Summer has come and as an educator it is a time for learning. This summer I dove head first into my first TASSP (Texas Association of Secondary School Principals) conference. I had the pleasure of meeting with the amazing Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a Pirate. His passion was contagious. The whole room was enamored with Dave's hooks, enthusiasm, and stories. Multiple times I caught myself with my mouth wide-open.
After having my world rocked by Dave and his presentation, I immediately started reflecting. How am I creating experiences for my team like Dave does for his students? Am I? Why am I not? What is getting in the way? Am I asking the right questions?
If I am going to be honest, I really did not create the experiences that I desired for my faculty. I wish I asked the question, "how can I create a learning experience?"
What if professional development was more than a fun team building activity? What if we really created a time where teachers could grow professionally? I imagine to make that happen we must provide choice, customization, and allow for loads of creativity. The idea of holding an EdCamp style PD would be the ticket to allowing teachers to have more autonomy in their learning and less mandates to when to complete training "X", "Y", and "Z".
As we progress and get ready for our teachers to return, I hope we move towards to a choice style PD and escape from the scripted one-size fits all training sessions.
Lets ask the question, "what do I need to do in order to engage my teachers in a learning experience that is so rich that keeps them from being buried in their devices?"
After having my world rocked by Dave and his presentation, I immediately started reflecting. How am I creating experiences for my team like Dave does for his students? Am I? Why am I not? What is getting in the way? Am I asking the right questions?
If I am going to be honest, I really did not create the experiences that I desired for my faculty. I wish I asked the question, "how can I create a learning experience?"
What if professional development was more than a fun team building activity? What if we really created a time where teachers could grow professionally? I imagine to make that happen we must provide choice, customization, and allow for loads of creativity. The idea of holding an EdCamp style PD would be the ticket to allowing teachers to have more autonomy in their learning and less mandates to when to complete training "X", "Y", and "Z".
As we progress and get ready for our teachers to return, I hope we move towards to a choice style PD and escape from the scripted one-size fits all training sessions.
Lets ask the question, "what do I need to do in order to engage my teachers in a learning experience that is so rich that keeps them from being buried in their devices?"