Using Performance Feedback with and without Goal Setting on Teachers' Classroom Management Skills

Although evidence-based practices for improving academic engagement for students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders (EBD) have been identified, many teachers do not implement these practices with optimal fidelity. Thus, effective strategies are needed to improve teacher fidelity. Performance feedback is an effective professional development strategy, but it is unclear whether ancillary strategies like goal setting might further improve fidelity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of email performance feedback with and without goal setting on teacher implementation of opportunities to respond and behavior-specific praise using a multiple probe design. Participants were four general and special educators at a U.S. alternative school for students with EBD. Results indicated that a combination of written performance feedback and goal setting was effective, and that performance feedback alone was also effective. We were unable to determine whether the goal-setting component strengthened the performance feedback. Teachers provided positive feedback about the utility and feasibility of performance feedback with goal setting.