We analyzed the impact of the PD series on participants’ pedagogical instructional practices based on three variables
Implementation Fidelity: use of the lesson materials and application of the teaching procedures. Most participants fully implemented the inquiries as planned with a mean of 94% and 93%. By the end of the program, ten participants (77%) fully implemented the inquiries as planned.
Use of Inquiry with Primary Sources: monitored the presentation of the lesson as inquiry and the use of primary and secondary sources. Of the thirteen participants, three consistently demonstrated 100% efficacy in their presentation of history as inquiry, and nine (69%) increased in their abilities.
Classroom Instruction.: Participants were rated on the thoroughness of their discussions of ideas, their effectiveness in helping students understand the lesson strategies, and their asking of students to cite evidence to support a claim. Six participants (46%) maintained discussion thoroughness in both Fall and Spring, and one improved. With four participants, discussion thoroughness decreased slightly as they shifted to more of a ‘call and response’ approach.