What are your thoughts about effective professional development strategies?
This week’s readings game me a chance to reflect on the trainings that I have had throughout my career. I am new to Adult Basic Education, with the bulk of my teaching experience coming from the non-profit after school workshop model, so I haven’t had much experience in formal professional development. One thing I really appreciate about my work now is that I am encouraged (and required) to participate in professional development. With that said, I still am finding most of this to be in a one day workshop format. However, I have always been good at seeking out informal mentorships, and feel the bulk of my teacher training has been in mentorships.
I think mentors and coaches are great professional development strategies but must be used wisely. Mentorships, for example, are used in my local school district for newer teachers. However, I have spoken to several teachers who find this to be a hindrance more than helpful. I think matching personality types in mentor to teacher, and setting clear objectives are a key to making this work. One newer teacher, for example, was paired with the retired teacher she replaced with no consideration given to teaching styles. I believe that mentorship failed because the new teacher had no say in who would become her mentor. With that said, I think choice and the right climate/school culture could make mentoring/coaching a great option for professional development.
In my role as an Adult Basic Education instructor, I believe coaching/mentoring could be a more practical strategy for me personally because I am geographically isolated from my peers, and make PLCs challenging to participate in. However, I would really welcome the opportunity to participate in a small group PLC, because I think that I could benefit from the wider support that could offer at this time.
What is the PD strategy or strategies you plan to use in your Technology Initiative?
I really love the idea of Learning Communities. I think it could be incredibly useful and satisfying to be able to get together with a small group of my peers to brainstorm, create, experiment and revise lesson plans and teaching strategies. However, I struggle to figure out how to use this in an effective manner in my work because I am geographically isolated from my peers. I am the only full-time ABE teacher in my county, and this is true in most of the rural counties in the state. I wonder if having virtual meetings or having a virtual learning community is sustainable. I think I would like to explore this idea further, and maybe let it serve as the basis for my Technology Initiative (If that makes sense?).
Please also share any literature or resources you are using to refine your focus and develop your plan.
Technology-Based Projects and Resources for Adult Basic Education
A forum that shares suggestions and teacher experiences in various platforms for teacher collaboration:
Choosing a platform for teacher collaboration
Building and maintaining an online professional learning community
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