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Resources for Determining the Research Base of Professional Development Content  

Welcome to the Iowa Department of Education Content Network website. This website has been designed to help school districts identify content for implementing the district career development plan. The Iowa Professional Development Model provides guidance to local districts as they design and implement district and building-wide professional development. For more information on the district career development plans and the Iowa Professional Development Model go to the Iowa Professional Development for Student Achievement page (http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/232/637/) and click on Iowa Professional Development Model - Executive Summary. Or go to the Iowa Professional Development Model (IPDM) website (http://www.iowa.gov/educate/pdmtm/state.html).

What you will find on this Content Network website is an initial organization of research in the areas of reading, mathematics, and science. What you will not find on this site will be recommendations for specific strategies, programs, or products. Nor will it provide a list of trainers to deliver content based on the findings. Rather, it will be up to you, the consumer, to determine what your student needs are based on data collected from your district. From there you will be able to identify research studies which show evidence that particular instructional practices have had an effect on student achievement. When compared with district data, a district should be able to match the area of need to potential professional development content options.

The Iowa Professional Development Model

graphic illustrating the Iowa Professional Development Model

 

This Content Network website is a work in progress as the network teams continue to review research. You may find empty categories in some of the content areas. If your district or building has an interest in an instructional strategy in reading, mathematics, or science and you did not find it on this site, please contact Marietta Rives (marietta.rives@iowa.gov) to request more information. We will try to find research on the strategy, if possible, but for some strategies research studies are not available.

Note: The Iowa Department of Education does not recommend the adoption of any program, strategy, practice or routine reviewed on this site. Information on this site should be viewed as information for use by districts and staff development providers as they plan staff development programs aimed at increasing the achievement of all their students.