respond to discussion 2N

Creating an environment for learning is essential for our students and the educators who work with students. Continuous professional development is at the core of education so that educators can remain competent and current on best practices when working with students.  This week's scenario for the discussion resonates with me as a current classroom teacher. With the introduction of the Florida B.E.S.T standards in grades 3-10 in both ELA and Math, a tremendous amount of training is required to understand and implement these new standards.

 Increasing attendance at professional development trainings takes planning and preparation. Rebore (2015) outlines a series of steps for designing an effective professional development program. One of the most essential is the needs assessment. When a school district understands the needs of its teachers, it can plan for more effective professional development that will increase staff participation.

According to Will (2022), research has found that an effective, low-cost solution to increasing the effectiveness of professional development programs is having some follow-up after the training has occurred. Implementing a plan with a purpose, like utilizing professional learning communities, encourages conversations about learning to continue. Learning, discussing content, and having the opportunity to implement the new knowledge with fellow teachers is a vital part of the professional development process. In addition to professional learning communities, utilizing coaches can help provide a resource for teachers to gain individualized feedback, which can be an extremely powerful tool in helping increase student achievement (Bates & Morgan, 2018). This would be especially useful when implementing new standards to help discuss or correct any misconceptions.

A strategy I have found effective is for staff to be compensated for the time they spend growing and developing as educators outside their contracted day. I know teachers aren’t always thrilled to attend training after a long day of teaching but are willing if they are compensated, and I wholeheartedly agree. I also find it practical to provide paid training during the summer when teachers can focus and reflect on the students they have worked with and make plans for implementing new ideas. Another strategy that has become more popular since COVID is virtual learning and professional development. This allows teachers to learn in the comfort of their own homes and even at their own pace. The drawback I find with this type of training is the lack of ability to interact with others. This can occur because of the technical limitations of the instructor or those taking the training or just the nature of a self-paced course.

Educational-related professional development will be beneficial and well-attended if those involved consider the audience they are educating and value their needs and time when planning for professional development opportunities.