Retrospective Pretest: A Practical Technique for Professional Development Evaluation Page: 27
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Retrospective Pretest: A Practical Technique for Professional
Development Evaluation
Jeff M. Allen, Ph.D.
University of North Texas
Kim Nimon, Ph.D.
Southern Methodist University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to field test an instrument
incorporating a retrospective pretest to determine whether it could
reliably be used as an evaluation tool for a professional development
conference. Based on a prominent evaluation taxonomy, the
instrument provides a practical, low-cost approach to evaluating the
quality of professional development interventions across a wide
variety of disciplines. The instrument includes not only the questions
typically associated with measuring participants' reactions but also
includes a set of questions to gauge whether and how much learning
occurred. Results indicate that the data produced from the instrument
were reliable.
Introduction
Professional development programs at the national, state, regional,
and local levels are as diverse as the teachers attending the programs.
Such programs may necessitate a week-long statewide conference, or
a 45-minute after-school program. Conferences and after-school
Jeff M. Allen is an Associate Professor in the College of Education at the
University of North Texas. He can be reached at jallen@unt.edu.
Kim Nimon is a Research Assistant Professor in the College of Education
and Human Development at Southern Methodist University. She can be
reached at kim.nimon@gmail.com.
Volume 44 Number 3 200727
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Allen, Jeff M. & Nimon, Kim F. Retrospective Pretest: A Practical Technique for Professional Development Evaluation, article, 2007; [Blacksburg, Virginia]. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc31084/m1/1/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT College of Information.