#TeachersAtED Archive
Our chat is once a month on the third Tuesday at 7:00 EST. These chats are hosted by teachers working at the US Department of Education as Teaching Ambassador Fellows in order to hear from teachers on policy issues and share resources. More about our program at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherfellowship/index.html
Tuesday June 21, 2016
Michael
Albert Einstein Educator Fellow
National Science Foundation, DC
Cofounder devxPD — national teacher PD
welcome to the chat. Thanks for joining!
A1: Aman Dhanda - Teaching Ambassador Fellow from Woodland, CA.
Alicia Perez-Katz, high school principal & principal ambassador fellow
A1: Teaching Ambassador Fellow from DC; passionate about educational equity and education as a vehicle to racial justice.
A2:Embedded, ongoing coaching from school's head of teaching & learning; he taught me to be an effective instructional coach.
A2: SI was my most significant professional growth experience bc it placed me on a path to teacher leadership
A2: Biggest impact on professional growth has come from chances to engage in peer observation. Much more authentic environment
A2
Aside from this fellowship, an experiential PD session at school in TN
We DID rather than sit and get
A2: the principal ambassador fellowship! Learning how to advocate in education and hear from other educators abt what matters
Coaching is infinitely more powerful than traditional observations. Need to shift to that model. https://t.co/QKXgKpIHWz
A2:Embedded, ongoing coaching from school's head of teaching & learning; he taught me to be an effective instructional coach.
A2: Have also gained a great deal by serving as Reader for AP Exams. Great collaboration and space to learn.
A2 as a Fellow, exposure to national landscape and getting to visit other classrooms. Intentional observations are powerful.
"sit and get" model has to fade out. I've sat in PD where message to ditch lectures was delivered by lecture!
A2: National Board Certification. This allowed me to critically reflect upon my practice.
self-reflection is best part of NBPTS process. Need more PD that embraces that evaluative process.
A2 don't need fancy agendas for good prof learning; common planning teacher with outstanding tchr down the hall can be best
a1: Myra Deister, Teacher AP Computer Science, computer Science, math in California
Professional growth MUST be something teachers continue to pursue throughout their career.
A2: PLCs been the best PD yet!
agreed. Wish as much effort was put in to "fancy teacher scheduling" as there is put in to "fancy" PD agendas!
- A2;teacher initialed PD with lessons that can be implemented the next day.
or teacher input https://t.co/rXIWGwOHRf
agreed. Wish as much effort was put in to "fancy teacher scheduling" as there is put in to "fancy" PD agendas!
great point. Observations are too often reserved only for admin to evaluate. Should be used by Ts for self-eval.
: if anyone can tell me abt fancy tr scheduling I'm all ears!
A2. Best is so hard! Personally helped me refine my teaching & elevate my voice around instructional advocacy.
wow....that's REALLY thorough! Love the educational hashtags link. What a great resource to build PLNs!
A2. PLC was great for training to understand interdependence & how to support each other & ultimately Ss.
Q3: What do you look for when deciding which professional learning opportunities to pursue? https://t.co/iE0ETRDzoA
is amazing! Great resources
https://t.co/BdJ3cFlVoH
wow....that's REALLY thorough! Love the educational hashtags link. What a great resource to build PLNs!
PLCs like formative assessment—it is about the process
A3: Top thing is current job of presenter/facilitator. Looking for ongoing classroom role and consistent engagement with Ss.
A3: Professional learning opportunities are most useful when they reflect the individualized professional goals of teachers
A2: Participating in
in many capacities: a participant, critical friend and leader
A3:Freedom to pursue what interests my current learning curve.
A3: what are my weaknesses as seen through constructive evaluation
A2: Participating in
Just in time learning that is teacher led.
A3: important to make sure individual goals match school goals
A3: I look for whether teachers are presenting. Crazy how often conferences fail to include teachers' voices on session lists.
A3:Opps to push my thinking, connect to content & build upon my skill sets to make a difference for kids. Wary of one-off PDs.
A3
More doing than mere listening AND
it should include long-term growth w/ immediately implementable components
THIS is one big reason why "one size fits all" PD always falls flat.
A1: Stacey Dallas Johnston, HS Eng teacher from Las Vegas, NV.
A3: Opportunities to connect mindsets, values and skills. Sessions with embedded practice!
A3: Also looking for data/evidence of impact on S achievement. Prof learning MUST enhance ability to promote S learning.
always good idea to match individual PD with goals of content teams
is now trending in USA, ranking 44
A3 I look for PD opportunities that leverage teachers to lead the training. Teachers teaching Teachers
A2: my fellowship with the Southern NV Writing project& the work I've done with NWP has been great.
A3. I look for who is providing the opps. I love learning from other Ts. I also look for learning outside of my comfort zone.
forgot to say hi. I am a 10 year MS science teacher, now VP of online STEM ed and career awareness
most of the best PD in my career has been led by classroom teachers. Classroom context matters.
A3. I look for opportunities that require implication. I want to be able to use what I learn to make it meaningful.
A3: Opps for differentiated PD that meets unique needs of teachers. Teachers can self-select
Welcome https://t.co/W9I2FTU2fs
forgot to say hi. I am a 10 year MS science teacher, now VP of online STEM ed and career awareness
what made it good? https://t.co/cPozUyXQMc
A2: my fellowship with the Southern NV Writing project& the work I've done with NWP has been great.
same thing we say about students. Students must see relevance of learning....true for teachers, too!
A3: I want to be able to apply the learning in my classroom/school. Something that will inspire,energize&move learning forward
Do we punish Ss for not learning? Does this say more about the Ss or the learning environment? https://t.co/8VVKzRzHCB
A3: I look for opportunities that are differentiated for teachers and not one size fits all.
Q4: What is necessary to make professional learning more of a process rather than an isolated event?
Q4: What is necessary to make professional learning more of a process rather than an isolated event? https://t.co/qhAZpcdyVY
A3. I look for opportunities that connect me to others. I learn when challenged by others/ working w/ others. Accountability.
A2: POGIL - learning how to facilitate learning by using a learning cycle.
A4
A commitment from admin to support ongoing development w/ group planning & a focus on process/capacity development.
A4: Continue professional learning through collaboration with teachers across districts who have similar interests and goals.
or a much talked about little practiced hiring ploy
A4: have to make sure PD is embedded in everyday practice. Look at it like action research
A4: Willingness of admin to see things through to completion instead of jumping onboard with latest "it" program/trend.
A4b
Leaders have to focus on process more than immediate results. This deters the prescriptive nature or isolated events.
A4. Feedback, engagement, accountability to apply, refine & share. As I learn I should be able to "see" it in my classroom.
A4 We have to get educators to be constant & connected learners. My Connected Educators page https://t.co/LdetJsZOth
A4:Year(s) long apprch, bckwds mapped w/ clear goals. Sessions must build off/feed into ea. other & incl. reflection & collab.
so hard to get space to collaborate WITHIN school...REALLY wish we could get chance to collaborate ACROSS schools!
A4: Consistent cycling; this is no different than how we aim to present learning to students.
A4: ongoing mentoring and observing other teachers classrooms and other schools. Time 2 debrief and integrate ideas into plans
honesty and experimentation, freedom to try new things in a claborative workspace
A3: Active learning on my part, I dislike being lectured to. Research based, proven, led by a teacher or primary source
A4: Teachers given TIME to collaborate and plan. Hard to make PD a process when you rarely get to meet and work!
A4 continue to do what we do well and innovate at the same time
backward design to PD is powerful, but rarely happens. PD often is reactionary rather than proactive.
A4 Tension in prof learning between "something I can do in my class tmrw" and "something that'll affect my practice forever"
I remember being a new teacher and being shocked at how much PD I went to that we later decided to drop or ignore.
A4: Alignment between PD and indiv coaching. Clear outputs and practice. Connection to student data and achievement.
so true, collaborative planning is PD! https://t.co/4wqcgofTXa
A4: Teachers given TIME to collaborate and plan. Hard to make PD a process when you rarely get to meet and work!
takes strong leadership to make this happen. Have to resist pressure to show "immediate" results.
A4: Time and space for authentic PLCs at school and outside of school. Culture that supports experimentation
good PD is aligned to LONG TERM results
A4: Continuous engagement and collaboration of participants with session content.
A4: Research argues for T ownership, relevance, and interaction..makes PD more likely to be sustained. https://t.co/4pmNehfEcQ
This was a CLEAR difference between two different schools I taught at. Everything rises and falls on leadership.
the second goal would be fantastic....but often I'd be satisfied if I could get PD that met the 1st goal!
A4 who embrace change are open to criticism and model the practice of learning
Computer Science PD needs many small steps to enable teachers to teach what they don't know themselves
yes, it is that learning thing! https://t.co/JFSiQoxNSC
Computer Science PD needs many small steps to enable teachers to teach what they don't know themselves
too often PD seems to ignore content learning. Focus on pedagogy/strategies matters...but must keep up w/ content!
nice! https://t.co/RD00h5Ih1N
Learning from a team of teachers,great modeling, opportunity to collaborate. Research, practice, autonomy all at once.
is a unique animal since most teachers learning it have practically no experience in it. https://t.co/1fWPDfluKI
Computer Science PD needs many small steps to enable teachers to teach what they don't know themselves
having taught at 4 schools it has helped see the difference. It is night and day. LEADERSHIP MATTERS
always an important tension between pedagogical content knowledge and pedagogy https://t.co/NZVSbx2SuV
too often PD seems to ignore content learning. Focus on pedagogy/strategies matters...but must keep up w/ content!
Absolutely. Do you have examples of when this has been done well?
experimentation requires freedom to reach beyond "sure thing." Too often drowned out in pursuit of test scores.
A4: application and reflection. Maybe even meeting w/ the instructors& participants later to reflect and recalibrate.
Q5: How can professional development be best designed to promote teacher growth and learning?
Q5: How can professional development be best designed to promote teacher growth and learning? https://t.co/qicp4DSQuY
So true, learning from each other's successes and mistakes is empowering. Especially on shared lessons
A5
PD should be to be interactive AND admin has to support innovative practice — only occurs when fear of failure is removed.
A4: letting the students in on the PD is also important—modeling!
A5: Differentiated PD for teachers promotes growth & learning just as differentiated instruction promotes student growth
A5: PD needs to be teacher developed and aligned to classroom needs. Big reason for success of .
also makes sense because key PD goal is enhanced student learning. They have unique insight on what works!
Q5: We need to expand our definition of PD to include the importance of mentoring and individualized coaching.
modeling plus hold Ts more accountable…less likely to not take it seriously when kids are present :)
A5: Get rid of the 'one and done' model of PD! For real teacher growth and change, must be ongoing and supportive.
A5. Professional Learning should be developed by the Ts, with T input. Learning opportunities should be differentiated.
A4:Coaching aligned to PD can be a game changer for teachers!! https://t.co/dV5Xb8m3ME
A4: Alignment between PD and indiv coaching. Clear outputs and practice. Connection to student data and achievement.
A5:some of the best I've attended was for Ts by Ts.Not a guarantee,but a great place to start.Also Edcamps are a great model.
A5: just like for our students PD needs to be engaging
A5. There should be follow up with learning opportunities. How has the learning impacted your work in the classroom?
THIS!
Ss are different
Ts are different
Why shouldn’t PD embrace best practices of differentiation? https://t.co/UyaFDxw19Q
A5: Differentiated PD for teachers promotes growth & learning just as differentiated instruction promotes student growth
A5: good PD doesn’t feel like an add on—it should feel organic
requires staying the course.Too often, schools move on to the next "big thing" before assessing impact of prior PD.
A5 teach the way we want teachers to teach. We ask 4 student centered then PD teacher centered instruction
A5. Learning opportunities should respect the knowledge Ts bring as well as intentionally push Ts further.
Gotta love it when teacher conversation is so loud that it draws out the Twitter spam!
A5: have to remember that pedagogy is how children learn, androgogy is how adults learn. Don’t confuse
Connected learners leads to collaboration.
https://t.co/3Z3kgErb24
Not yet. My school is just starting down this road, but this is the goal. Not quite at the d10 yard line...
Argh! I mean andragogy! damn spell check! https://t.co/hIG0gyOJdN
A5: have to remember that pedagogy is how children learn, androgogy is how adults learn. Don’t confuse
A3: I look for opportunities that are differentiated for teachers and not one size fits all. MORE >> https://t.co/hqR70DyQik
I agree, but do you agree that PD should embrace effective adult learning strategies?
A5: PD is largely mindset & buy in. Positive adult culture & professionalism in schools is an amplifier for tcher growth/devt.
I agree, but do you agree that PD should embrace effective adult learning strategies?
A5: With supports that allow participants to attend to the learning as a process over time.
A5:Use strategies we use when we teach!! They work with teachers, too!!
why does this never happen?
that is deep. How much more impactful is PD when embraced by the team.
Because if it isn't helping our students, why are we doing it? https://t.co/fh9ljXj5Uc
making sure out PD is always student centered and using the data and voices of our students in designing our classes
Q6: How have online engagement opportunities contributed to your professional learning and growth?
Q6: How have online engagement opportunities contributed to your professional learning and growth? https://t.co/AFNGzapo5z
An easy scapegoat is time, not okay with that! Also at times people don't "ask" for the follow up, yet want it.
Absolutely!! https://t.co/Tdqvcq5wVg
THIS!
Ss are different
Ts are different
Why shouldn’t PD embrace best practices of differentiation? https://t.co/UyaFDxw19Q
A5: Differentiated PD for teachers promotes growth & learning just as differentiated instruction promotes student growth
poor school culture/adult attitudes can kill the very best PD programs.
A6: Online engagement provides a space for collaboration with educators across districts & states on common interests & goals
A6: online helps to start the PD convo but it isn’t enough
A GREAT question for schools to use for self-reflection and evaluation. https://t.co/lv7Ybmzn3m
Because if it isn't helping our students, why are we doing it? https://t.co/fh9ljXj5Uc
making sure out PD is always student centered and using the data and voices of our students in designing our classes
how then to combat that cancer?
A6
Twitter chats are indirectly responsible for my placement as an Einstein Fellow. I'd say online colab has helped me a ton!
A5: Webinars for distance learning; love Twitter chats and FB pages to connect & share with Ts from across the country.
A6: Twitter chats like this one have helped me ID great educators to follow, which has made my Twitter feed ongoing PD!
A6. Online engagement allows me to choose when/how I learn. Provides an opp. to learn from others outside of my context.
that's true of the role of tech in education in general. It is a TOOL, not the teacher.
Q6: Not as much as I think they should! I love the computer and the net, but face to face with other teachers is best!
A6: .'s Stanford Mook, How to Teach Math, changed my life!
Nice. Would love to hear how it goes. Sounds like a great plan.
A6: Stanford MOOCs have a great way of encouraging teacher participants
Culture eats PD for lunch if it is not aligned to teacher needs
A6: Online allows flexibility&I've enjoyed self-pacing, but I do enjoy face-to-face learning.
A6: Love school-wide events like , organized by . Let me see inside many classrooms of great teachers!
A6: Twitter chats have been great tools--aplitchat, for example gave me some great ideas and the chance to guest blog.
take back the power from the nellies
there are some great stuff on blogs....my problem is finding time to read them AND student work!
there in lies the rub—time to read is PD but not recognized by admins and system https://t.co/bLglQNdlWA
there are some great stuff on blogs....my problem is finding time to read them AND student work!
A6: Twitter chats give me instant resources and professional network at my fingertips. https://t.co/VButnAvDYJ
Q6: How have online engagement opportunities contributed to your professional learning and growth? https://t.co/AFNGzapo5z
A6
I’m a huge twitter chat fan, but am increasingly interested in group Google Hangouts. Anyone know of this going on?
A6: networking and connecting
which is funny because no problem IDing reading as homeWORK for students...but not teachers!
I agree. That has been my experience as well.
Bang! Spot on! https://t.co/mgjxUhbFZ5
which is funny because no problem IDing reading as homeWORK for students...but not teachers!
Q7: What are you most excited about doing this summer to engage in professional learning?
A6: having Google classroom helped our whole school be connected
A district near me gives PD credit for twitter chats if you storify participation. https://t.co/pvQnUn1zWa
there in lies the rub—time to read is PD but not recognized by admins and system https://t.co/bLglQNdlWA
there are some great stuff on blogs....my problem is finding time to read them AND student work!
A7: sometimes anticipation from PD experience for the upcoming school year is the most exciting
A7: Excited to READ something other than student papers! Currently loving this great look at learning. https://t.co/OIMsEi5aww
A7
I just finished leading 2 new K-8 teacher PD sessions and have more to come with . I’m stoked!!!
A6: Teach to Lead Teacher Leadership Summit in Minneapolis from July 22nd-24th! And, reading on my own!
Gotta read "End of Average” will impact your view of grading
A7. I am excited to read a few books & attending
A7: Just got home from it...being an AP Reader!
THIS is a GREAT idea. https://t.co/RUpZiMgjyW
A district near me gives PD credit for twitter chats if you storify participation. https://t.co/pvQnUn1zWa
there in lies the rub—time to read is PD but not recognized by admins and system https://t.co/bLglQNdlWA
there are some great stuff on blogs....my problem is finding time to read them AND student work!
just got from Salt Lake Reading last week. ALWAYS a great chance to grow and learn!
Does Danielle Steele count as teacher PD! :)
A7: can't wait for the international literacy association conference! Always good learning!!
Meeeeee tooooo! https://t.co/WQ69QKOagH
A6: Teach to Lead Teacher Leadership Summit in Minneapolis from July 22nd-24th! And, reading on my own!
mental health development is part of professional growth....so it counts!
A7 excited to be giving PD all over southeastern US.
I read this book and loved it. A class on Leadership!
A7: Next up...the CSTA Conference in San Diego...a must for any CS teachers!
Awesome. Thanks for sharing.
