Assessing Professional Learning

This chapter is about the assessment of professional learning to help leaders address the types of ongoing supports teachers need to guide them through change. Explored are the notions of transfer of knowledge and skills gained through formal and informal job-embedded learning. The assessment of professional learning occurs before, during, and after “learning” has occurred. The guiding question for assessment is, “Did things stick?” Follow-up support to professional learning allows leaders and teachers to address this thorny question. Moreover, follow-up serves the dual purpose of (1) assessing professional learning and (2) giving needed support to increase the likelihood of transfer.