Advanced Instructional Leadership Professional Diploma

 

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QRTA launched The Advanced Instructional Leadership Professional Diploma (AILPD) in 2016. AILPD is awarded by the University of Jordan and has been developed in collaboration with the University of Connecticut (UCONN) and is based on the Public Education Leadership Project (PELP) originated in 2003 at Harvard University through a joint effort from the Business and Education schools.

AILPD is accredited by the Ministry of Education in Jordan.

The twenty-four credit hours, nine months diploma seeks to make essential changes in leadership practices through including the best international practices in instructional leadership.

Program Objectives:

The  Diploma  aims to:

• Increase conceptual understanding of instructional leadership in order to articulate a vision for the organization and lead learning to achieve that vision.
• Develop strategies for school improvement through a close examination of curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices, teacher development, culture, and school organization.
• Apply new learning directly to work within the school and create a Networked Improvement Community to self-reflect and provide one another with actionable feedback

 

Curriculum Outline                         

The program is offered in four main modules that reflect the core of the program and align directly to the MOE’s Standards.

1. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

This module provides school leaders with an understanding of the curriculum and assessment role in preparing students with the skills and understandings needed in today’s rapidly changing world.  The module will focus on effective instruction and assessment strategies and the leadership practices necessary to provide the structure and support teachers need to implement student-centered approaches.

2. Supervision, Evaluation and Professional Learning for Continuous Improvement

This module focuses on developing the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate and supervise instruction in schools. Upon completion of this course, school leaders will know and understand the elements of developmental supervision and evaluation. School leaders will learn to use that knowledge and demonstrate the skills necessary to evaluate and supervise teachers effectively and to provide constructive feedback to teachers, thereby improving teaching and learning.

 

3. Building a Positive School Climate and Culture

 

This module gives school leaders the opportunity to apply practices and processes for evaluating, establishing a sustaining and positive school climate to improve students’ achievement. The school leader will recognize the necessity of developing a clear vision for education improvement around the instructional core and applying it when building a positive school culture.

 

4. School and Program Management to Support Individual and Organizational Effectiveness

This module introduces school leaders to concepts and skills, which are fundamental to the successful administration of educational organizations. The overarching goal of the course is to provide pragmatic knowledge, which will give the participants an understanding and appreciation of the complexity of educational organizations.

 

Optional Support components

In addition to the 4 main modules, The AILPD provides practical applications that support the advanced leadership practices, including:

1. Instructional Rounds (IR): The one-day school visit aims to develop the knowledge and skills of the leaders to apply instructional rounds in their schools. The rounds will help the leaders to better understand teaching and learning in their school in order to improve learning at scale. The (IR) will be implemented during the blended learning approach.
2. Data Teams: The 12-hours online course focuses on the role of the Data Team in analyzing students' achievement data from multiple data sources including Common Formative Assessments, where teachers meet to analyze and interpret results to identify problems related to students’ learning. During the course, the participants will apply the data team action steps using real performance and achievement data. This course is optional for the participants to attend after completing module 1.

 

3. 3. Pre-requisite module - "An Introduction to Instructional Leadership"

As for teachers and other educators, they need to complete a pre-requisite module, "An Introduction to Instructional Leadership". The 15-hours online module aims to provide basic knowledge and skills necessary to prepare the future leaders for the advanced level, and it focuses on developing participants’ understanding of their role as an instructional leader and acquire skills to lead school effectively. This module will be considered as a prerequisite for teachers to join the program.

 

Targeted Audience

The AILPD targets school principals, head of departments, Assistant-Principals and school supervisors.

 

Delivery Approach

AILPD has two modes of delivery:

1.     Blended Learning

 

Utilizing the blended approach to teaching and learning, the AILPD aims on creating an interactive learning experience where school leaders are expected to interact with their peers, their instructors and the module content. Designed to enrich the learning experience, all four modules described are presented in a hybrid model with 30 hours of face-to-face training and 10 hours delivered through online collaborative learning for each module.

During the modules of the AILPD, participants are required to participate in collaborative learning activities where they are encouraged to engage in problem-solving strategies to develop their skills and aptitude. Professional learning community techniques are utilized, whereby participants present a pressing “problem of practice” within their schools to the group for analysis and feedback.  Participants are also required to engage in performance assessments that require them to implement strategies and approaches they learned in the blended learning sessions.

 

 

2.    Online Learning

 

Designed to enrich the learning experience, modules are presented in synchronous and asynchronous learning approaches during 3 weeks for each module delivered through online collaborative learning using google classroom.

During the journey of online learning, participants are required to participate in communal learning activities where they are encouraged to engage in individual work that encourages independent learning and promote reflective thinking, in addition to collaborative work through discussion threads, google documents, video conference. The instructors are supporting the learning of the participants by interactive online sessions and providing effective and continuous feedback on their work.

By the end of each module, the participants will be engaged in performance assessments that require them to implement strategies and approaches that have been taught in the online learning sessions. The results of these performance assessments will then be shared with the Professional Learning Community for reflection and discussion.

 

Assessment

The targeted learning outcomes for each module, and for the professional diploma in general are assessed through a set of performance assessment, which include:

1. Formative Assessment

 

 Believing in the importance of formative assessment that informs teaching and supports the participants’ learning, different aspects of formative assessment are used such as the instructor feedback on participant’s tasks during online learning, and the written feedback provided by the instructor on the participant’s assignment before final submission, In addition to peer feedback which enhances working as a professional learning community.

 

2. Summative Assessment

 

1. Performance Assignment: By the end of each module, the participants will be engaged in performance assessment for 2 – 3 weeks which requires them to implement strategies and approaches that have been taught in the learning sessions.
2. Capstone assessment: is a culminating assessment for the Advanced Instructional Leadership Professional Diploma. This assessment requires participants to apply what they have learned across the four modules to a real-life problem that they are facing in their schools, and that will help them engage in continuous improvement in their schools.

 

For Cost Details and Registration