I am in a season where I am spending a lot of time in PD. (or I was, before we all started practicing social distancing, more on that below)
I’ve been (and will be) a participant in some, lead some and planned a few more, talked with colleagues, friends, family about it all.
And, the good and the less-good of it has got me thinking about what makes good teacher PD good.
Short answer: Pretty much the same things that make for good teaching with our students: belief in them, flexibility, engagement, a holistic approach.
The long answer (or at least, my long answer)
Good PD believes in teachers:
Coming from frustration about what teachers aren’t doing, even if you’re right that the X you want is better than the Y they are doing? That shows. And it makes people not want to come to PD and/or check out once they’re there. I believe teachers want to do well by their students, and they’re doing the best they can with what they’ve got, and it’s my job as a facilitator to encourage and inspire and provide resources until the best they can is better.
Good PD is reality based
Evidence based and research based get a lot of play. They’re important, and probably deserve their own bullet, but it hardly seems necessary since its on so many other lists. But I would argue for reality based, too. If I’m going to deliver something that is helpful, I need to have accounted for the reality that teachers and students are working in. Can this idea adapt and flex if students are frequently absent, and the supply budget has been spent, and class hours are limited (and prep hours even more so)? If not, I’m not ready to share it, because that’s the reality where teachers will be trying to implement it.
Good PD engages teachers as learners and professionals
Partly, this is basic active-learning pedagogy. Lets not spend 3 hours with a powerpoint and a passive audience. But even if we spend 3 hours in small groups and pair-shares and poster sessions, but the point is merely to deliver the answers that someone has already figured out… I’m missing out. A room full of teachers is a powerful problem-solving resource: lets engage them. My job is to ask good questions, to bring new resources, ideas and information, to share what I know and move the conversation forward; not to make pronouncements
Good PD supports the whole-person
I’m pretty businesslike, by default. But, I know that when I go to PD, I definitely want the information — but I might also want a break from the minutia and stress of the day to day, and a chance to stretch my brain and feel like I’m growing, and to connect with colleagues. This is why face to face still beats a webinar or a series of online modules. As a facilitator, it’s helpful for me to remember that it’s not all about me, and it’s not even all about my content.
And, yet.
As I write, events and institutions all around are declaring temporary closures for public health reasons and we’re all trying to figure out digital. ASAP. (myself included)
And, so, I’m looking at my list with a different focus. How can I translate these?
The first two, I’ve got. I still believe in teachers, I still want to share reality-based solutions. Engagement, I’m working on. A chat box is not as rich as a pair-share, but there are tools, and we can figure out how to use them.
It’s the last one that’s got me stumped. (And that makes me hope we’re all healthy and able to gather again soon.) I’ve had webinars that were informative, or interesting, or useful. But screen time, even informative, interesting screen time, is rarely refreshing or rejuvenating. (I think the folks doing extended online learning might have more tools than one-time events…?)
I’m pondering and googling (it’s what I do).
Also, seeking suggestions, if anyone has cracked the code.
Also, wishing everyone good health and a quick return to normalcy.
Also, sharing a few links to ideas I’m finding helpful in crafting human-scale digital professional development
- 7 ways to create PD webinars that engage your audience (ISTE)
- Designing interactive webinars (facilitate.com)
- 24 Easy Activities for Keeping Webinars Engaging (Adesina Media)
