Reflection

The artifact I used to demonstrate standard 5.3 was an assignment for ITEC 7460
Professional Learning and Technology Innovation. I prepared a professional learning current
reality and Georgia Assessment of Performance on School Standards (GAPSS) review. This
assignment depicted an assessment of a schools development concerning meeting the Georgias
standards for schools. The review I conducted includes how the school addressed professional
learning. The results informed the development and implementation of school improvement
initiatives.
I designed and implemented a program evaluation to determine if the professional
learning deepens teacher content knowledge, improves teacher pedagogical skills which in turn
should increase student learning. I provided evidence pertaining to each professional learning
standard and then rated the school utilizing a rubric portraying whether the school is emergent,
operational, or fully operational. Finally, the assessor provides recommendations for
improvement. Some of these include vertical teams, departmentalization of content, bilingual
communication, and collaborative decision making. All of these recommendations will aid with
teachers content knowledge as well as their pedagogical skills.
After completing this assignment I was able to regard my school in a new way. As a
whole, Bryant Elementary provides many opportunities for professional development which
affects student learning. The entire Bryant community joins forces to promote student
achievement. It is this collaboration that will enable the students to attain success. Bryant
Elementary previously received the honor of a Title I Distinguished School. The review
demonstrates the desire to continue to increase student learning in order to achieve academic
success for all the students. If I would complete a GAPSS review again in the future I think a
team should be involved providing different points of view. This can offer more of a complete
picture of how the school is performing.