A Video Introduction to Practice-Based Inquiry®
Catalpa Ltd. was founded “to bring practitioner practice into focus.” This collection of videos by Tom Wilson, filmed in 2008, introduces Catalpa and Practice-Based Inquiry®. Learn what Tom sees as the most important features of PBI and why he has devoted 17 years of his professional life to its study, development and advocacy.
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Overview of Practice-Based Inquiry®
These publications explain the history and theories of assessment and school improvement that are PBI's heritage.
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Catalpa Handbooks
Some of these “how to do it” publications outline the technology and procedures for ensuring the legitimacy of the PBI visit reports. Others are detailed guides for team chairs, team members and schools to use during an actual visit. There is also a sample Handbook and a list of “step-by step” documents that are tailored to a particular protocol.
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American School Accreditation
Catalpa’s two studies of American school accreditation visits comprise this section. The in-depth two-year study for the Secondary Commission of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges shows how to greatly strengthen the rigor of the accreditation visit. It also shows how the accreditation visit is similar to the methodology of the British school inspection visit, which supports the finding that there is an underlying methodology that professional visit teams use when they assess the quality of professional practice.
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Rhode Island's School Accountability for Learning and Teaching (SALT) Visit
Catalpa and the Rhode Island Department of Education generated these documents during their design and implementation of the SALT visit, which was shaped as a key part of a comprehensive state system for local school accountability and improvement.
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Chicago School Alliance Visits
These publications were part of the Chicago Schools Alliance’s initiative to sponsor PBI visits for Chicago schools to support local school reflection and action that would lead to better learning and teaching.
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Other Resources
Useful notes and information collected during Catalpa's history by PBI's creator and developer, Tom Wilson.
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