Edutopia+PD+discussion

===[|Edutopia] "Teachers are told to differentiate instruction to best meet the needs of our students, so why can't PD be differentiated for teachers?" - Guest blogger Kyle Pace. Weigh in: What's been your experience with your school professional-development program? How would you describe your perfect professional-development program? === Kyle Pace on PDopia: Planning the Perfect PD | Edutopiawww.edutopia.orgTeachers have very specific needs for their professional development. Those of us who design PD must recognize this. It can't be "cookie cutter" "sit and get" anymore. Teachers are told to differentiate instruction to best meet the needs of our students, so why can't PD...  be differentiated for teacher...     [|June 7 at 7:07pm]  · Comment · Like Unlike · [=1150176726&p[]=114107678634161&parent_fbid=114107678634161|Share]] · [|Report][|146 people] like this.50 of 71 [|Tabitha Opio]My fellow colleagues and I have been saying that for years. Why does PD have to be the same for every teacher and every grade. It is boring and most of the time I have already sat through the same thing a million times. June 7 at 7:33pm · Like Unlike · [|Flag][|Jennifer Venable Hand]I have found having time to implement and apply professional development is the biggest problem. Usually it is a "sit and get" without any practical application or time for teachers to actually integrate it into their curriculum in a meaningful way. I am giving two technology professional developments tomorrow which the teachers got to choose. I hope they like it because it will be very hands-on! June 7 at 7:34pm · Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Sarah McIntosh Puglisi]I'd love something on-line, or the option to take different classes or programs on-line or even better an opportunity to meet in on-line collaboratives and work collaboratively with peers and build skills this way...June 7 at 7:35pm · <span class="comment_liking_364981"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike  · [|Flag][|Nancy Parise]We have been having PLC meetings a my school. They have been the mose effective PD that I hae experienced so far. June 7 at 7:36pm · <span class="comment_liking_364984"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Cathryn Bolen]How many endless hours have I spent making the Christmas list through yet another useless PD? No telling given that I've been at this for 26 years. At least, now that I'm a school librarian, they are a bit more useful and pertinent (usually). But we do learn more when we get away and start talking.June 7 at 7:37pm · <span class="comment_liking_364987"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Elizabeth Simpson]This summer I have to spend six hours learning about the new teacher evaluation system. A packet would suffice. I have never attended district PD that had anything useful to me. Two years I did attend a NCTE conference and it was wonderful. My school did not pay for it, I did. I guess if I want useful, I'm going to have to seek it out and pay for it myself.June 7 at 7:37pm · <span class="comment_liking_364993"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Joanne Stevens Finnegan]I found it very interesting to sit in on some classes workshops that were about HOW to differentiate instruction or use student centered learning and the instructors did NOTHING to do that with us as students. They should be modeling what they are teaching!June 7 at 7:37pm · <span class="comment_liking_364995"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Joel Ballantyne]PD may be the worst teacher work days I have. If I have to sit through another PD where the "lead" teacher doesn't understand the audience, I'm going to have to stand up and ask about best practices.June 7 at 7:38pm · <span class="comment_liking_364997"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Lea Stroebele Klein]The computer teachers I work with have been attending online webinars on a bunch of different topics. This is the first year I have felt the professional development has been right on target. We found them, chose the ones we wanted to attend and got the meeting time and professional hours to do it.June 7 at 7:41pm · <span class="comment_liking_365010"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Cheryln Kurz]The worst part is that the PD speakers give you scnarious that work only in our classroom dreams - perfect students, small class size, etc... When we ask questions about our own classrooms - 35+ kids, IEP's, etc...the speaker can't answer our questions! How are we supposed to implement thse practices when we have REAL problems in our classrooms, <span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link"> <span class="text_exposed_show">not an ideal classroom?! I honestly think so many of those speakers haven't stepped into a classroom in 20 years. They have no idea what's going on these days. June 7 at 7:45pm · <span class="comment_liking_365029"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Beth Raines]I agree. I have been to PD that I've had over and over. It would be nice to have a menu to select from. Perhaps school's could use the labs for online training. What a thought....June 7 at 7:50pm · <span class="comment_liking_365050"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Anna Heffernan]Very, very good point!June 7 at 7:52pm · <span class="comment_liking_365061"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike  · [|Flag][|Lori Wilson Abrahams]I attended a 3 day math PD for our new adoption last summer. The first, entire day, was using the CA Framework! Not a word about the in's and out's of the new adoption. I found it insulting for veteran teachers, as well as our beginning teachers. I refused to go to the 3 day one this summer for the language arts adoption, as the first day will, again, be only working in the framework... June 7 at 7:53pm · <span class="comment_liking_365069"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Louise Valenciana-Ruiz]After 32 years in education of which over 25 years I spent providing professional development I can attest that many of us educator/trainers/administ rators tried. As usual, we were frequently met with resistance from colleagues, teachers that felt they didn't need to "learn" more information and the proverbial lack of money.

Since the passage of<span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link"> <span class="text_exposed_show"> Proposition 13 in CA we've experience major fluctuations of SI, Title I, etc. that resulted in limitations of funding for teachers to attend training over summer months, after school, weekends, etc.

Good administrators tried a variety of ways to fund professional development training in the mid 1980s into the early 1990s. Then the CA Board of Ed along with many School Boards implemented the days as Buy Out days etc.

Sadly many of these days were used for regular business, or administrators or resource teachers were expected to complete 8 hours of training in strategies they were not always proficient. Or worse yet, they were implementing the training designated in School Plans that the teachers had no input in writing. Thus many mentally checked out from training.

This is a great topic. Remember be to be part of the solution, not a problem. Do your research, don't challenge your administrator or your School Leadership Team. If you want to change the "concern", first do your own homework: How is professional development planned at your school site? Who is on the planning committee? Have you volunteered to be on the Site Leadership Team, or the School Site Council?

Remember to have change, know the issues and know your leaders. Good luck! June 7 at 7:55pm · <span class="comment_liking_365082"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Karen McClanahan Reid]Carm, I so agree with you! Teachers from our district had to do a makeup day that the students didn't have to (due to flooding). We used our day to have teachers from OUR building show us what they are doing with technology. Most useful information I have had in a LONG time. Easy things that all of us could use the very next day with our students.June 7 at 7:56pm · <span class="comment_liking_365084"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Cathy Ann Miller]We have differentiated professional development in Minneapolis. It's great! I can concentrate on the areas that I need to improve on rather than areas I feel competent in already.June 7 at 7:56pm · <span class="comment_liking_365087"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|David Lopez]Follow-ups are key. Stand-alone PDs don't work because they seem like filler. We've tried online PDs from PD360.com, but again, tech savvy-teachers rush right through them while the rest of the teachers can't log in. June 7 at 7:58pm · <span class="comment_liking_365098"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Ned Overmyer]I totally agree. We were all students once and we need differentiation as adults also. We all don't teach the same way nor do we all teach the same things. Being a Special Needs teacher I get it that kids don't learn the same way, PD should be geared toward all learners and not to make it simpler to get PD done in a specific amount of time with one medium to teach with like a power point.June 7 at 7:59pm · <span class="comment_liking_365099"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Zandra Richardson]OMG you read my mind. Been going through all of my PD stuff and it is all in the same format. If we taught our students the same way they would be utterly overwhelmed.June 7 at 8:06pm · <span class="comment_liking_365136"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Betty Berles Collette]I am one of several 4th grade writing teachers at a school that consistently outscores all of the other 51 elementary schools in my district. Several years ago my district asked us to come up with a professional development plan to share with other teachers our "secrets" to successful teaching of writing, which we very gladly did. Once they got <span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link"> <span class="text_exposed_show">our plan, they wanted us to fit it into the framwork the district promoted! We said no thanks - why bother when what we did obviously worked and what they wanted us to to was not what we did. Ridiculous! June 7 at 8:09pm · <span class="comment_liking_365149"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Kyle Pace]Wow! Thank you all so much for the comments! I am learning and learning as i read them. I'll be reading through them multiple times. Those of you that said PD can't be one size fits all are absolutely correct. Several comments made me think of art, music, and PE teachers. I think it's great to give PD choices, offer online/blended options, but <span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link"> <span class="text_exposed_show">certain subject areas (art, music, etc.) should be having their own PD opportunities. We all should get customized PD opportunities. Is that always feasible? Likely not. When it comes specifically to edtech PD, I have seen offering choices, more like a menu of classes, work very well.

I will comment more soon but I just wanted to let you all I know I am reading your comments and greatly appreciate them! June 7 at 8:11pm · <span class="comment_liking_365155"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Kyla Rae Uribe]Cathy how does your district differentiate the pd?June 7 at 8:11pm · <span class="comment_liking_365157"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike  · [|Flag][|Heatheranne Campbell]And I thought our district was the only one...there's lots of company out there!June 7 at 8:12pm · <span class="comment_liking_365161"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike  · [|Flag][|Cathy Ann Miller]Each teacher has a PD team; mentor, supervisor, fellow teacher, etc. The team looks at the individual's strengths and opportunities and decide on a specific goal the teacher will work on for the next year. We plan out what I will need to accomplish the goal; staff support, materials, maybe a specific seminar, etc. Then we meet as a team each <span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link"> <span class="text_exposed_show">quarter to check on my goal progress.

We decide what's working and what's not and since we review each quarter there is time to change course and try something different if I'm not getting what I need out of what I'm doing.

IE: This year I worked on data collection (I'm in ECSE). My team helped me find different methods of data collection, I went on same job observations to see how other teachers collected data, and we took video from one of my visits to see if the data collected was a good representation of what occurred during my home visit. Then we decided on which data collection method worked best and used it to plan instruction and write progress/IEP reports. It's been a fantastic experience and my students and I are benefitting from it! June 7 at 8:35pm · <span class="comment_liking_365315"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Joey Richards Slaughter]The 2 best PD's I have had are Eisenhauer Math & Science Program and Kagan Training. A close 3rd is TexTeams Training.June 7 at 8:37pm · <span class="comment_liking_365324"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Tic Technologyinclass]Sometimes it doesn't matter how interesting you make the PD there are deadbeat teachers that don't care. Here are my thoughts on Professiional Development: http://technologyinclass.c om/blog/2009/12/09/teachin g-the-unprofessional-profe ssion/June 7 at 8:37pm · <span class="comment_liking_365327"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Mary- Cookie- Scalise Balme]The best is right here in Rochester, NY. CHECK IT OUT!! http://www.monroe.edu/ProD evelopment.cfmJune 7 at 8:38pm · <span class="comment_liking_365336"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Kathleen Soares]At our school our leaders designed differentiated PD this year. One day a month we had teacher led sessions on many different topics from formative assessment, student centered activities, to how to use homework effectively. Teachers signed up for their sessions in advance.June 7 at 8:49pm · <span class="comment_liking_365399"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Carm Montez]Karen, I have a teacherweb page because of a training that took all of 30 minutes! I learned how to create a webpage using teacherweb from our technology teacher 7 years ago. I went home and created my webpage that night! It changed everything from how I teach my students, provide intervention, give provide easy access to homework help and totally changed how parents could communicate with me. I've never forgotten those PD days because they had an immediate and positive impact. June 7 at 8:51pm · <span class="comment_liking_365412"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Trisha Mac Donald Cox]It should be!June 7 at 9:09pm · <span class="comment_liking_365528"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike  · [|Flag][|David E Pike]why can't meetings be 30 minutes or less: 90% of research evidence would support this decision...June 7 at 9:21pm · <span class="comment_liking_365587"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike  · [|Flag][|Darlene Andre]I love this idea! It's so frustrating sitting in a PD where the topic is focused at only one group, usually those new to the topic and the rest of us sit. In elementary literacy block we start with a mini lesson and then let the kids try out the ideas and monitor their progress. We check in at the end and discuss how things worked. The kids work together and I am able to assist those in need. I'd love to see that implemented in PD.June 7 at 9:24pm · <span class="comment_liking_365593"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Robin Addison]Wow, I recently made that observation in my district. I guess there are two completely different sets of rules for students and teachers. . . We don't practice what we preach?June 7 at 9:34pm · <span class="comment_liking_365629"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Jackie Woodrum Daugherty]I think if would be wise to assess teachers BEFORE planning a PD activity. Teachers who have years of experience have different PD needs than less experienced teachers and vice versa. It is difficult to stay motivated when you have mastered a technique or have attended many PD activities on a topic. I am constantly striving to improve as a teacher even after 25 years, but finding worthwhile PD is difficult.June 7 at 9:39pm · <span class="comment_liking_365651"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Kyle Pace]Jackie thank you and so many others for your comments. I agree that assessing your audience before the PD is absolutely necessary. I think the connections you make with teachers before, during, and especially after the PD are just as important (or possibly more important) than the content being covered. I believe this type of structure should be 120% required, especially when it comes to EdTech PD. Thank you!June 7 at 9:47pm · <span class="comment_liking_365695"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Ann Marie Tirocchi-Byrd]Spot on!June 7 at 9:55pm · <span class="comment_liking_365746"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike  · [|Flag][|Carmen Padilla]I agree....in my school PD is very boring and teachers complain that they get nothing out of it. All we do is look up datas in the lap tops. Data that we already have for our classes and students. Have of the time, some of us can't get into our datas because we have to constantly change our usernames or passwords in order to get into the datas of <span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link"> <span class="text_exposed_show">our classes. It's always the classroom teachers who are told to differentiate in the classroom. Never the coach at the PD sessions. It's a joke and a waste of time. That's why I personally agree that PD should differentiated accoding to the needs of the teacher in thr classroom. I have to teach a self-contain ELL class with special ed children in it. Every time I attend a PD I'm hoping for suggestions, new ideas, new methods for my particular class, Unfortunately, I'm not because I'm told that I'm suppose to follow the same curriculum that the regular classroom teachers are doing. How is that call differentiation? I ask for help, I get none, just the runaround. So that's why I agree with the above PDopia! June 7 at 10:23pm · <span class="comment_liking_365893"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Sherry Shelton Owens]good PD MUST model/mirror what the classroom should look like. NOT sit and get - I worked multiple years with History Alive! and now own my own staff development company for social studies instruction - s3 Strategies for Success - all about developing an interactive classroom. And how can you lecture or better yet, the old death by power point, on that! there is a better way!June 7 at 10:48pm · <span class="comment_liking_366015"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Michelle Coleman]They are boring and 97 percent of the time it's for upper elementary and beyond. So what about lower elementaryJune 7 at 11:02pm · <span class="comment_liking_366095"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|James Campbell]I like the idea, and I hope to implement it through the next school season. We have so many interests and so many experts @ my high school. It would make the day fly.June 7 at 11:48pm · <span class="comment_liking_366276"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Andy Tolksdorf]Just completed our first year with a PLC model based on Learning by Doing. It was centered on our teaching and what we needed to learn in order to improve our instruction and ultimately measured by student acheivement. Some stumbles along the way, but it was better than the old sit and get, catalog model. I am looking forward to year two and how we grow.June 7 at 11:52pm · <span class="comment_liking_366292"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Josh Shaine]"Quite frequently teachers tell me, by way of explanation of unscientific teaching, -- "We teach as we were taught in college." One who is doing excellent work said, "I am trying to teach better than I was taught." If this testimony is true, and it seems to come from competent witnesses, there is little hope of improving the methods in the high <span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link">  <span class="text_exposed_show">schools until better methods are used in the colleges which now supply most of the teachers." ~George Martin, Agent of the Massachusetts Board of Education, 1885 June 8 at 2:24am · <span class="comment_liking_367205"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Catherine Falknor]I agree. Why shouldn't we as students also have different experiences than the"sage on the stage" approach to learning?June 8 at 6:08am · <span class="comment_liking_368151"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Mike Saltz]Oh man, glad someone said that! So ironic to listen for three hours passively to PD presentations about learning styles, differentiating instruction and assessment, and active learning... June 8 at 7:55am · <span class="comment_liking_368687"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Joanne Fuchs]Kyle, Nice gig. Our building does try to differentiate instruction. We had a tech day in Feb. and we chose which sessions to attend. That's a step in the right direction. Fantastic question. June 8 at 8:24am · <span class="comment_liking_368828"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Susan Walsh]As someone who came into teaching through an unconventional route, I have strong opinions about the homogenization process of teacher training at all levels. Just as we abhor trying to pound all those wildly amorphous pegs (students) into tidy and predictable square holes, so it should be with educators themselves. We have to stop trying to package<span class="text_exposed_hide">... <span class="text_exposed_link"> <span class="text_exposed_show"> and sell someone else's "aha!" moment and instead guide educators in finding enlightenment. Get rid of jargon. Recognize that fantastic teachers come from every walk of life. Play to the strengths. Work as teams... try the untried. June 8 at 8:34am · <span class="comment_liking_368900"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Adina Shmuckler]I agree. Why does our PD have to be a one size fits all in order to get paid for it or at least get it paid for? We all have areas of interest or feel that there is a subject we would like to get a better handle on or new ideas. With budget cuts, we won't be getting much if any PD time.June 8 at 11:21am · <span class="comment_liking_370076"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Diane Weinberg]Hmmm. PD differentiated for teachers? I like that idea...June 8 at 12:17pm · <span class="comment_liking_370470"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag][|Teresa Roebuck]In all the PD I've presented over the last several years, I've tried very hard to make sure there is something for everyone to be engaged in the learning. Most of mine is project-learning for technology integration in the classroom, but I'm branching into this very subject matter: Learning Styles and Preferences and how the teacher's LP can impact the student's learning. LOVE what I do!June 8 at 6:24pm · <span class="comment_liking_372854"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag] [|Susan Walsh]I too have been a presenter at workshops and conferences. The most excitement I ever generated in my "audience" occurred when I was able to turn them on to themselves, their passions, their quests, and help them to understand how this translated into the classroom. And just as we direct it in our students, we need to then go get the parts we don't <span class="text_exposed_hide"><span class="text_exposed_link"> <span class="text_exposed_show">possess ourselves - the technical bit, the artistic bit, the new electronics bit - to build the new "elephant"

My dream is a conference for educators where one can select from a menu of skill-enhancement modules. Don't know much about PowerPoint? videography? how to do geneology research? carpentry? algebra? - but those things might figure into your project-based classroom experiences? Here ya go! And Art of course. Mandatory for freeing your mind.

Go forth everybody! Do good stuff. June 9 at 7:27am · <span class="comment_liking_376706"><span class="default_message">Like <span class="saving_message">Unlike · [|Flag]