Essential Questions Post #4

The following blog will consist of my own ideas/thoughts and research from both books and online sources. It will address the following question:


What makes a professional development experiences a "meaningful experience"?

Eleven years ago, every professional development (PD) I attended was the stereotypical “a one-size-fits-all, sit-and-get, whole-school PD model, where the entire staff is herded into one room to listen to one expert talk” (Gonzalez, 2018, para 1). If you were to walk into one of these sessions, you’d most likely see one, if not many, of the following:

--attendees sitting with arms folded

-attendees with their faces turned, tuned into their computer screens

--attendees trying to subtly hide their yawning

--attendees with sitting, bouncy their restless legs

Couros (2015) said, “If I die, I hope it’s during a staff meeting because the transition to death would be so subtle. #Relevant” (p. 181). Although humorous, I find that this quote seems to resonate with all educators in one way or another! “If lectures and traditional staff meetings are the only way we try to improve the profession, we are more likely to maintain the status quo than move forward” (Couros, 2015, p. 182). So, what can we do? We have to disrupt the routine!

Ways to Create Meaningful Experiences in Professional Learning:

Voice and Choice

“Creating opportunities for educators to share their ideas with others openly can lead to crowd accelerated innovation” (Couros, 2015, p. 186). In addition, owning one’s own learning helps ensure that the learning actually happens. 

Ideas: Edcamps, unconferences, Twitter PL (#EDUin30), monthly TED-style talks, choice boards

Opportunities for Innovation and Connected Learning

If we want innovative students, then we need to focus on becoming innovative teachers (Couros, 2015). “Innovation is a process, and those willing to try new ideas need time to experiment and make them better” (Couros, 2015, p. 189). In addition, the simple ability to connect helps enhance this process. “It enables us, as leaders and continual learners, to accelerate and amplify powerful learning opportunities for ourselves and those we serve” (Couros, 2015, p. 196).

Ideas: intentional PLCs, Twitter PLNs, peer observation, voluntary piloting, lab classrooms, microcredentials, blended learning training, Fed-Ex Preps

Reflection and Self-Assessment

“Reflection is powerful for learning and for personal growth. Self-evaluation flips the conversation from what the evaluator sees to what the educator sees” (Couros, 2015, p. 195). 

Ideas: Digital portfolios through blogging, reflection exit tickets, open-ended questioning strategies during PD, personal action plans

Resources:

Couros, G. (2015). The Innovator's Mindset. San Diego: Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Gonzalez, J. (2018, August 31). OMG Becky. PD is Getting So Much Better!! Retrieved June 11, 2020, from https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/pd/

Knight, J. (2007). Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.