A DECENTRALIZED, FOCUS LEARNING INSERVICE MODEL WITH COMPUTERIZED ASSESSMENT AND RECORD KEEPING

PROVISION OF MEANINGFUL INSERVICE TRAINING FOR THE EDUCATORSOF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IS INCREASINGLY COSTLY AND DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER. OUTDATED DELIVERY MODELS ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FOCUSED CONTENT, AND ARE UNRESPONSIVE TO STAFF REQUIREMENTS. THIS PROPOSAL ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR BETTER INSERVICE TRAINING WITH A DECENTRALIZED, SELF-PACED MODEL THAT PROVIDES FOCUSED CONTENT WITH COMPUTERIZED REVIEW, ASSESSMENT AND RECORD KEEPING. PHASE I WILL EXPLORETHE FEASIBILITY OF CONDUCTING PILOT PROJECTS IN PHASE II. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE MODEL ARE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOCUSED CONTENT MODULES APPROPRIATE TO SPECIALIZED SKILL IMPROVEMENT, REPLACEMENT OF MANDATORY CENTRALIZED INSERVICE WITH SELF-PACED STUDY, AND AUTOMATED PROGRAM MONITORING AND RECORD KEEPING. A STRATIFIED SAMPLE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTORS WILL BE SELECTED BASED ON PROGRAM SIZE FOR AN INITIAL SURVEY. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS OF STAFF TRAINING NEEDS FOR SELECTED DISTRICTS. SIX SITES WILL BE CHOSEN FOR VISITATION PRELIMINARY TO SELECTION AS PILOT PROJECT LOCATIONS IN PHASE II. OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE DETAILED WORK PLANS FOR PHASE II IMPLEMENTATION, WITH EMPHASIS ON FOCUSED CONTENT MODULES, RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS, COMPUTER LOCATION AND INFORMATION FLOW, AND MEASURES OF STAFF KNOWLEDGE GAIN AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE MODEL.