Introduction to “Analyze the role of professional development in site-based initiatives”

Video Transcription

Hello there, and welcome to the series all about analyzing the role of professional development in site-based initiatives. It's great to have you here. My name is Gino Sangiuliano and I will be your instructor as you navigate your way through these lessons in which we will look at PD from many different perspectives. Whether you're a teacher or an administrator or, like me, both, we are all adult learners who want to get better at what we do. Each lesson is only 5 to 8 minutes long, but will be packed with a great deal of content related to this topic. Let's take a few moments and preview some of the key elements found and some of the learning objectives that we will cover in this unit.

Here are the main learning objectives that we'll cover. We'll analyze the various theories that are applicable to professional development initiatives. We'll learn how to create a professional development training based on school or site-based initiatives that include applicable theories, best practice, and many of the standards out there. We'll learn how to design a professional development activity that uses a competency-based approach and a flipped delivery model. And finally, reflection. We'll learn how to reflect on professional development design, and how that will help us improve self-efficacy, build capacity, and also lead to student achievement, which is what this is all about.

In this unit, you will be exposed to many learning theories. You may even be familiar with some of them. However, the focus of these lessons will be on how to take advantage of those theories and use them to help us build quality professional development for us, the adult learner. For example, have you ever used a new program or attempted new strategies in the classroom? Of course you have. And as you grew your practice within the context of your classroom, you were experiencing situated learning.

Another theory that is relevant to us as adults is self-directed learning theory. We know ourselves best, and can choose the areas in which to pursue further development. In this unit, you will see that there are more ways than ever for the self-directed learner to improve their practice. And speaking of options, the world of digital learning has given social learning theory a whole other dimension, because you are able to collaborate with anybody at any time. I've work with teachers who decided to take their teaching to the next level, and done so by connecting to others through Twitter and developing true collaborative relationships.

Once you take those and other theories into consideration, you'll be able to use that knowledge base to create a professional development. In this unit, you will discover how the catalysts can be an evaluation that has pointed out an area of growth. Or perhaps by looking at student data, an area of growth has been identified, and that's where you'll begin.

I've been part of many wonderful PLCs, which offer teachers the opportunity to be part of the professional development planning team for an entire district. You will learn why having teachers involved in this process is vitally important. In this unit, you'll also hear me talk about events, like teacher-led unconferences that are popping up everywhere, which is all about teachers learning from other teachers. And once you've determined what your professional training development will be, the next step is designing the actual activities you want participants to engage in.

In this unit, you will learn about many options that teachers now have available to them. Professional development no longer means attending an off-site session where a presenter talks you for 6 hours. On the contrary. Today's professional developments are vibrant and connected to what we are doing Now. For example, experts are now coming to the classrooms and demonstrating practices with our students.

But that's not all. You will learn why it's important to keep those doors open and participate in pair observations and walkthroughs. This unit will also emphasize the advantages that come with digital learning, both formal and informal. If you're watching this video, you know exactly what I'm talking about. But Sophia isn't the only resource available out there that can help you grow. In this unit, you will learn about other resources, like the Teaching Channel, Edmodo, and Schoology, that will open up the world of flipped learning for you. The lessons you are about to participate in will convince you that the time is now to take charge of your own professional learning, and embrace the many resources we have at our disposal.

Reflection-- it's usually listed last, but never considered at least. If it's broke, we fix it, and if it's not, we try to make it better. Doing this is only possible through a reflection, analysis, and evaluation of our practice. This can take many shapes and forms. For example, you will learn how to use many professional standards to do this, from Charlotte Danielson to Robert Marzano, and even standards from the National Board of Professional Teachers. These systems and models are created as a means to help us improve what we do.

We are also able to reflect on our professional development by looking at student data. Many districts now designate data day specifically to monitor children's growth. Part of the process includes looking at how improvements we make to our own practices impacts student achievement. You'll be exposed to many examples of this, including some that are related to technology integration.

So once again, here are the key learning objectives that will be covered in this unit. Theories applicable to professional development, creating a professional development training, designing a professional development activity, and reflecting on professional development. I like to end each lesson with something I call food for thought. It's a question or thought to help you take your learning to the next level. Think of it as a seed being planted, and later down the road, when you look at it again, it may have grown and turned into something else.

Like this one-- how do you learn best? Are you ready to take control of your own professional development? Or have you already begun to do so? So once again, I welcome you to the exciting world of online learning, and look forward to exploring this topic with you. Thanks, and have a great day.