Design & Deliver Professional Learning

Coaches can support educators by designing high-quality, differentiated professional learning. Coaches encourage educators to be proactive and empowered in choosing professional learning opportunities that will best support their own unique goals. 

Driving Question: What structures might coaches design to support personalized professional learning in an individual context and the context of their school(s)?

The content of this section will give you practical examples of how to design Professional Learning for your teachers and strategies for implementing them in a variety of ways. Resources are provided on each page for each topic. The resources below are broader-focused articles on Professional Learning (PL).

It is important to recognize the distinction between professional development and training in order to choose the appropriate type of learning dependent on the intended outcomes of the session. Both concepts are essential for the growth of educators, but they serve different purposes and require different approaches.

Professional Development

Professional development is a continuous, lifelong learning process aimed at enhancing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of educators. It focuses on fostering a deep understanding of pedagogy, instructional strategies, technology integration, and other relevant aspects of teaching and learning. Professional development is designed to be a transformative experience that promotes reflection, collaboration, and application of new ideas in the classroom. It includes activities such as workshops, coaching, conferences, webinars, and online courses. Professional development changes pedagogical practice and training provides the technical aspects of a new tool. Specifically in technology coaching, there is a time and place for both of these sessions as long as the training sessions always lead into a professional learning opportunity that will change practice.

Key Features of Professional Development

1. Ongoing and sustained: Professional development is a continuous process that supports educators in their pursuit of personal and professional growth.

2. Collaborative: Professional development often involves working with colleagues to share experiences, ideas, and best practices.

3. Reflective: Educators engage in self-reflection and critical analysis to better understand their teaching practices and identify areas for improvement.

4. Research-based: Professional development is informed by current research and best practices in education.

5. Customized: Professional development is tailored to meet the specific needs, interests, and goals of individual educators.

Training

Training, on the other hand, refers to the process of acquiring specific knowledge, skills, or competencies needed to perform a particular task or job. In the context of technology coaching, training often focuses on the technical aspects of using new tools, software, or platforms. Training sessions typically have a clear and narrow scope, with specific objectives and desired outcomes. They may include hands-on practice, step-by-step instructions, and demonstrations.

Key Features of Training

1. Task-oriented: Training is designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge needed to perform a specific task or use a particular tool.

2. Structured: Training sessions often follow a predefined structure, with clear objectives and a specific timeline.

3. Practical: Training emphasizes hands-on practice and application of new skills in a controlled environment.

4. Immediate: Training typically provides quick solutions to address specific needs or challenges.

5. Measurable: The success of training can be evaluated based on the acquisition and application of the targeted skills and knowledge.

As a technology coach, it is crucial to understand the difference between professional development and training to provide the most appropriate support for educators. Both approaches are valuable, but they serve distinct purposes and should be employed strategically based on the needs of the teachers and the desired outcomes. By combining professional development and training, you can create a comprehensive approach to fostering the growth and development of educators in your school district, ultimately leading to improved teaching and learning experiences for all.