Preparing facilitators to use and adapt mathematics professional development materials productively

Area of Science:

• Mathematics Education
• Professional Development Research

Background:

• Assessing the fidelity of professional development program implementation across diverse settings and facilitators is crucial for understanding program efficacy.
• This study details a facilitator's two-stage preparation for using highly specified, video-based Learning and Teaching Geometry professional development materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the fidelity of implementing the Learning and Teaching Geometry professional development materials.
• To analyze the effectiveness of a two-stage facilitator preparation process, including a rehearsal phase.
• To identify limitations in current fidelity measurement instruments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two existing instruments to assess implementation fidelity from multiple perspectives.
• Focused on measuring adherence to timing and modifications of activities and learning goals during a facilitator rehearsal.

Main Results:

• Fidelity instruments indicated the facilitator implemented the materials as designed.
• However, the instruments failed to capture significant facilitator modifications related to timing and content adaptations.

Conclusions:

• Current fidelity measurement tools may not fully capture the nuances of program implementation.
• Recommendations are provided for enhancing facilitator preparation and supporting beneficial adaptations.
• Further research should explore more comprehensive methods for measuring fidelity in professional development.