Description

This workshop will consist of a review of  accreditation standards, team building skills and the process of reviewing evidence and making recommendations in conducting and serving as a member of an accreditation review team.  You must be assigned to an Engagement Review Team through the Cognia ND Operations Office prior to registering for this course.

Syllabus, Objectives, and Outcomes

TOPICAL OUTLINE:

One credit:

• Cognia Team Member Online Training = 4 hrs.
• Cognia eleot™ Observation Online Training = 4 hrs.
• External Review Day 1:  8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. = 8 hrs.

 Two credits:

• Cognia Team Member Online Training = 4 hrs.
• Cognia eleot™ Observation Online Training = 4 hrs.
• External Review Day 1:  8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. = 8 hrs.
• External Review Day 2:  8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. = 8 hrs.
• Preparations and Deliberations for two External Reviews = 8 hrs.

The major components of the course will include the following topics:

• Orientation:  Accreditation and Standards Overview

The orientation will provide an overview of the process for the Cognia Quality Assurance Review Team visitation and a review of the Standards Assessment Report prepared by the district. 

• Interviewing and Gathering Evidence: 

The team members engage in the process of interviewing a broad representation of district personnel, students, parents, school board members and other community leaders.  Data gathered from interviews, observations and artifacts are linked to standards.

• Preparing and Communicating the Findings

The team engages in professional dialogue and deliberation to develop a report that will address the degree to which the school is meeting the standards.  The team will then develop a written report that addresses each standard as well as overall commendation and recommendations for the district.  

 "I RECEIVED MANY VALUABLE EXPERIENCES FROM THIS OPPORTUNITY SUCH AS GOING THROUGH THE ADVANCED PROCESS GIVES YOUR SCHOOL COMMON GOALS TO WORK TOWARDS TO BETTER THE EDUCATION OF YOUR STUDENTS.  IT IS INTERESTING TO BE A PART OF OTHER SCHOOLS' ENVIRONMENTS; AND AS AN EDUCATOR, IT ALLOWS ME TO REFLECT ON MY OWN TEACHING PRACTICES."

"IT WAS A VERY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE TO SEE WHAT IS ALL IN A SCHOOL VISITATION. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK, COLLABORATION, AND TIME SPENT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME."

"MOST VALUABLE THING THAT I TOOK FROM THIS COURSE WAS HOW TO LOOK AT MY OWN TEACHING AND SEE WHERE MY STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ARE IN PREPARING FOR THE COMING YEAR. IT ALSO HELPED IN THAT IT ALLOWED ME TO SEE WHERE MY CLASSROOM AND OUR SCHOOLS HAVE HOLES THAT NEED TO BE TIGHTENED UP."

"SERVING ON AN EVALUATION TEAM WAS THE MOST VALUABLE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I'VE EXPERIENCED IN MANY YEARS. TAKING THE ONLINE COURSES, USING THE RUBRICS FOR CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS AND COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER TEAM MEMBERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL ALL PROVIDED TOOLS FOR ME TO IMPROVE MY CLASSROOM AND TEACHING."

"THE EXPERIENCE WAS THE MOST VALUABLE. I WAS ABLE TO SEE HOW THE REVIEW PROCESS IS CONDUCTED.  IT WAS VERY INFORMATIONAL AND I AM ABLE TO BETTER PREPARE THE STAFF FOR THIS PROCESS."

"PARTICIPATING IN A REVIEW IS SOME OF THE BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME FOCUSING ON SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. I ALWAYS COME AWAY WITH SOME GREAT IDEAS."

"BEING A PART OF A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM WAS THE MOST VALUABLE ITEM I TOOK AWAY FROM THIS LEARNING TIME."

"IT WAS EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO SEE HOW COGNIA REVIEWS SCHOOLS AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.  IT WILL HELP ME IMPROVE MY OWN SCHOOL." 

"THE INFORMATION I GAINED THAT I CAN USE TO ASSIST WITH MY SCHOOL'S UPCOMING ACCREDITATION VISIT IS INVALUABLE."

"LEARNING ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS WAS VERY VALUABLE. GETTING INTO A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OBSERVING HOW THEY WORK WAS GREAT!"

"GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE EXTERNAL EVALUATION WAS VERY HELPFUL TO BRING KNOWLEDGE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF MY ORGANIZATION."