Region 8 Comprehensive Center (R8CC) has collaborated with leadership in the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s (ODEW) Office of Learning and Instructional Strategies (OLIS) for the past two and a half years and has embraced a learning journey that shifted from high-quality instructional materials guidance to educational coherence to aligning to curriculum-based professional learning. Over the past two and a half years, the work has seen multiple changes in leadership. These leadership changes have brought new perspectives and refocused the work. Many times when a project sees this many changes, the project tends to fade away or shifts into something unrecognizable from what was first proposed. In this case, however, the changes in the work continued to strengthen the professional learning approach and sustain the OLIS work.
There are many stories to tell about this work and lessons to learn. Our blog series began in March 2023 when we described why high-quality instructional materials work (see Why High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) | Region 8 Comprehensive Center (region8cc.org)). This blog provides a brief overview of the learning journey. The story will continue with future blogs about how the multiple changes in leadership refocused the work to meet the evolving needs of OLIS staff and how the work has been sustained. A follow-up piece will provide details about the training process R8CC used to support the OLIS work and the resulting facilitator guide. Then, the series will conclude with a fourth blog that shows how each piece of the story connects and the impact it has made on OLIS in building their capacity.
The following table documents the evolution of this project and the learning journey R8CC and OLIS embarked upon together over the past two and a half years and how each phase progressed, content addressed, and considerations undertaken by the OLIS staff members.
Embracing the Learning Journey
Progression
High-Quality Instructional Materials Guidance
- OLIS and Region 8 CC began the process by collaborating to find High-Quality Instructional Frameworks in place throughout Ohio.
- These frameworks were highlighted in the National Comprehensive Centers resource Guide to the Implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM).
Considering Educational Coherence
- To further their knowledge content, OLIS and Region 8 CC staff read Instructional Coherence: A Key to High-Quality Learning Acceleration for All Students and discussed the implications of coherence in the classroom, in the school building, in the district, and at the state level.
- This empowered specialists to reflect upon how their team provides supports with coherence in mind.
Alignment to Curriculum-Based Professional Learning
OLIS and Region 8 CC collaborated to create an 8-part co-developed learning experience based on the book Transforming Teaching through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning. Region 8 CC supported OLIS facilitators to lead sessions utilizing the educative materials and learner-centered philosophy lessons promoted throughout the book.
Region 8 CC led the session on Concerns Based Adoption Model, building off of years of field experience.
Content
High-Quality Instructional Materials Guidance
HQIM alignment to:
- Ohio Improvement Process (OIP)
- Ohio Teachers Evaluation System (OTES)
- Multi-tiered systems of Support (MTSS)
HQIM alignment to guidance documents from other departments:
- Whole Child Framework (2020)
- Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement (2020)
- Each Child Means Each Child (2021)
- Ohio's Dyslexia Guidebook (2021)
Considering Educational Coherence
- Coherence across content area specialists
- Coherence across systems and supports
- Coherence across curriculum implementation
- Coherence across instructional approaches
Alignment to Curriculum-Based Professional Learning
- Internal practice of the OLIS
- Transforming the OLIS approach to teacher learning to a learner-centered approach
- Concerns-Based Adoption Model -Change Management
- Coherence with curriculum implementation
Considerations
High-Quality Instructional Materials Guidance
- How does HQIM relate to the OTES, OIP, Whole Child, and MTSS systems?
- How could those in the OLIS office help support the understanding that the use of HQIM can support these other processes and develop a more coherent system?
Considering Educational Coherence
- How could OLIS staff encourage instructional coherence in the content area support that they provide?
- How may OLIS staff ensure that the guidance they provide aligns with requirements and suggestions from other offices?
Alignment to Curriculum-Based Professional Learning
- How can we replicate this professional learning experience for districts and schools?
- How can we apply the knowledge gained to professional learning experiences that we develop?
Derived from the sessions the teams facilitated, R8CC is now compiling a set of facilitator resources for districts and schools to use for their professional development in the same manner. The Facilitator Guide includes step-by-step instructions for conducting CBPL with district and school staff, with ideas for interactive activities and PowerPoint slides. These resources will be available soon on the R8CC website. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more.
This journey has taken many twists and turns, but the experience has been one of professional learning and growth for the R8CC team and OLIS. We look forward to sharing the rest of our story with you.