Content
PDK consists of a variety of resources, including:
- over 9 hours of video investigations containing: interviews of learners, teachers, researchers, and administrators; classroom practice; and in-depth exploration of specific topic areas such as ESL, ABE, GED, math, writing, assessment, integrating technology, and much more.
- a website that contains online tools such as discussion boards; teacher portfolios with needs assessment activities, data collection suggestions, action plan infrastructures, and reporting frameworks; and five knowledge databases to search related resources
- a participant's guide that describes the system and identifies possible applications in various contexts
Who is using PDK?
During 2002 - 2003 PDK was implemented as a support for teacher Professional Development in the State of Michigan.
What kinds of topics are addressed in PDK?
- Voices from the Field
Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Education Development (GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), Family Literacy, Workplace Literacy, Technology, & International Literacy
- Classroom Investigations
ABE, GED, ESL, Math, writing, reading, learner orientation and goal setting as well as learning differences/disabilities
- Topic Area Investigations
Learner anxiety, motivation, multi-level classes, diversity, community building, teacher roles, managing conflict, learning differences, and more
How were the topics selected?
PDK’s central topics were selected on the basis of a national needs assessment (developed by the National Center on Adult Literacy) sent to adult literacy and ESL practitioners between April 30, 1999 and June 30,1999. Adult educators feedback informed PDK's development through numerous focus groups, a pilot test and a summative evaluation. The result of the new assessment are available here.
- Read the needs assesment report produced in conjunction with this project: Teacher Perspectives on the Adult Education Profession: National Survey Findings About an Emerging Profession, or its executive summary, the NCAL Brief.
Approach to Professional Development
PDK recognizes that the range of agency settings, student goals, and instructional philosophies found in adult education requires diverse strategies to meet the needs of learners. PDK goes beyond the simplistic "cookbook" approach of best practices by emphasizing the development of professional teachers' instructional decision-making skills.
PDK incorporates the following features and resources:
- a flexible format for professional development that allows participants to work on their own, with a partner, or in a group
- access to peer mentoring through a network of practitioners
- interactive tools to help participants pursue and monitor their own professional development activities
- a window into other teachers' practices
- perspectives from other adult educators about important issues in the field
How to Use PDK
PDK’s flexible design and extensive support resources allow its use in any number of scenarios. PDK can be used as a staff development tool within local programs. It can easily act as an instructional centerpiece for a regional professional development initiative, or an individual, seeking to expand his/her practice, can use PDK as a resource for professional exploration.
PDK’s online instructional materials are available on the PDK website located at www.literacy.org/pdk. Contact NCAL for CD-ROM of the video and other materials.
|
