Other topics
There are many levels at which PDSA can be applied with good results. Remember that PDSA has as its goal easier and better outcomes. Its core strategy is to improve the system that produces the outcomes.
The following is an (paraphrased) outline of what PDSA means for teachers at K. D. Taylor Elementary school in Atlanta, USA (as reported by Robert Crow)
| Gather Data | Analyse the problem What kind of variation is taking place? Random or Special Cause |
| Plan | Determine Root Cause,
or flow chart to determine constraints
Develop alternatives - There is usually more than one way to skin a cat Make a decision - Which alternative will best meet our needs |
| Do | You implement your decision |
| Study | You study the result. Did you achieve the expected outcome? Was your theory correct? |
| Act | If your theory was correct i.e. you got the result you expected then you incorporate this method into your way of operating. |
Problem: You suspect that your students are behind in their ability to do their multiplication facts.
Response: Gather data from other schools, districts etc and your students are way behind. Why can this be? Is this across the board, i.e. all students, or just a few that are pulling down the total group? What are your teaching
methods? What is happening in the "best" schools? What is different about them, their students, their teaching methods?
What are some potential changes that will correct this problem? Give rewards to all students making a perfect score on tests? Punishment by public humiliation for those students doing poorly? An enhanced study of
the multiplication facts with an extra 20 minutes each day devoted to study? Children using flash cards to quizz each other on the multiplication facts?
Other alternatives?
Decide which alternative will be most effective or is the most likely to achieve the goal we have set.
Implement the plan with a deadline or a point in time at which the results will be measured to determine if the method is working. Lets say that the students will be tested weekly with feedback provided with a deadline of six weeks to achieve the improvement sought.
Study the results at the end of each week and at the end of the six week period. Did you achieve the desired result? If not why? Go back and check the initial theory, was it in error? Look at the implementation, did your plan have the students support? Were the students involved in the planning process?
If you achieved the desired result then Act. Use this same process next year to see if you can verify the method, and possibly improve upon this year's results.
There are many other levels at which PDSA can be implemented in schools. The following links provide examples of PDSA directly involving students at Riverside Primary School, in Launceston, Tasmania
- By individual students with minimal input from teachers see Ben's Story
- By teachers and particular students working on specific learning difficulties see What to do?
- By teachers and and whole classes addressing an ordinary topic see mediated learning process
- A strategy developed by Grade 4 students (10 years old) to achieve any goal