identify
an area in need of professional development for differentiated instruction at
your worksite
research
the objectives, assessments, strategies, and implementation of a professional
development plan to address this need.
leadership
principles, choice of differentiated instruction for improvement, and key
players involved at your site
include
research in your paper
Professional
development can be helpful in many area of life where an individual feels there
is the need for improvement. The need for a professional development plan can
help direct an individual’s attention to key areas where improvement will be
most beneficial. In the volunteer environment in which I work, a professional
development plan for differentiated instruction will help to improve work
conditions and moral.
area in need of professional development for
differentiated instruction at your worksite
I work
as a foster volunteer for the city of Albuquerque and for the Humane Society of
New Mexico. The area that my efforts are concentrated the most include orphaned
and sick puppies. My responsibilities include bottle feeding, weaning,
socializing, and general care. In some cases, foster puppies are sick or have
an injury. In these cases, I am responsible for improving the puppy’s general health
with medications and/or physical therapy. On occasion, puppies will come into
foster care with a healthy mother. In a case such as this, I am responsible for
the upkeep of the mother’s health to ensure she remains healthy enough to nurse
her puppies. Foster puppies must be returned to the shelter every two weeks for
checkup, shots, and wellness exams. In general, foster puppies remain in a foster
home from two to eight weeks.
Fostering
puppies is a rewarding responsibility. The job comes with many tasks and the
foster provider must be capable of properly caring for the fragile little
lives. However, puppies in foster care can be the source of great challenge on
a daily basis. For example, foster puppies wake many times during the night requiring
many potty breaks. If fosters are sick, nervous, or on dewormer, the number of
potty breaks necessary to keep kennels clean can increase to twice an hour. When
puppies are weak or bottle fed, they need to eat about every two hours around
the clock. Also, puppies are very loud their cries are capable of waking
everyone in the home. During daylight hours, puppies need continued care.
Puppies need potty breaks every hour and the need at least a few hours of
socialization with family, friends and household pets. Puppies and kennels need
to be cleaned regularly as does bedding, food and water bowl, bottles, and toys.
As a
foster volunteer, I have discovered that there are few areas that could benefit
from professional development for differentiated instruction. The areas in need
of improvement include communication between foster volunteers and improved support
for foster volunteers with sick animals. As a
foster volunteer, I have discovered that there are few areas that could benefit
from professional development for differentiated instruction. The areas in need
of improvement include improved and more open communication between foster
volunteers and improved support for foster volunteers with sick animals. Foster
care experiences could be improved if foster care providers were given more
support and varied support.
One form of assessment that could prove useful to the foster program are surveys. Surveys can provide a lot of compound information in a short period of time (*). Surveys can be beneficial because they help the observer to learn about past experiences and knowledge of other individuals (big book). For the foster program, this can mean learning about the skills, strengths, and weakness of those providing foster care. From this information, foster providers can be directed to the resources they may need to gain support. For example, if a survey reveals that a volunteer has limited experience working with elderly dogs, this individual can be directed to appropriate resources specific to the care and support of geriatric dogs and animals. Similarly, a survey may reveal that a foster provider has much knowledge about how to provide foster services to a wide array of animals. This individual could then become a source of support for new or inexperienced foster providers. Strategies
The
first area that needs improvement includes the need for open and frequent communication
between foster volunteers. I have been fostering for about four years now, and
I have had very limited interaction with other volunteers. I see other
volunteers when I take puppies in for checkups; however, there is rarely any dialogue
between fosters. Foster orientations provide another opportunity for fosters to
communicate and learn from each other. However, this is another case where
fosters seems to lose opportunities to communicate effectively.
The second
area that needs improvement includes improved support for fosters with sick
animals. In many cases, volunteers have to schedule vet appointments and must
wait around at the shelter until their foster animals can be seen by a vet. This
can be an inconvenience for the foster providers especially when the foster
animal is very sick and when the foster is new and inexperienced.
Objectives
Areas
in need of professional development at the shelter are important to the
continued development and success of the foster program. Increased communication
between foster providers will ensure that knowledge is passed between providers
and that more providers receive the support they need to be successful
providers for animals, other providers, and for the community.
There
are many objectives behind change the needs to be created at the shelter. The
first objective is increased communication. Increased communication will ensure
that foster providers receive updated information about how to manage responsibilities
associated with being a foster provider. Communication will help providers to
feel more connected with their responsibilities and less isolated. Also,
communication will increase the chances that fosters will seek help in times of
needs (*).
The second
objective is increased support. In the foster care environment, foster
providers need to be properly supported. Support in this environment comes from
other providers, shelter staff, and shelter veterinary services. Support can
come in the form of tangible support, such as literature and information
packets on how to be foster provider, and from social support.
key players involved at your site
When
attempting to implement change at the shelter, there key player who must be
involved if change is to be successful. Some of the key players include foster
volunteers, shelter workers, and shelter veterinarians. The key players are
important because each is needed to keep the foster program running and
successful. To
improve on shelter working conditions, it is important that assessments be given.
Assessments should be given to key players to allow these individuals to
express concerns and needs. From the assessments a clear picture can be made of
how to implement and support change.One form of assessment that could prove useful to the foster program are surveys. Surveys can provide a lot of compound information in a short period of time (*). Surveys can be beneficial because they help the observer to learn about past experiences and knowledge of other individuals (big book). For the foster program, this can mean learning about the skills, strengths, and weakness of those providing foster care. From this information, foster providers can be directed to the resources they may need to gain support. For example, if a survey reveals that a volunteer has limited experience working with elderly dogs, this individual can be directed to appropriate resources specific to the care and support of geriatric dogs and animals. Similarly, a survey may reveal that a foster provider has much knowledge about how to provide foster services to a wide array of animals. This individual could then become a source of support for new or inexperienced foster providers. Strategies
There
are many strategies that could be used to improve on areas in need of
professional development in the foster community. Some of these strategies
include an advanced organizer, word web, mentorship, four corners, and
double-duty log. Each of these strategies could be used to improve communication
and team-building within the foster community.
The
first strategy that could prove useful is an advanced organizer. An advanced
organizer is often used in a group setting to allow each individual to express
their thoughts about an idea. The advanced organizer helps to guide the
thoughts of the individual by providing individuals with preestablished questions
and statements. For example, an advanced organizer might ask the individual to state
a n idea the interested them and how that idea could be used to create change
or improvement.
The
second strategy that could be used is a word web. A word web begins with a
single word that is of focus. The objective of the word web is to expand off of
the initial word in such a way as to help individuals focus their thinking and
to expand their thoughts. A word web can help individuals organize data,
interpret new concepts, and create connections (little book).
The
third strategy that could be used is mentorship. Mentoring would allow less
experienced foster providers to expand off of the strength of knowledgeable and
experienced foster providers. Mentorship would be a great source of support for
fosters who need extra guidance during their first year as a foster provider.
A
fourth strategy that could be used is a double-duty log. A double duty log
takes on many forms, but is ultimately designed to help individuals expand
their thoughts and reflect on facts and ideas (small book).A double-duty log
could be used in a group setting to help group members track their thinking and
make sense of concerns and ideas. The
third strategy that could be used is mentorship. Mentoring would allow less
experienced foster providers to expand off of the strength of knowledgeable and
experienced foster providers. Mentorship would be a great source of support for
fosters who need extra guidance during their first year as a foster provider.
A
fourth strategy that could be used is a double-duty log. A double duty log
takes on many forms, but is ultimately designed to help individuals expand
their thoughts and reflect on facts and ideas (small book).A double-duty log
could be used in a group setting to help group members track their thinking and
make sense of concerns and ideas.
Leadership principles
To improve
on areas in need of professional development in the foster community,
leadership principles must be considered. Leadership principles necessary in
the foster community are those that can offer support in areas in need of improvement
(communication amongst foster providers and support for volunteers). Leadership
principles that could help to improve on areas in needs of professional
development are self-improvement, helping others to see their strengths,
collaborative support, and helping to increase morale and motivation in the
workplace.
implementation of a professional development plan
to address this need
