Introduction to “Analyze the Role of Professional Development in Site-Based Initiatives”

Video Transcription

Welcome to this unit "Analyze the Role of Professional Development in Site-Based Initiatives." The learning objectives in this unit include, analyze the various theories that are applicable to a professional development initiative, create a professional development training based on a school or site-based initiative that includes applicable theories, best practices, and standards, design a professional development activity that uses a competency-based approach and a flipped delivery model, and reflect on how the professional development design will improve self-efficacy, build capacity, and lead to increased student achievement.

The first learning objective in this unit will be analyzing the various theories that are applicable to a PD initiative. We'll begin with a discussion of adragogy, including Knowles' six assumptions of adult learners. Androgogy, or the art and science of helping adults learn, is a theory that is incredibly relevant to the design of our professional development.

We'll also look at two more theories about adult learning-- self-directed learning and transformational learning. These three adult learning theories will guide the creation of our professional development plans and activities. And you'll also be able to consider whether your current professional development plan is aligned with these theories.

We'll build on our understanding of adult learning theories as we create a professional development training activity that is based on a school or site-based initiative. And that includes applicable theories, best practices, and standards. First, we'll discuss what a site-based initiative is and where it fits into the overall picture, including both district-wide initiatives or district-strategic plans and individual professional development.

Here, we'll also examine professional teacher standards. And we'll talk about aligning our professional development activities to these standards.

A specific set of standards that we'll look at in detail is the standards for professional learning from an organization called Learning Forward. You may find it helpful to familiarize yourself with the site-based initiatives at your school or site and with the district-wide strategic plan of your school district. You can then refer to these documents as we go through this learning objective.

We'll also apply our knowledge of adult learning theories and professional teacher standards as we design a professional development activity that uses a competency-based approach and a flipped delivery model. So we will examine closely both flipped professional development delivery and a competency-based approach to professional development. You'll be able to compare these delivery approaches to the more traditional approaches that you might be familiar with or that you might be implementing in your district right now.

Again, we'll also refer back to adult learning theories here. We'll make sure that the professional development activity that we design is aligned back to those theories. So that we are always aiming to create a professional development activity that is highly effective and relevant and meaningful to teachers.

Finally, having developed both of these professional development activities, we will reflect on how the design of our professional development can ultimately improve self-efficacy, build capacity, and lead to increased student achievement. We'll think about the importance of critical reflection, which is a crucial component of adult learning theories.

We'll spend some time talking about self-efficacy and how important teacher self-efficacy is to the success of school and district initiatives. We'll also spend time reflecting on the impact of professional development on student achievement.

Because, after all, that is the end goal, the incorporation of these adult learning theories into our professional development and alignment to professional teacher standards. All of these are things that we do to increase the effectiveness of our professional development. These are all done with that end goal in mind of having a positive impact on student achievement.

To recap, the learning objectives in this unit include analyzing the various theories that are applicable to a professional development initiative, creating a professional development training based on a school or site-based initiative that includes applicable theories, best practices, and standards, designing a professional development activity that uses a competency-based approach and a flipped delivery model, and reflecting on how the professional development design will improve self-efficacy, build capacity, and lead to increased student achievement.

So before we launch into the unit, here's a chance for you to stop and reflect. Consider locating your professional development plan, any site-based initiatives or goals, and any district-wide initiatives or district-strategic plans so that you can use these as a jumping off point and you can reflect on these documents as we go throughout this unit. I hope you'll join me for my other tutorials throughout this unit. Thanks for watching. Have a great day.