Action Overview: Develop tools for measuring fidelity of selected instructional practices

This set of resources is designed to help teams develop tools for measuring fidelity of selected instructional practices. 

Why is measuring fidelity important?

Fidelity data can be used in several different ways, and they all aim at one goal: helping the organization systematically support teachers to improve their instructional practice for the benefit of student learning. It is important to create a hospitable environment for change and a well-functioning professional learning system to support the measurement of fidelity so that it is not interpreted by educators as something being done to them, but rather with them. That said, fidelity data can:

• Help leadership teams provide educators the support they need to deliver instruction with increased quality. Fidelity data can be used to identify, evaluate and adjust the team’s supports for staff to implement effective practices (ex. How well is the professional learning system (such as coaching, training, and PLCs) functioning?
• Be used as a source of information for coaching conversations and professional reflection (individual or collaboration).
• Be used in curriculum development by educators in planning instruction. 

What is important to consider when measuring fidelity?

A note about the scope and breadth of this work: No matter where you are in the journey of continuous improvement, it is important to get started collecting fidelity data. It is impossible to measure and use all the possible fidelity data, so a critical aspect of this action is prioritizing what fidelity data to collect, based on the intersection of two considerations: 

1. the likelihood the information collected will be high-impact and 
2. the capacity of the team to collect and use it. 

Suggested Activities

How do educators use Portal resources to develop tools to measure fidelity?

1. Activity 1, Fidelity Measurements and Tools, guides teams to brainstorm ways to collect fidelity data and build one or more tools to measure what you have prioritized and have the capacity to accomplish.

Related Content

For more information and resources about data in standards-based education (including fidelity data) and a data system that supports decision making and continuous improvement, see the Data System Strategy in Support Structures.

Sources

Back to Academic Standards.