Sunday, November 20, 2016

What is High Quality Professional Development?


The list of complaints about professional development is long…

  • Too much “sit and get”
  • What is being taught is not being modeled
  • “Drive-by” approach with no follow up
  • Emphasis on education fads
  • Too general; no direct impact on instruction
  • __________________ (*I bet you can fill in the blank)


In 2012, then U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan asked “What do you think we spend on professional development each year? $2.5 billion. But when I say that to teachers they usually laugh or cry. They are not feeling it. We have to do better with professional development money.”

Why do we continue to sit through, tolerate, and provide low quality professional development?

According to research, there are 5 characteristics of high quality professional development:

  • Aligns with school goals, state and district standards and assessments, and other professional-learning activities
  • Focuses on core content and modeling of teaching strategies for the content
  • Includes opportunities for active learning of new teaching strategies
  • Provides the chance for teachers to collaborate
  • Includes follow-up and continuous feedback

How can we be a part of the solution and not the problem? Discuss it with educators from across the country on Monday night, November 21.


Everyone is welcome to join us Monday nights 9-10pmCST for #ALedchat. We value the insights, perspectives, and experiences of those in our PLN.

**Here’s a time converter to assist all of you around the globe in converting 9pm CST to your local time. 

I'm one of the founders and hosts of this chat. If you have any questions, feel free to email me

Everyone is welcome. I hope you will all join us Monday night for #ALedchat.


Related Posts: 
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PD activities that get positive feedback from teachers
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An easy and awesome tool to flip your PD



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