August 22, 2020
This course comes at a perfect time for me. In my role, I teach many of the trainings at my school. This year, though, while many things are different, so many things are the same. As usual, teachers must sit though required trainings, however, this year most are delivered virtually and with all of the teachers. As a person facilitating a full staff training, it is tough because I know there is a better way to train my staff and I know there are some teachers who will not get anything out of the training. My administration realized the teachers were very stressed about organizing their Google Classroom properly and how to create videos so they changed some trainings that had been planned. They agreed we needed in person training where I could model what teachers were going to be required to do. While I appreciate the quick schedule change, the trainings could have been even more effective if groups had been formed by ability and comfort level rather than departments. The training has been delivered now what? To make the learning effective there must be ongoing support. Currently the support is coming from other teachers and it is inspiring to see technophobes creating interactive digital lessons.
At the weekly conference, I appreciated the discussion about the difference between professional development and professional learning. The Five Principles of Effective Professional Development stood out to me as a way that I can change my trainings into professional learning for my teachers. The principles are time, support, engagement, model and relevance.
Gulamhussein, A. (2013). Teaching the Teachers Effective Professional Development in an Era of High Stakes Accountability. Center for Public Education. Retrieved from http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/system/files/2013-176_ProfessionalDevelopment.pdf
Sandra Negro 