What is the GAP Analysis?

A tool used by The Wing Institute for the purpose of organizing and prioritizing activities required for the creation of an Evidence-based Education culture. The GAP Analysis specifies critical areas for performance improvement. It identifies where we are today, what needs to be accomplished, what contingencies support and hinder progress toward the goals, and recommendations on how best to achieve the desired outcomes.

1. Provide Summit participants with opportunity to network
2. Develop practical and concrete action steps for attendees of the Summit
3. Provide input in the development of The Wing Institute GAP analysis
4. Address the issues identified in the Summit Survey
5. Influence the development of an evidence-based culture
6. Address issues that impede the process of taking evidence-based research to practice
7. Problem solve obstacles to the dissemination of evidence-based research

Summit attendees were asked to complete a GAP Analysis on one of the following Evidence-based statements. The statements were pre-selected broad outcome statements concerning elements of an ideal evidence-based culture.

1. Research is disseminated to stakeholders in a manner that is available and accessible
2. Decision-makers use evidence when selecting interventions.
3. Practitioners implement evidence- based interventions with integrity over time.
4. High stakes tests and outcome measures are reliable and valid.
5. Individual student performance is assessed on an ongoing basis.

Summit participants divided into seven workgroups. Each workgroup was composed of various stakeholders (Academic/researcher, Administrator - District and Program, Advocate, Classroom staff, Policy Makers, Parents, Service Providers, & Support Service)
Workgroups stayed together throughout the day to work on the project.
Workgroups spent a total 90 minutes in three sessions

Each workgroup was required to select a facilitator and recorder.

Workgroups were instructed to:

Session One

1. Select on of the five Evidence-based statements
2. Brainstorm a list of Current Practices relevant to your Evidence-based Statement.

1. Develop a list of recommended Goals (Where We Need To Go)
2. Develop an Action Plan (How We Get There)
• Workgroups were instructed to develop goals to meet the Recommended Goals
• Workgroups were instructed to develop goals that address the Contextual Variables that make it more or less likely that the recommended goals will be achieved. These antecedents include:
• Cues (know what to do)
• Skills (Know how to do it)
• Prompts (know when to do it)
• Resources (have resources to do it)
• Workgroups were instructed to develop goals that address the Consequences that make it or less likely that the statement, recommended goals, or action plan will be achieved.
• Reinforcing
• Punishing
3. Report Out to the full audience: Share the results of the days GAP Activity among all of the Summit’s participants.