Effective professional development should be on-going, authentic, and job-embedded. Fortunately, 21st-century technologies can help us re-think how we deliver and contribute to our own professional learning. See below for some innovative professional development options at West Genesee Schools.
- Online Professional Development offers teachers an opportunity to grow professionally with the availability of 24/7 access to practical learning experiences. Teachers can learn a new skill as they prepare authentic lessons for their students. They can also participate in an active learning community that provides a collaborative space to reflect on their practice with the support and inspiration of their peers.
- Screencasts provide "just in time" access to instructional video tutorials to help build capacity. Support materials are available when they are needed and teachers can learn new skills at their own pace.
- Coaching provides job-embedded expertise to help transform practice in real-time. In collaboration with teachers, instructional coaches can help plan meaningful lessons, observe teachers and offer constructive feedback, and model lessons to demonstrate effective practice.
References
Gulamhussein, A. (2013, September). Teaching the teachers: Effective professional development in
an era of high stakes accountability. Center for Public Education. Retrieved October 12, 2016,
from http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Staffingstudents/Teaching-the-
Teachers-Effective-Professional-Development-in-an-Era-of-High-Stakes Accountability/Teaching-
the-Teachers-Full-Report.pdf
Ross, J. D. (2011). Online professional development: Design, deliver, succeed! Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin.
