Services:
Catalpa® Services
 In addition to the services that
support Practice-Based
Inquiry applications in a variety of settings, Catalpa offers a set
of services that strengthen the legitimacy of Practice-Based Inquiry and that further public understanding of how it works.
Certification and Endorsement
Catalpa offers a number of services that strengthen the
legitimacy of the findings of a visit team’s report. Each Practice-Based Inquiry® protocol describes the extent that protocol uses certification and endorsement procedures.
The minimum requirements are both the protocol and team chair are Practice-Based Inquiry certified.
ˆ back to top
Certifying protocols
Catalpa certifies that a visit protocol meets the standards and procedures for legitimacy. This is a statement of assurance that
if that protocol is well followed, the rigor of the visit well be strong.
ˆ back to top
Certifying chairs
Catalpa certifies that individuals have demonstrated competence in leading Practice-Based Inquiry visits at several levels.
See Documents: Catalpa Guide to Chair Certification.
To inquire about how to become certified, click here.
ˆ back to top
Endorsing Practice-Based Inquiry® reports
Catalpa will endorse a visit and a report if they are consistent enough with a particular protocol to warrant endorsement as a legitimate report produced by that protocol.
To inquire about this service, click here.
ˆ back to top
Design of management systems for Practice-Based Inquiry®
Catalpa designs management systems that support and strengthen the benefits of Practice-Based Inquiry. Examples follow:
- Data base system to recruit, select and follow up
with team members
- Continuous systems of professional development for
chairs and team members
- Integration of Practice-Based Inquiry systems with teacher training
- Visit monitoring and report endorsement systems
for a specific protocol
- Cross-report analysis tools for policy use Feedback systems to improve a particular visit
system
- Design of comprehensive evaluations
- System of cost-benefit analysis that assesses how well the components of a Practice-Based Inquiry protocol provide actual and perceived legitimacy for the findings that result from that protocol.
ˆ back to top
Training chairs and team members
Catalpa designs and conducts both chair and team training programs that are protocol specific.
We are also launching a new program in 2006 for on-going training of Practice-Based Inquiry® chairs at different levels. When this program is fully developed, it will include apprenticeship and web-based training experiences. For more detail see Chair certification and News. To inquire about this service, click here.
ˆ back to top
Public speaking and workshop presentations
Tom Wilson, creator of Practice-Based Inquiry®, and other PBI practitioners give these talks and workshops about PBI.
A time to think and act anew.
How Practice-Based Inquiry® is a new way to assess school performance that makes it possible to design school accountability and reform so that they can actually contribute to generating the high quality education our children need and deserve.
Thinking anew with another tool besides the hammer!
PBI expands the arsenal of ways to measure school performance so that it is at last possible to construct accurate conclusions about what actually happens in a school’s classrooms when students are (or are not) learning.
Click here to join the discussion on Tom's blog »
“What did you learn in school today?”
Why and how PBI promotes great teaching.
Out of the closet and onto the table. Why the professional judgment of practicing professionals is important.
Making accountability accountable.
How Practice-Based Inquiry® makes it possible for school accountability systems to be more accountable in supporting the results that the public wants for our schools.
What it takes to conduct PBI visits. Why you should.
To inquire about presentations, click here.
ˆ back to top
International Networks
Participate in networks with clients and people around the world who are working with Practice-Based Inquiry, inquiry about professional practice, action to improve professional practice.
Currently, Catalpa has a particular interest in the construct and practice of professional judgment.
See Resources for more information.
Register your e-mail address at the top of the page if you would like to be part of this ongoing discussion.
ˆ back to top
Licensing Practice-Based Inquiry® Centers
To ensure the rigor of Practice-Based Inquiry, Catalpa
requires that a Catalpa license be issued for the use of the Practice-Based
Inquiry registered trademark.
Licensing agreements are prepared for a variety of uses
ranging from the conduct of a single school visit to a multiple year licensing
of a center to conduct Practice-Based Inquiry® visits.
Click here to learn more about Catalpa Services.
ˆ back to top |
