Assessing the Learning Environment

Professional Development Credit – This Micro-Credential may be eligible for continuing professional development credit in your state. Contact your state affiliate association to learn more.

Overview – The Assessing the Learning Environment Micro-Credential requires that the practitioner demonstrates proficiency of all the essential outcomes and the research-based subskills defined in the details. These include the ability to implement an ongoing process for assessing the use and management of space and physical resources to achieve maximum output in terms of student and teacher outcomes; assess and monitor the effect of leadership’s practices and policies on teaching and learning; monitor, assess, and adjust the elements of the school culture that affect learning; and provide a plan with strategies, implementation timelines, evaluation, and a monitoring process to establish best practice in assessing the learning environment for organizational improvement. An educational leader promotes the success of all students by assessing and ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment; and effective principals use multiple sources of data as diagnostic tools to assess, identify and apply instructional improvement (Brown University, 2008, pp. 3-4).

Essential Outcomes – Assessing the Learning Environment includes the following identified essential outcomes:

1. Implement an ongoing process for assessing the use and management of space and physical resources to achieve maximum output in terms of student and teacher outcomes.
2. Assess and monitor the effect of leadership’s practices and policies on teaching and learning.
3. Monitor, assess, and adjust the elements of the school culture that affect learning.
4. Provide a plan with strategies, implementation timelines, evaluation, and a monitoring process to establish best practice in assessing the learning environment for organizational improvement.

Requirements

Part 1. Overview Questions

Develop a responsive narrative that answers the following questions (1,000-word minimum):

1. How did you implement and maintain a process for assessing the use and management of space and physical resources to address goals related to improvements in teaching and learning in your school?
2. How did you support and develop teachers’ skills in designing effective learning environments?
3. What processes/practices/policies did you implement to ensure that resource allocations matched goals established for individuals’ and students’ academic growth?
4. What strategies and methods did you implement to assess the extent to which staff and students feel welcome and safe in your school? How were those methods evaluated?
5. What challenges in developing and supporting a culture of excellence did you encounter in working with faculty members and how did you overcome those obstacles?
6. What processes and/or policies did you establish in your school improvement plan to ensure that assessing the learning environment for organizational improvement continues in the future?

Part 2. Skill Demonstration Product with Self-Analysis

Develop an artifact portfolio that captures the essential outcomes for the Assessing the Learning Environment Micro-Credential and complete the evidence self-analysis.

For each EO detail you will be required to reference an uploaded artifact(s) and guide the assessor to the specific evidence (page number, video time stamp, etc.) within the uploaded artifact(s). An explanation of how the evidence demonstrates proficiency of the outcome detail is also required. The practitioner must clearly and compellingly demonstrate proficiency of every detail under each essential outcome.

Part 3. Reflection & Application

Submit, in writing, a summary of your experience of Assessing the Learning Environment (500-word minimum). Provide specific examples of how you applied all components of the essential outcomes. This could include topics covered and a description of the process used to implement the assessment of the use and management of space and physical resources, assess and monitor the effect of leadership’s practices and policies on teaching and learning, and the assessment and evaluation of the school culture’s effect on learning. This could also include testimonials from teachers on changes of practice that lead to higher levels of learning for their students. Include a reflection about the impact of this skill on your professional practice and how you will continue to apply it in the future.