EDLD 5333 Course Reflections

Think about your action plan from the Application assignment. What have you learned in this course about the continuous campus improvement cycle that will dictate your next steps?
What will be your next steps in the continuous improvement process? How will you carry the action plan forward and maintain momentum? Outline and reflect on your next steps in this process.

The articles, video lectures, and information presented in this course about how our educational system requirements work has really made me consider the importance of effective teaching and assessment is to the continuous campus improvement cycle. In my Week 4 assignment, I was not specific enough about how I would formatively assess the actions and strategies I would put in place so going back to define the formative assessments that would test the success of those strategies is critical to meeting the goals laid out in my Campus Improvement Plan. A highly qualified staff is also a crucial component to the success of the continuous improvement cycle. I need to add more detail in the follow-up plan to my professional development activities to make sure they support the goals of the campus.

The school I chose needs help with tenth grade math scores, especially in the economically disadvantaged subgroup which includes African-Americans and LEP students. I would meet with the tenth grade math teachers and ask for their comments on what was needed for improvement to continue. I will definitely use the concept of “inclusiveness” presented in the Week 4 video lecture to promote continuous improvement over time. Having teachers and students work together on a plan for improvement not only gives the student responsibility for their own learning, but also vests the teacher in that student and creates a relationship between them which is critical to a positive learning environment. I will continue to give teachers the opportunity to work with their own students through the use of highly qualified tutors that can monitor class while the teacher has the opportunity to continue to help their own student’s progress. These same tutors need to be a part of the planning process along with the teachers so they know the goals and objectives to be an effective part of the student’s learning experience.

I am truly a better teacher after taking this course. The material that I have been exposed to will prove to be an invaluable resource for me as I continue to find ways to ensure my students’ success in the courses I teach.