Standards for Professional Learning and Professional Development

Video Transcription

Hello there, and welcome. In this lesson, you'll be introduced to seven professional development standards set forth by an organization called Learning Forward. We will analyze the role they play on professional development plans and activities. Let's begin.

We recently had some construction work done to our house. The job coordinator created a document for us to examine and sign that included the entire scope of work. He then made copies for the electrician, plumber, builders, and so on. Although each had their role, communication and collaboration were essential to get the job done right. The owner of the company also assured us that his employees were all highly qualified and took pride in their work. I see a lot of similarities to our work, as teachers.

Learning Forward is a professional association that helps those who work in educator professional development. In 2014, through funds made available by grants, Learning Forward completely revamped the professional development standards for educators. The most current version includes research-based practices and adult-learning theories. The standards are an incredible resource for those in a position to develop high-quality, professional growth plans and activities.

Based on the premise that educators need to be actively engaged in their own learning in order to improve their practice, Learning Forward recommends the following professional learning or development standards.

Learning communities. Think back to what you know about social learning theory. When professional learning occurs collaboratively, and the golden activities are aligned with continuous improvement, there will be an increase in educator effectiveness and student achievement. So keep those doors open and learn from each other.

Resources. A large part of professional learning are the available resources necessary to support growth and development. Particularly in a time when resources are abundant, it's also important to prioritize and monitor them as well.

Learning designs. When designing professional development, it's important to align the plans to theories, research, and human development. In doing so, this will increase the likelihood of your intended outcomes.

Outcomes. The fourth standard refers to outcomes, and states that professional learning should align its outcomes to both curriculum and educator performance standards to have the greatest impact. It is something you've been hearing over and over again-- all parties need to be working off the same playbook in order to succeed.

Leadership. It is the responsibility of a leader to build capacity and support for the professional learning that takes place in their charge. The support might be financial, or more likely, time and resources.

Data. You have no doubt heard the term, data-driven or data-informed. That is because any high-quality professional learning design uses student and teacher data resources in the planning, implementing, and monitoring the impact of the learning on student achievement and educator effectiveness.

And finally, implementation. Professional learning is most effective when it includes a long-term plan for building and sustaining change, so it's best to enter any change process slowly, with one eye toward the future.

Let's review a professional development plan and take into consideration the professional learning standards. Here's the example. I want to develop and implement teaching techniques and strategies that address a variety of learning modalities.

The way this plan is written does not indicate any collaboration, so we can revise it to address that. Nor does it refer to any resources that will be used. The design certainly reflects learning theories in what we know about human development. For the sake of this example, we will say that the outcome of this plan is aligned with the district's goal of empowering all students to excel.

Of course, one would hope that this individual's administrator would offer any support needed to make this happen. This plan lacks the data to back up the statement. And finally, this plan could use a statement that reflects the accountability of actually sustaining these strategies over time.

So taking all that into account, our revised statement might look like this. "I want to work with my collaborative team to research, develop, and implement teaching techniques and strategies that address a variety of learning modalities. The team will observe one another and share reflections throughout the year."

So to summarize this lesson, we looked at seven professional development standards and analyzed the role they play on professional development plans and activities.

And here's today's food for thought. Mimic the exercise I just modeled for you a few slides back by taking a professional development plan and checking it against these standards. You'll also want to check out the additional resource section that accompanied this video presentation. This is where you'll find links to resources chosen to help you deepen your learning and explore ways to apply your newly acquired skill set. Thanks so much for watching. We'll see you next time.