Step 3.1. Specify the content of the professional development
that you are planning. For the professional development you are
planning to be effective, the content should be based on solid
theory and research or the content should be supported with
examples and evidence from successful practice. When
participants understand the basis for the new ideas and
practices, they are better able to judge how they will work in
their schools and classrooms and they are also better able to
understand and diagnose problems when the initial classroom
practices and experiments don’t work as intended. At a minimum,
you should anticipate providing some background materials or an
annotated bibliography of print and electronic sources
participants can consult if they would like additional
information. Ideally, these materials will contain (1)
information about the theoretical or research base for the
content, (2) the conditions under which the new knowledge and
skills are most likely to be effective (e.g., with particular
kinds