Does training transfer to classrooms?

In 1980 Bruce Joyce and Beverly Showers identified 5 components that make up successful teacher in–service training. They are:

• Theory:  they whys and wherefores
• Modeling: demonstrating what it looks like in practice
• Practice: teachers trying it out themselves
• Feedback: finding out how well they are doing
• Coaching:  applying and trying in the classroom

Soon after this research was published, Bush (1984) tested the impact of these five components on the transfer of the skill back into daily classroom practice. As you can see in the infographic below, the effect is cumulative and startling.

Yet for all this knowledge, training has mostly focused on the first component. Until recently that is. Now schools have moved towards a coaching model. But we mustn’t forget that the components are cumulative. Coaching without the foundation of the previous components runs the risk of being shallow and uninformed. It’s best to have the full menu.

References:

Bush, R.N. (1984). Effective staff development. In Making our schools more effective: Proceedings of three state conferences. San Francisco: Far West Laboratory.

Joyce, B. & Showers, B. (1980). Improving inservice training: The messages of research. Educational Leadership, 37(5), 379-385.

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