Project MAST's Science Teacher Professional Development Observation Protocol
Abstract
"This session introduces a professional development observation protocol that evaluators have developed for Project MAST (Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching), a program that prepares teachers from underperforming high schools to teach physical science. Observers take comprehensive notes on the PD sessions' content and pedagogy and then rate each session on 11 criteria (e.g., clarity of session goals; opportunities to engage in science inquiry) derived from past PD research. In our interactive session, we'll discuss why we developed the protocol and how we've used it, then give audience members a chance see it for themselves. We hope to give the MSP community an additional tool to monitor PD implementation and study its effect on teacher and student learning."