We've all been there...you registered for an 'exciting', 'innovative' professional development session. You may even have been eager to attend! Then it happens, the presenter(s) start reading the PowerPoint (/Prezi/whatever) slides and 'introducing' stale topics you learned in undergrad. So you and your colleagues check out and begin planning your lunch destination. It is such a missed opportunity. Facilitators know this happens, but I guess it just couldn't happen to them. If participants aren't engaged, guess whose fault it is? Same deal with students in your class. if kids are checking out, it's time to look at your instruction....but that's another topic for another blog post. I love to learn new things, but I like to learn on my terms. Schools are supposed to differentiate for students and develop personal learning plans- why not for staff, as well? Along these lines two of my SBTS (Tech Coach) colleagues and I have developed some PD sessions around helping teachers develop their own PLNs. Giving teachers the latitude and flexibility to learn on their terms and modeling that process offers so many benefits. Not only do these educators have the opportunity to learn: • WHAT they are interested in • WHEN they have time • HOW they learn best & at their pace But this also gives teachers the chance to experience what they can implement in their own classrooms. Giving students time to drive their own learning might be just what kids (and teachers) need to find their passion. Currently, our PD is primarily focused on Twitter- our sessions at called Twitter Parties. I feel strongly that Twitter is a wonderful resource for educators to access the training and resources they want and need when they need them. It’s also a great way for educators to model intellectual curiosity as a component of life-long learning...and isn’t that what we want for all students? Do you have a PLN? Does it include Twitter? Would you or your teachers attend a Twitter Party? Comments are closed.
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Kendra MurphyI'm a Technology Coach and IT Support for a school. I'm passionate about 1:1 classrooms technology in instruction. Archives
September 2015
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