Professional Learning: What works?

     In my experience, most PL is ineffective because of the "one size fits all" approach to teacher inservices. Up until the last 5 years, our district PD has been geared toward core teachers, and EVERYONE had to sit through it, even if it did not pertain to their subject. WE were required to attend a certain number of PD workshops throughout the year, which meant we had to secure a sub and leave our students. IF we could not get a sub, then we were stuck with not getting to go and having to figure out how we were going to make up the learning.  

    Over the last few years, however, our district has embedded Content Focus Sessions into our academic calendar at least once a six weeks.on these days, our students get the day off, eliminating the need for subs (a HUGE savings for the district), and giving teachers time to collaborate with other content teachers across the district (i.e., all secondary ELAR meet together,all math, etc. ) This model allows us to address content specific needs and make sure that we are aligning vertically as well as horizontally across the district. As an elective teacher, this PL model has been much more engaging and prescriptive. Furthermore, we have technology specialists who attend our PLCs once a month to help us with digital learning tools that we can use in our lessons. 

    Because of COVID, our district (like many others) has had to adapt our teaching methods to accommodate virtual, face-to-face, and blended learning students. This has forced our teachers to be more open to learning technology than ever before. Because I consider myself to be a "high flier," I have had an easier time with this transition. I consider myself to be a digital leader on my campus; however, most of the teachers on our campus are low-tech and average tech users.  As I think about our approach to digital learning PL, our district still teaches to the low tech teacher, which leaves the high fliers a bit frustrated.  I am hoping that I will be able to come up with a plan that will differentiate PL for teachers, just as we are expected to differentiate for our students. If teachers can personalize their PL, then they will be more apt to own their learning... and isn't that what we want for our students as well?