Whatever the level of instruction, the issues related to professional development remain pretty consistent. PD has to do with bettering ourselves as teachers and, since our clientele and curricula are constantly changing, this practice of self-improvement must be an ongoing endeavor as well.
Here are some topics of professional development that we can see at any level, from elementary through university:
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Classroom management
- late arrivals
- inappropriate cell phone use (yes, even in elementary school…)
- side-bars
- inappropriate language
- diverse learner background
- aka formative assessment, assessment for learning as opposed to of learning
- transparency of grading – students know at all times how they are doing
- use of rubrics…or not
Ongoing assessment
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Technology integration
- iPads or other tablets
- appropriate integration of technology – pedagogy always at the forefront
- bring your own device
- flipped classroom techniques
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Reflective Practice
- blogging
- examining oneself critically
- teacher evaluation
- professional learning communities
My belief is that at the core of all professional development there needs to be a connection to why we teach, to who we are as teachers. If my love for teaching remains at the forefront then PD is authentic. If I am reminded that I became a teacher because of my unassailable hope for the future and how I can find instances of that when teachers work together to create the best learning environments for students, and if I can see how whatever the subject of the pd (ongoing assessment, differentiation, classroom management…) fits into that core value then I am more likely to want to participate and to apply what I learn to my own teaching practice.
So I firmly believe that professional development needs to be about making connections with teachers and their passions in order to create learning situations for teachers that are authentic.