The best teachers never stop learning. They know there's always room for improvement, and they're eager to find new ways to guide their students' learning. But the sit-and-get model of professional development in which teachers listen to an expert expound on best practice has not served all these teachers well. The May 2014 issue of Educational Leadership examines the ways educators are reimagining professional learning. Articles in this issue look at classroom observation, in person and online professional learning communities, edcamps, flipped PD, and more.In her "Perspectives" column, Editor-in-Chief Marge Scherer shares the bright spots in professional learning and how trying new formats have had encouraging success. She notes that
Perhaps the most promising bright spot on the professional development landscape is that despite budget cuts, schools acknowledge that professional learning is the key to improving instruction. If we treat educators with more professionalism and apply the research, we may find that innovations will last, student achievement will grow, and educators will have many reasons to seek out professional learning—with a smile on their face.
Articles in the issue include
- "Planning Professional Learning" by Thomas R. Guskey
How you begin determines what you will achieve. - "Rethinking Classroom Observation" by Emily Dolci Grimm, Trent Kaufman, and Dave Doty
When the observed teacher becomes the leader, that teacher becomes the primary learner. - "Edcamp: Teachers Take Back Professional Development by Kristen Swanson
The EdCamp experience empowers teachers to share their best ideas. - "One to Grow On / Classroom-Based Professional Learning by Carol Ann Tomlinson
A big part of professional learning should be mentoring teachers in reflection. - "Effective Coaching by Design by Elena Aguilar
Instructional coaching must be both optional and a part of a schoolwide professional learning plan.
View the insights of these and other contributors to the issue in the infographic (PDF) below, and start a conversation with your professional learning community using the free study guide.
5-8-14 The Whole Child Blog — Join the Whole Child Symposium: Tune In Today at Noon for Live Stream Event — Whole Child Education
Join the Whole Child Symposium: Tune In Today at Noon for Live Stream Event — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGJoin the Whole Child Symposium: Tune In Today at Noon for Live Stream EventMay 8, 2014 by Whole Child SymposiumToday at 12 p.m., eastern time, ASCD presents the next event in its 2014 Whole Child Symposium, a live-streamed discussion about what we need from education and how we