WSQ 9:
This chapter helped clear up some questions I had involving PD. The qualities that stood out to me for professional development that seemed to be the most successful:
Sustained- I had never thought about PD being something that needs to be sustained. Most
of the professional developments I've been to have been workshops. We'd go once and
learn something and that was it. This idea of intensive process is interesting to me.
Active learning- I think this is important. Teachers need to be involved in the learning. It makes it
more meaningful.
Follow-up/Feedback- I think this would help teacher implement ideas. To have a group to bounce
ideas off of would be helpful.
Acknowledge Participants beliefs/teaching practice- This would help foster a trusting environment.
Teachers would feel valued. They'd also feel like the PD would fit into their lives. I can
remember some PD I've attended were the ideas were so off from my pedagogy that it was
hard to implement.
The section that talked about ways to support change was good. I think a lot of times when people develop PD, they forget this component. This might be one of the most important pieces. The idea of observing a teacher to help build understanding would really help teachers see a lesson in progress. Peer support groups would help teachers feel supported and have a community to ask questions. Even an online forum to help have an ongoing thread to ask questions would support teachers. This chapter really summarizes why PD needs to be an ongoing task. To really see change, you must sustain the effort of PD by supporting, listening, and helping teachers.
Article Sustained:
I really like the idea of training better teacher instead of just teaching another strategy. This is a novel idea. Many districts think giving teachers materials and strategies and they will be better teachers. Yet, there is more to it. By introducing an instructional framework for teachers, helps teachers become more consistent. Also there is a commonality across the school. The PD introduced in this article helps support teachers and their growth. They no longer depend on the curriculum to do all the teaching; the teachers now has support from administration and peers. The results from this school over a couple years showed how successful this idea of PD has been. I also thought it was interesting that this implementation was conducted over years not just a semester. I think real change comes from committing to an idea over several years.
Question:
Has your school or district ever bought into this idea of sustained PD? I was in Norman Public, I'm not sure if they have. NPS did implement technology over several years, I'm not sure it was like this though. This might have been their goal though!
Kaitlin, I'd never thought of PD being sustained and ongoing. Like you, I would attend training and maybe use what I learned. I'm intrigued by the idea. I also liked the section in the article that talked about training teachers better instead of the curriculum carrying the load, and it seems to be an environment of collaboration, reflection, and teacher growth. I don't know how to do this in a center setting where, unfortunately, teacher turnover can be an issue.
ReplyDeleteI kinda of feel if there was a more collaborative environment maybe the turnover wouldn't be as bad. I'm not sure how you make a learning center more collaborative though. Curriculum alignment might be a start. Yet, you don't want kids to repeat activities from room to room. Then they've made the same "whatever" for 3 years in a row. haha.
DeleteKaitlin may have a point, but then I think there are lots of reasons for teacher turnover, especially in centers.
DeleteKaitlin and Julie, a sustained professional development is all new to me. I do think it a great idea to keep in contact with your teachers and see how they are implementing things into their classroom. The aspect of allowing collaboration and feedback is so essential to determine what is working and what could be working better.
ReplyDeleteSince I am in Norman as well, I am not sure they have either. I guess all the technology could be a sustained professional development. I have had several workshops over various aspect of technology.
Since you are familiar with Norman and their curriculum, what is an area you think they could use a sustained pd?
Jacqueline, I would love to see sustained PD become a norm. As you said in response to Erin's blog, investing in the growth of teachers and students. I'm not familiar with NPS curriculum so I'm interested to read Katilin's ideas on sustained PD there.
DeleteI did think the technology movement was sustained PD. I would say literacy first is sustained PD, but not every school is doing it. I think the Pat Pavelka trainings we had several years ago was sustained (not sure what grades that was.. might have just been kindergarten). None the less, the early childhood director would come by and see how we implemented the pat pavelka stuff. We also would observe teachers would were apparently implementing it well. It was helpful. I do however think some districts get on the band wagon of the next best thing. I've actually heard teachers say, "well we will attend this workshop and next year they will be teaching some other way to do it." This always bothered me. I know research is constantly improving methods, but there has to be something that last, and isn't just a FAD. I think this is why it's hard to sustain PD.
DeleteKaitlyn, I had the same thought as you. I always considered workshops and PD the same thing. Most of Moore's PD are workshops. I attended one PD that was a book study over poverty. It was more of a lecture though. We read the chapters of the book then the presenter highlighted key points.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of active learning for teachers and PD. I am a hands on person and learn better when I can interact instead of listening to lectures. I think it does make it more meaningful for teachers.
Many teachers hear the words you need to attend PD and they roll their eyes. I would like to see if we get our PD developed and a granted money how the teachers will react to the set up. I would think they would enjoy it so much more and see the benefits of long term collaboration.
Yes I've seen the eye rolling! I've also heard, "yaay a break from the kiddos." That one always bothered me too. None the less, I agree, if the PD was relevant and also sustained. If it showed some substance of actually being something to stay around more than a semester, people may take it more seriously.
DeleteYou all make good points, and Kaitlin, yours are especially valid about FADs. New strategies can be added to old ones or to a framework for instruction.
ReplyDelete