Week

Topic

Session Overview

Week 1

Analysing school self-evaluation and school improvement – Context

In this session participants:

·       are introduced to the concept of the school as a ‘complex and dynamic eco-system’;

·       develop understanding of this complexity, the importance of processes of self-evaluation and school improvement of robust information and data, and what measures (or ‘metrics’) should be used to assess performance (at a point in time, and over time);

·       develop understanding of the critical importance of the UAE SEIF, its standards-setting role, and the value such a framework brings in supporting evaluation and change;

·       participate in varied activities designed to increase their knowledge and understanding of the framework; and

·       gain insight into what is involved and required in the creation of a school improvement plan (SIP) based on the results of the self-evaluation process

Week 2

Understanding, choosing, and using data effectively for school self-evaluation and school improvement – Evidence based decision making

 In this session participants:

·       develop understanding regarding the importance of data literacy and evidence-based decision making;

·       gain insight into the processes involved in identifying priorities for improving performance in teaching, learning and student wellbeing;

·       enhance their understanding regarding assessment reliability and validity;

·       gain insight into trend (time-series) data and its fundamental role in monitoring improvement and setting appropriate targets;

·       gain insight into setting priorities based on performance data and in determining the relevant assessment tools/strategies to collect data; and

·       develop understanding regarding undertaking an audit of the data sets collected or acquired in a school.

Week 3

Evaluating how your school’s provisions and outcomes align with the UAE SEF criteria – A comprehensive and informed performance assessment

In this session participants:

·       acquire understanding regarding the basis, background and key elements in school self-evaluation;

·       review school self-evaluation policy “snap-shots” from different jurisdictions;

·           obtain insight into the quality levels and the distinguishing features and components from a judgement of school self-evaluation as weak through to outstanding.

Week 4

Setting targets, goals and achievement metrics – Measuring success

In this session participants:

·       gain insight into the development of SMART goals and the setting of appropriate targets;

·       develop understanding around aligning metrics to goals and targets and the setting of attainment metrics and progress metrics to assist monitoring processes;

·       review a number of sample school Values and Priority statements enabling them to obtain better insight into how different schools personalise the Values and Priorities they set for their schools; and

·       develop understanding regarding the setting of milestones and how to schedule milestones over a school year.

Week 5

Creating high standards and using benchmarking, with rigorous internal and external evaluations to measure performance and impact – Learning from the best

In this session participants:

·       gain insight and understanding regarding benchmarking as a policy strategy used by countries through international comparative assessment benchmarking programs;

·       develop understanding of the benchmarking process, the relationship between benchmarking and data analysis and how to develop a benchmark report; and

·       gain insight into the benefits of both internal and external evaluation in performance measurement, how to measure the impact of actions taken to improve results and how to report impact findings.

Week 6

Creating a continuous school improvement system from school improvement plans and strategies – Ongoing achievement

 In this session participants:

·       access insight, thinking and vignettes as examples of continuous improvement in practice;

·       reflect on what continuous improvement means in the context of schools;

·       review their own schools and assess their capacity to implement continuous improvement successfully;

·       develop understanding of the difference between continuous improvement and continual improvement as well as the processes involved in creating a school improvement plan;

·       review and discuss an example of school improvement considering a sample school’s plan, priorities and goals, benchmark data, targets, actions, allocated responsibilities and timeline for events and milestones; and

·       create a school improvement plan template for their own school.

Week 7

Applying the course content to your local context – Planning self-evaluation and performance improvement projects in your school

In this session participants:

·       synthesise the learning that they have had access to through previous sessions including important concepts, skills, tools and strategies for school improvement;

·       acquire understanding regarding the purpose and structure of school self-evaluation frameworks, the processes involved in developing a framework for their school and the communication strategies required to share the intentions and outcomes with the school and broader community; and

·       review a collection of sample self-evaluation conceptual models as exemplars and discuss and critique these.

Week 8

Course Conclusion:

Summative Assessment Tasks

The session is the concluding session for the course. The primary focus for this session is the summative assessment of participants’ understanding and skills acquired over the operation of the course from Session 1 through to Session 7.