Module 1 Part 2: The TIPS Method

Module 1: Problem-Solving Implementation Issues Part 2 - The TIPS Method Session 2 Phase I Team TrainingPresented by the MBI Consultants

TIPS was funded by the Institute on Educational Sciences (IES).Initial research results show that SWPBIS Teams using the TIPS model with SWIS data improve in (a) the overall meeting foundation practices and (b) the thoroughness of problem identification and problem solving with SWIS data.Single Subject Study is currently in press and will be published January 2011, The Journal of Applied School Psychology. Citation is below.Todd, A., Horner, R., Newton, J.S. Algozzine, B., & Algozzine, K. (in press). Effects of Team-Initiated Problem Solving on Practices of School-wide Behavior Support Teams. Journal of Applied School Psychology

1MBI/PBS Meeting Minutes and Problem-Solving Action Plan FormToday's Agenda Items:

Review the TIPS problem-solving method and the Meeting Minutes form.

Use the TIPS method to problem-solve an implementation issue at your site

ContextMBI teams are being expected to do problem solving

Most teams are not skilled at running problem-solving meetings and using data for decision-making

MBI teams are being expected to do problem solvingTeams NEED data to do good problem solving butMost teams are not skilled at running problem-solving meetings and using data for decision-making. Be purposeful when bringing staff together. Just putting them at the same table with some data wont result in positive outcomes. This is NOT what they are trained to do. Have a skilled facilitator or provide training and support for at least one team member.

3What do we need?A clear modelSeparate and similar procedures forManagement and/or implementation (infrastructure-data system) issues i.e.: Meeting FoundationsOutcome issues (analysis and decision-making) The right informationA process to build and implement solutions.A visual context

What do we need?To use data for progress monitoring and for decision making we need to engage in problem solving that provides access to the right type of current data, a system/process for using those data and strategies for using those during the problem solving process.

A clear model with steps for problem solving Define purpose and expected outcomes of the teamDefine team agreements about meeting processesDefine roles and responsibilitiesUse electronic meeting minutesAccess to the right information at the right time in the right formatA formal process that a group of people can use to build and implement solutions.Basic Meeting Foundations Elements are essential no matter what type of meeting is being conducted. Teams need to know the purpose and expected outcomes of their group, they need to establish operating agreements (always start with something nice, avoid side talk, be on time, etc), and they need to establish roles and the expected responsibilities .

4

Organizing for effective problem solving conversationsProblemSolutionOut of TimeUse Data A key to collective problem solving is to provide a visual context that allows everyone to follow and contributeNewton, J. S., Todd, A. W., Algozzine, K., Horner, R. H., & Algozzine, B. (2009). The Team Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS) Training Manual. Educational and Community Supports, University of Oregon, unpublished training manual. Animated slide telling a well too known story. 1/1/20135

FoundationsProblem Solving(Refer to page in workbook)This is an example of a visual context used to keep the meeting and problem-solving process moving in the right directions.

Basic Meeting Foundations Elements are essential no matter what type of meeting is being conducted. Teams need to know the purpose and expected outcomes of their group, they need to establish operating agreements (always start with something nice, avoid side talk, be on time, etc), and they need to establish roles and the expected responsibilities .

Most schools have the title at the top and write/type as the meeting progresses

Suggested that you use a projector to allow everyone to see what is going on

Make a point that we dont need to document everything that happened (i.e., NM rolled her eyes KJ entered the room, SW continued to repeat the same issue, we took at 5 minute bathroom break)

6Collect and UseData

Develop Hypothesis

Discuss andSelectSolutions

Develop andImplementAction Plan

Evaluate andReviseAction Plan

Problem Solving Meeting FoundationsTeam Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS) ModelIdentify Problems

Newton, J. S., Todd, A. W., Algozzine, K., Horner, R. H., & Algozzine, B. (2009). The Team Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS) Training Manual. Educational and Community Supports, University of Oregon, unpublished training manual.This is a format for a clear problem-solving method.The outer circle (Meeting Foundations) refer to the process and procedures a team uses to function.Roles are determined and defined, meetings are scheduled for the year, electronic equipment and internet access are available, and an agenda is established.Certain problems regarding administrative and implementations issues may not need to go further than the meeting foundations level. For the sake of helping you understand the TIPs method, the example that follows is a an implementation issue that incorporates most of the TIPS steps. The inner circles and arrows define a problem-solving model designed to improve the decision-making and problem-solving of MBI Teams. This model is called TIPS, which stands for Team-Initiated Problem Solving. The model uses data for during problem solving and decision making, during meetings. Once the problem statement is precisely stated, a variety of solutions are discussed based on prevention, teaching, reward, correction and extinction and teams will determine which solution(s) they want to implement.

The TIPS model then moves the team to action planning ,evaluation and measurement determination.

You can use this at any tier. Whether it is for the whole group, small intervention group, or individual level. This is the process.

7Identify ProblemCurrent Reality

Use your Current Data Sources and observations to help identify the problem Self-Assessment Survey (SAS)Team Implementation Checklist (TIC)Schoolwide Evaluation Tool (SET)Office Disciplinary Referrals (ODRs)Safe Schools Assessment and Resource Bank (SSARB)My Voice (MV)- standardized data collection tools from PBIS National Center - MBI has added the My Voice survey. Not limited to this list8Identify Problem: ExampleThe MBI team is having trouble getting staff to agree on the definitions of major and minor behaviors.

How do they know this?Self-Assessment SurveyTypes of referrals principal is receivingThe MBI team wrote & disseminated drafts of the definitions of (mis)behavior in staff mailboxes. The principal asked the staff to vote on the definitions. After 3 attempts over a two week period, only 45% of the staff have approved the definitions.(again - this example could also be done simply as a foundations issue but is presented in a problem-solving format overkill for the sake of having a clear example)9Problem Statements

Ultimately, you want to write a problem statement that precisely specifies the problem you identifiedThe more W questions (what, when, where, who why) you incorporate into the problem statement, the more precise the problem statement, the easier it will be to generate a solution that fits the problem

Precise problem statements include information about the five core W questions.What is problem, and how often is it happeningWhere is it happeningWho is engaged in the behaviorWhen the problem is most likelyWhy the problem is sustaining

10Analyze the Problem: Example

Problem Statement DevelopmentWhat: 45% of staff have approved definitions of (mis)behavior written by the MBI team How Often: Definitions in the teachers mailboxes on 3 occasions w/administrator requesting vote 3 timesWhen Who Where Drafts put in mailboxes over two weeksWhy (is the problem sustaining)? Taking our problem and answering as many of the W questions as possible the team came up with this. Looking at what we know about the problem, take two minutes with your neighbor and discuss why this might be happening. (ask volunteers to share)11Develop Hypothesis: ExampleThe absence of a staff involvement & feedback has contributed to difficulties obtaining agreement on the misbehavior definitions.

The staff did not have the time

The staff did not see the importance because the definitions were just placed in mailboxes -in other words the problem may be that staff has not been involved, that they felt their feedback didnt matter, they didnt have time, etc. 12Discuss & Select Solutions: ExampleThe MBI team brainstormed different ways to correct these issues.

The team reached consensus on the feedback procedures that would be presented to their school staff.

MBI team brainstormed Then followed the usual procedures after a brainstorming activity they discussed the advantages and disadvantages and prioritized the solutionsMBI Team and staff must quickly and clearly see the impact of change in order to buy-in or to sustain their efforts

13Develop & Implement Action Plan: ExampleThe MBI team disseminated the draft of the definitions for misbehavior during a staff meeting.

The MBI team addressed all questions, comments, and recommendations and revised the definitions.

The revised draft was redistributed during a staff meeting for approval.

Implement the smallest change that will result in the largest improvement

With ConsistencyWith FidelityWith Sufficient DurationWith Sufficient Intensity (putting the definitions in mailboxes is an example of intensity not being sufficient)

14Evaluate & Revise Action Plan: Example100% of the staff used the feedback procedure to provide comments, questions, and recommendations on the proposed definitions of misbehavior.

The school reached consensus on the definitions for misbehavior.15Big IdeasUse DATA to drive problem solvingFollow a consistent processSmallest change for largest improvementImplementation fidelity Communicate, communicate, communicateCelebrate!

16Work TimeComplete the Problem-Solving Implementation Issues Part 2 section of your workbook

(1. Use your TIC and Self-Assessment Survey Analysis Reports (or MBI Team Self--Assessment) from Part 1 2. Select one area of concern and use the TIPS method to arrive at a solution (p. 22) 3. Complete the MBI Team Meeting Minutes and Problem-Solving Action Plan Form (p.23)OrReturn to the action plan (p.4) and list at least two action steps that will be used to strengthen areas of need. (Note: Tasks not completed at this time are good action plan items)