options

Learning strategies

Follow-up support

Learning Bridges has the ONLY alignment of research-based instructional strategies to State Standards (patent pending).  The alignment is based on the type of knowledge in the State Standard and the type of brain processing required for the students to learn it.  The alignment process assures that the Effect Size of the strategy (from research) will be maintained when used appropriately in the classroom.

Delivery options are provided within the course, along with sample lesson plans.  Students can keep the lesson plans of all of their ONLINE learning community colleagues in the course.

Ongoing support is provided to teachers in their ONSITE Professional Learning Communities.

Applies knowledge about human learning and change.

Supporting change

Adult learning needs

Educators’ professional goals

The Learning Bridges scaffolding Implementation Training and Coaching addresses the issues of how to support change in schools.  Teachers are allowed to learn the strategies that they individually need, along with others who have the same learning needs.  It allows them to customize their Professional Development goals to meet both THEIR needs and the professional development goals of the School Improvement Plan that focus on improving student learning.

Provides educators with the knowledge and skills to collaborate

Collaborative climate

Interactivity

Group development

Both the ONSITE and the ONLINE Learning Communities provide opportunities for collaboration and group development.  The ONSITE training provides educators with the knowledge and skills for creating and leading Professional Learning Communities.

Staff development that improves the learning of all students

Essential Elements

Learning Bridges addresses…

prepares educators to understand and appreciate all students, create safe, orderly, and supportive learning environment, and hold high expectations for their academic achievement.

Demonstrating respect and understanding

Student learning needs