Models of Professional Learning
The importance of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) has never been more important then right now. With the power of social networks customization of ones own learning has never been easier. Personalized content can be delivered right to your inbox. As a Professional Learning Leader I must model best practices in professional learning. This image below is what my own personal and professional learning community and networks look like. It takes time and effort to maintain my own personal learning network; it is unique to me and an essential element to my development.
The image below was made in lucidchart.
This video below is an example of how I prepare attendees for an iPad Professional Development. This video like would go out via email with a pre-professional development survey and basic, out of the box instructions as to how to set up the iPad. The survey will give me and my team a snapshot of the strengths and weaknesses of the attendees. In the email will be a list of applications that would also need to be installed before the professional development. (The iPad comes in the mail to the attendee in this case.) When the attendee comes to the professional development their iPad is all set up with the proper apps that we will be going over that day.
Reflection:
We are all learners that have different learning styles and teachers are no different. If we as Professional Learning Leaders model these experiences, the teachers can in turn model it in their classes. Professional development should be meaningful and engaging and by using these models as appropriate, we can make professional development purposeful.
PLNs are customized professional development for the user. They are "on demand" and "just in time". I love my PLN. This is how I curate content for professional developments and courses that I teach and how I stay current with trends in Ed Tech as well as connected to the issues and movers and shakers in my industry. I tell my students that "the best of the best at with you do are blogging and tweeting. Are you listening to them?" Creating a PLN allows you to share what you are doing with others, get inspired, inspire others, gather resources for future teaching and learning.
I believe that Flipped and Blended learning is key to rethinking teaching and professional development. The steps I take when creating flipped or blended courses or professional look like this:
1: Start with the End in Mind - Think about the outcome you want the PD to have on the participants. Then once you know the outcome begin to plan
2. Plan Plan Plan - you can over think it, but really having a good plan in place is key
3. What Can I Digitize? - Know what content or material can be covered with out me. Readings, videos, audio files, etc can be done without me there
4. Where Can I Best Serve? - Know where I can best serve the participants. I like to be there to answer questions, guide conversations, prompt new ideas and experiences
5. Creation/Demonstration - I usually have the attendees create something and show the rest of us. Here is where I am able to do a quick formative assessment to see if they got the outcome
6. Evaluation - Hopefully I'm able to get some type of feedback on the PD so I know if I was successful in meeting the outcome.