Organizeplan

Public schools have typically not viewed professional development as essential or appropriate. Each school, however, does present an image, whether planned or not, through its most important professional development programs - staff and students. A good professional development plan allows individuals to learn and apply their learning through both relevant and practical activities.

1. Increases odds for achievement.
2. Facilitates clear communications, good management.
3. Organizes thoughts and ideas, eliminating forgetfulness.
4. Provides a system for realizing long and short-range goals.
5. Creates a true sense of accomplishment.
6. Decreases stress caused by the unknown.

Successful professional developers implement a variety of the following planning strategies.

1. They use both personal and professional knowledge about the school�s stakeholders such as What are their out-of-school interests? and What are their personal and professional goals?

2. They involve the learners in planning by asking for their ideas and then using as many of them as possible.

3. They show respect for individuals who contribute unaccepted advice by taking time to let them know why their ideas did not become part of the professional development program.

4. They use evaluation information to reassess needs by constantly monitoring what the individual has learned, integrated, and acted upon to determine the next most meaningful step in the learning process.

5. They help the stakeholders tie their individual needs to school and district goals. For example, an organizational context that supports individual growth is provided when faculty members collaborate to determine goals and the professional development activities necessary to meet the goals. For many, the team building involved in creating a professional development plan will greatly influence the perceptions and self-images of those involved in the organization and planning for future learning.

Since the organizing and planning for learning is the last and most complex phase of the EAMO model, the authors have attempted to resolve this complexity in the planning process by providing specific tools that can be used by professional developers to focus on the weaknesses of the learning school. Designed to reduce ambiguity by breaking the problem into smaller easier-to-understand components, the planning tools can be systematically and sequentially implemented. The model helps the planner to develop methods for transforming goals into a plan of action and for identifying the necessary activities, resources, and timeframes needed for implementation of the plan.

Finally, the model includes a method for continuous evaluation of the plan as it is developed and as it unfolds. A continuing evaluation process is extremely important to an effective professional development plan because it provides an assurance of accountability among the stakeholders, an opportunity for making adjustments to the original plan if necessary, and a source of information as to the progress of the plan.