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Year Awarded: 2009
Project Leaders:
Hope Gerde, Family and Child Ecology; Jessica Barnes, University Outreach and Engagement; Ann Belleau, Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan
Project Description:
The proposed project is to implement and evaluate a distance learning professional development model for classroom teachers (N = 20) of the American Indian Head Starts in Michigan. A distance learning model is essential for these teachers since they are geographically remote and isolated. The professional development includes the use of videotaping classroom practice and a coach, expert in early childhood education, to provide concrete feedback to teachers regarding their classroom practice. Also, teachers will have access to a webresource containing video examples of best practice for preschool teaching. The professional development is focused on teachers' support of children's language and cognitive development. Teachers' will be randomly assigned to a participation year and teachers placed in the year two wave will serve as control classrooms in year one. Several variables measuring the implementation of the professional development will be gathers as a measure of fidelity (e.g., number of on content suggestions from coach). The effects of the professional development for teachers and children will be evaluated. Teachers' practice will be videotaped prior to, immediately following, and at the follow-up point in relation to the professional development implementation. Children's (N = 214) language and cognitive development will be measured across the year to identify growth as an outcome of the professional development.
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