How do we determine the effects and effectiveness of activities designed to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of educators so that they might improve the learning of students? Thomas R. Guskey explores the processes and procedures involved in evaluating professional development, from the very simple to the very complex, at five increasing levels of ′ reactions to professional developmentHow much participants learnEvaluating organizational support and changeHow participants use their new knowledge and skillsImprovement in student learning. . . complete with sample evaluation forms, checklists, and helpful hints and tips.
The power of thinking in terms of the five evaluation levels is engaging teachers in the planning of professional development activities. Guskey describes the process for "working backwards" from Level 5 "the student learning outcomes that you want to achieve" and through each successive level to "what set of experiences will enable participants to acquire the needed knowledge and skills (Level 1)