submitted by:
James Waterson, Coordinator of Administrator Education, St. Lawrence University

I will conduct a descriptive/evaluative case study of the replication process for creating learner centered classrooms from the pilot team to the roll-out teachers in one of the participating school districts, Lisbon Central School.

I have selected Lisbon because ten teachers at the high school have agreed to participate in the roll-out process, because there are both students and parents on the pilot team, and because there is strong support for the project from the administration, staff and community. The district also has appropriate technology resources that that will enable participants to engage in the on-line survey and staff development component. In addition, all participants have a high level of enthusiasm for future replication of the project across the entire school district.

Lisbon is also participating with Niagara University and St. Lawrence University in a partner teacher collaboration. The universities will provide pre-service undergraduate students as partner teachers to the pilot team and the roll-out teachers. I will be evaluating this component also.

A close examination and evaluation of the replication process in one school across a school year would produce valuable information for the State Education Department and other schools in the state. The current, national standards movement demands research in the area of replication of classroom innovations across a school building or district. Much has been written about standards, evaluation, and classroom strategies, but there does not seem to be a large body of research in the specific area of the processes for replication of innovative teaching/learning strategies across a building or school district. I believe that this research would be significant.

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