Over eighteen months, the Department of Instruction in collaborationwith various stakeholders engaged in the development of a revised tool to illustrate a student's growth over the course of a year. The work was approached through phases - each phase having a clear outcome.
During various stages of development of this parent facing tool, teachers and parents were provided with the opportunity to offer feedback and ideas, and as a result, the members of the development committees were able to reflect, refine and inform the development of the final product.
Guiding Questions for Our Work:
What is the purpose of a progress report document, and who does it serve?
What “data” is needed to provide a complete student story?
Are the right people at the table?
How will this document be used?
The development process included:
Reflecting on the current tool to inform future work.
Collecting feedback and ideas from educators and families.
Addressing what needed to be communicated to families and how this would be done.
Identifying the work habits and behaviors of a learner.
Ensuring the tool was "friendly" to families.
Development of tools to support the users - teachers and families.
Development of a "roll-out" plan to ensure teachers were supported and had the information needed to use the document for the intended purpose.