1. Consultant Log Data Entry Review
Special Education
Improvement Consultant Meeting
Hello, My name is Dana Desmond. I’m a Program Analyst with the Office of Special Education
The Purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the new and Improved Consultant Logs.
The current system collects quite of data, however, it is very difficult to get meaningful information out of the system. Not to mention the amount of time it takes for consultants to long the data. So the decision was made to develop a new system.
This system is designed to take some of the guess work out of entering the log data, as well as generating more consistent data across all regions. This is done by providing drop-down options throughout the system based on selections you make.
In addition, you will have many more user resources going forward and with your input over the next year, these resources can be even better.
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
January 5, 2016

2. Definitions Review Consultant Logs Definitions!
A highly requested resource. In the past, there was a bit of confusion regarding what constitutes planning, communication, and collaboration verses, coaching and technical assistance.
In developing the logs, I worked closely with the consolidated contract team to make sure these activities are clearly defined and are 100% consistent with the logs. We want to make sure everyone has the same understanding of the activities and expectations for each activity.

3. Planning, Communication, and Collaboration
Occurs when:
RPDC staff work together through informal discussions regarding specific problems pertaining to their work or development of new ideas to address specific issues related to their work .
RPDC staff work with building staff to communicate about program events, expectations, or to plan training or coaching activities.
RPDC staff work with program staff (DESE, contractors) to communicate about program events and/or implementation expectations/issues. Facilitating, networking, and communicating with leadership teams, staff, coaches, parents, and community.
Occurs when:
RPDC staff work together through informal discussions regarding specific problems pertaining to their work or development of new ideas to address specific issues related to their work . This may include, but is not limited to, RPDC staff working together to coordinate an event or to review data from an event, school, or the state. This does not include making copies of learning materials, packing of training materials, etc.
RPDC staff work with CW building staff to communicate about CW events, expectations, or to plan training or coaching activities.
RPDC staff work with CW staff (DESE, CW contractors) to communicate about CW events and/or implementation expectations/issues. This would not include Shared Learning, program area meetings, or meetings between CW staff and RPDC Directors.
Facilitating, networking, and communicating with leadership teams, staff, coaches, parents, and community.
Common Questions:
All of these about connecting with others. What about the time spent preparing to deliver a training or coaching? For example, reviewing a schools data in preparation for coaching a data team. Or, reviewing/studying/practicing training content in preparation for delivering a training. These planning activities could be done alone—not in a group/communication/collaboration setting.
So this would need to occur outside the monthly RPDC meeting because the meeting would be coded as “Meeting” instead of PCC?? May have to define informal as the contrast to agenda-driven, scheduled meetings.

4. Meeting Includes: Shared Learning program area meetings
regional staff meetings
state committee meetings.
Other (requires text entry of the training title)
Includes, but are not limited to, Shared Learning, program area meetings, regional staff meetings, and state committee meetings.
Other is an option but will require text entry of the training title.
Common Questions:
Does it need to specify….is structure and has an agenda?
Would site visits to RPDCs be a meeting? I would think so because it is structured with an agenda. It wouldn’t be the 3rd bullet above. For example, the 3rd bullet above would be a call to Ginger about expectations and budget.

5. Administrative Work:
Administrative work is the day-to-day office work.
Entry of Consultant Log data,
Checking and responding to correspondence
Making copies of learning materials
Packing of training materials.
Administrative work is the day-to-day office work.
This includes, but is not limited to
Entering Consultant Log data,
Checking and responding to correspondence such as and voic ,
making copies of learning materials, and
packing of training materials.

6. Training Two Activity Types
Training/Professional Development – provided
Content provided to the school
Training
Coaching
Technical Assistance
Other (Description required)
Training/Professional Development – received
Content received for own professional development
First, we have combined Training/Professional Development, since these are virtually interchangeable. In the future, we will just use the term Training, but for the first year, we included the term Professional Development to get everyone transitioned to common language across all regions.
In addition, we have broken Training/PD into two categories to more clearly reflect the activity that is occurring.
We now have:
Training/Professional Development – provided
This is content being delivered to a school or group
Training is then broken out even further to include the different types of activities.
Training
Coaching
Technical Assistance
Other (Description is required). Again use caution when choosing to use Other
Then we have
Training/Professional Development – received
This is any content received by you for the purpose of your own professional development

7. Training/(PD) –provided Training
Teaching new information by using evidence-based training methods and materials, incorporating adult learning strategies, and including formal or experiential instruction to meet a pre-established learning objective. Examples of when training occurs includes, but is not limited to, when new information or skill needs to be learned, there is a gap in skills or knowledge as indicated by a needs assessment or self-assessment.
We will now talk about the definitions for each Training/PD – provided activity in more detail
Training is the…

8. Training/(PD) –provided Coaching
Coaching reinforces and enhances skills already learned. Coaching may include, but is not limited to, facilitating and modeling the generalization of new and emerging skills to the school setting; solidifying new skills and abilities following training; supporting successful implementation of new skills to school settings; enhancing competencies to implement with fidelity; developing local implementation capacity and sustainability through gradual release; barriers are impeding the successful implementation; and, facilitation of a self-assessment and reflection through questioning techniques related to a skill already learned.
Coaching …. READ SLIDE
We would expect to see a very close mirroring of Training and Coaching, meaning, for coaching to happen, we would expect that training on that topic would have occurred first.

9. Training/(PD) –provided Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is brief and does not go as in- depth as coaching. Technical assistance may include, but is not limited to, providing information to address a specific question or concern; problem solving specific problems or barriers; connecting staff to available resources; ensuring implementation practices are aligned with the DESE’s best practices; supporting the application of evidence-based practices; when an implementation dip occurs; and to ensure implementation practices are technically sound.
Technical Assistance…
These are things that are issues or questions that arise that may or may not be related to a training or coaching topic. As it states, it is brief and usually not a formal setting.

10. Training/(PD) –provided Other
Used only when the activity does not fall in one of the other training categories
Will require a description be entered
Use sparingly
We also have an Other category, but again use this when it does not fall under Training, Coaching, Technical Assistance.

11. Training/(PD) – received
Training provided to RPDC staff for the purpose of professional development for RPDC staff. Training/PD-received does not include regional staff meetings, program area meetings, committee meetings, shared learning, or other meetings required by DESE. Training/PD-received may include, but is not limited to conferences or workshops attended for the purpose of RPDC staff professional development.
This is Training received by the consultant for the purpose of his or her own PD. It does not include common meetings. There is a section for that elsewhere in the logs.

12. Review of Sample Data
Handout

13. Tips Training Hrs Coaching Hrs PCC Hrs Travel Hrs
Providing or Receiving
Initial Delivery of Material
Coaching Hrs
Coaching/Technical Assistance provided
Follow-up activities after Initial Training of content
PCC Hrs
Specific Project or Networking (on- or off-site)
Travel Hrs
Actual Travel Time
Log under Administrative Activities

14. Remember Administrative Activities (other than travel hrs)
In the office
General Work
Not easily logged as separate events
logged under PCC Hrs
Training/PD – Received
Does not include
regional staff meetings
program area meetings
committee meetings
shared learning
other meetings required by DESE
Training/PD – Provided
Must include at least one building/participant

15. Questions?
Please contact the Office of Special Education at or
If you have any questions, concerns, thoughts or ideas, don’t hesitate to contact me.
I can be contacted at or at
Thank you, and have a great day.