5A. Design professional learning based on needs assessments and frameworks for working with adults to support their cultural, social-emotional and learning needs.

5B. Build the capacity of educators, leaders and instructional teams to put the ISTE Standards into practice by facilitating active learning and providing meaningful feedback.

5C. Evaluate the impact of professional learning and continually make improvements in order to meet the schoolwide vision for using technology for high-impact teaching and learning.

Implementation: I have worked on developing professional development programs with my colleagues prior to this experience but this was my first time working alone to provide PD for others. It began with a needs analysis survey in which my colleagues provided information about how they were using technology currently and what they felt they needed in terms of professional development. Many responded with information about how they were currently using technology but it was not necessarily enhancing the student experience. My colleagues asked for instruction on how to implement technology effectively and in a way that made sense without overwhelming students. Teachers then gathered in my classroom to participate in a PD session that featured a demo lesson in which they were the students experiencing the technology and I facilitated the lesson. They then had time to look at their unit planners and determine how they could achieve something similar in their lessons.

Impact: This experience built capacity in not only the teacher participants but in me as well. I have learned how to facilitate a large-scale PD on my own without the support of a team of other facilitators. It also inspired me to want to do this more often and on an even larger scale. My colleagues who participated appreciated seeing how easy it can be to implement technology in a way that supports student collaboration. They also appreciated being able to experience the lesson first rather than just being told what to look for and do. This was one of the most prominent pieces of information that was shared in the needs analysis survey that I made sure to account for in my design.

Reflection: Upon reflection, I am proud of being able to put on this experience for my colleagues. I began my planning process by going to the source and asking the participants what they wanted to get out of the PD experience. I then planned the session based on the information they provided thus displaying competency in indicator 5A. I then facilitated a PD experience in which the teachers were able to actively participate and provide feedback to each other in both the demo lesson and their own lesson development. I was also able to meet with each group of teachers and provide them feedback as they were working through their lesson design meeting the goal of indicator 5B. I then focused on reflecting on the experience of putting together the PD. It was great to see my colleagues walking out with ideas of how to move forward with implementing technology. I also had them complete a reflection as an exit ticket in which they provided feedback to me as a PD facilitator with has allowed me to identify areas of growth for future professional learning meeting indicator 5C. I look forward to making those improvements and being able to present to my entire staff in the future.