MAP Around the World

MAP Around the WorldOctober saw the first Fall MAP Summit sponsored by CEESA (Central & Eastern European Schools Association). The Brandenburg Berlin International School was host site for 43 attendees representing 19 schools from 17 countries around Western, Central, and Eastern Europe. The audience was a mixture of teachers, administrators, curriculum directors, data analysts, and assessment coordinators. As you might guess many of the participants wore several of these hats at once. The majority of attendees were American or Canadian nationals, but there were several local nationals from their respective country. And guess what? They all wanted to share what was happening in their respective schools and learn what was happening in others.

The event actually started with a pre-survey designed to elicit evidence (formative assessment) of where attendees were in their use of MAP data and resources. These results were used to influence the design of the two-day summit. During Day 1, two modules from MAP Foundations Series were delivered – Essential Reports for Administrators and Differentiated Instruction. These modules hit many needs that were shared in the pre-survey, as well as those identified as a “need” on the first morning. At the end of the first day when we checked in on “gots” and “needs” the data was used to identify topics for the next day. Day 2 was designed to be collaborative and peer-led: break-out sessions in the morning by participating partners, followed by two rounds of World Café in the afternoon addressing the “needs”, and wrapping up with a “Pass the Mic” opportunity for each school to share good things happening at their school along with their learnings and impressions gained during the event.

Breakout sessions included:

  • Making MAP Meaningful – Melissa Schaub from The Anglo American School of Moscow shared insights and practices about using MAP data and using protocols to guide data conversations.
  • Building an Evidence-for-Learning Culture in an International School – Nora Fleming and Krista Zavits of American International School of Budapest talked passionately about the different perspectives of data users within a school and how to support data use for each perspective.
  • MAP Data: The Longitudinal View – Richard Harrold and Sol Harrold from ACS Cobham International School, Surrey UK shared fascinating data regarding teacher perceptions and use of MAP data.

World Café topics (generated by participants) included:

  • Culture of Data Use from a leadership perspective
  • Communicating with Parents
  • MAP Reports
  • Differentiation and Goal Setting
  • Connecting MAP and IB

In the Pass the Mic portion, participants shared powerful insights:

  • “Inquiry-based learning and standardized testing can live in harmony! MAP is a piece of the puzzle. The quadrant [ASG] report is very concrete. And what teacher can’t benefit from the Learning Continuum? It’s amazing!” –Adam Patterson, International School of Basel
  • “I like the quadrant report because I love to visualize data/numbers in pretty pictures. It would be nice if the quadrant report showed longitudinal info for each student. I will go back to my school and help promote a culture of data use.” –Jeroen Callens, Frankfurt International School
  • “3 years ago at MAIS, a fire was ignited in me regarding MAP. Now I want to go back to my school and ignite the same fire for my colleagues – this needs to happen over and over again – one must keep doing it.” –Sarah Ellyson, American Overseas School of Rome
  • “This is my 3rd MAP training this year – there is always something to learn. What I took away from here is that I will use sample data to explain to teachers in late October the value of MAP. Using sample data to gain teacher buy-in takes the emotions away – especially in training teachers on communicating with parents. I can always learn more. I loved the Teach. Learn. Grow blog – I did not know it existed.” –Richard Harrold, ACS Schools
  • “Yesterday, I had a magic moment when I learned to read MAP reports. I also learned about RIT to Resource to differentiate instruction. I am completely new to MAP.” –Janette Pendlebury, International School of Basel
  • “I was brand new to MAP but I’ve had a complete mind shift. I was scared of the numbers but now I feel confident I can go back and share with others on how to use the data.” – Tracy Coogan, Copenhagen International School
  • “Last year, MAP came on board. I didn’t like it, didn’t understand it. You can’t understand something if you don’t know how to use it. But we are a very big school and now here we have a team of MAPsters. We are already messaging each other with ideas on what to do with MAP data and how to move forward. “ –Joan Dennis, International School of Basel
  • “Teachers sent me here with burning questions. I got my answers on the first day of this Summit. Now I know what to do. External assessment is important for a growing school.” – Denise Worth, International School of Lausanne.

For those of you in Europe who missed this opportunity know that CEESA has already secured funding and a host to make this event happen again in 2016. Reach out to Kathy Stetson for more information.

Group Photo

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