Post two or more of your own beliefs and assumptions about professional development, and describe any trends you noticed in teachers’ beliefs and assumptions through the informal surveys of new and veteran teachers. Then, share your thoughts and experiences related to professional development by responding to two or more of the above prompts that are most relevant to your current setting or about which you are most passionate. Ask your Walden colleagues to respond to any questions that you have regarding the “new” vision of professional development. Be sure to include information from this week’s Learning Resources to support your ideas.
As this week’s Learning Resources emphasize, the nature and purpose of professional development today has shifted from what it was two decades ago. This shift requires new ways of thinking about school improvement and new approaches to professional learning. As you begin to consider research-based practices that lead to powerful professional learning, an important first step is to consider your own current thinking about professional development, student learning, and school improvement. As Hirsh and Killion note, “Clarifying one’s principles and reaching consensus on those that drive decisions in an organization will do more to promote deep transformation than simply adopting new practices” (Hirsh & Killion, 2009, 465–466).
Consider your beliefs and assumptions about professional development for K–12 educators and administrators. Prior to this Discussion, conduct an informal survey or interview with two or more educators that you know—both new and veteran teachers—to find out about their beliefs and assumptions about professional learning for educators. Look for trends among your colleagues and the informal survey of both new and veteran teachers.
Then, consider the following questions:
How has your thinking about school improvement and professional learning changed or been reaffirmed by this week’s Learning Resources?
How are your own professional development experiences similar to or different from the vision of professional learning described by various experts this week?
How have you seen professional development change over the course of your teaching career, if at all?
How are professional development resources used in your school and district? What beliefs and assumptions do you think underlie these practices?
Where do you see the focus of professional development in your school, at the district level, and at the state level? Is it more teacher or student focused? Does more professional learning occur at the school level or district level?
What other questions do you now have about professional development today?
Post two or more of your own beliefs and assumptions about professional development, and describe any trends you noticed in teachers’ beliefs and assumptions through the informal surveys of new and veteran teachers. Then, share your thoughts and experiences related to professional development by responding to two or more of the above prompts that are most relevant to your current setting or about which you are most passionate. Ask your Walden colleagues to respond to any questions that you have regarding the “new” vision of professional development. Be sure to include information from this week’s Learning Resources to support your ideas.