Online PD
Educators' professional learning is increasingly done online. Learn more about online PD, including how well it works
Professional Development
CTQ Collaboratory
How Teachers Can Benefit From Virtual Learning Communities
Virtual learning communities can be a way for educators to connect, collaborate, and improve both their individual and collective practice, Jessica Cuthbertson writes.
Education
Opinion
Online PD Won't Work If It's Not Job-Embedded
A former New York City PD director and blended learning specialist weighs in on online learning for teachers.
Professional Development
Online Teacher-Coaching Services on the Rise
To help hone their skills and improve their classroom practice, a growing number of teachers are getting help from virtual-coaching services, according to a story in the Hechinger Report this week.
Professional Development
Opinion
Why Teachers Are Migrating to Online Communities for PD
Since joining online learning communities, the writing I jot down on discussion forums, blogs, and Twitter, for example, far extend my thinking beyond what's in my personal notebooks. My MiddleWeb blog, Two Teachers in the Room, keeps me connected with many educators like myself who are striving to strengthen their co-teaching practices in inclusion classrooms. I am taking charge of the kind of learning that can easily translate into best practices during my daily interactions with colleagues and students. I have learned to hear my voice, to share my voice, and to encourage others around me to share theirs. For me this professional development in the truest sense.
Professional Development
Opinion
Virtual-Learning Communities: The Silver Bullet for Teacher PD?
Motivated, reflective teachers may do well in a completely virtual learning environment. But I wonder: Will the average overburdened teacher be able commit the time and mental energy needed to make the most out of a virtual environment? Will some teachers expend minimal effort to satisfy requirements instead of taking the active role that is necessary for productive online learning? Can online learning be truly effective for the average teacher without some degree of face-to-face (or at least voice-to-voice) interaction? Those are questions worth thinking about in connection with inititiatives to scale up and formalize virtual learning within school PD systems.
Professional Development
Opinion
Autonomy and Collaboration: The Strengths of Online Teacher PD
While educational literature continues to promote personalized, differentiated learning for students, teacher PD ironically remains one dimensional and is often created with very little teacher input. With the proliferation of online communities, webinars, and educational chats, school districts shouldn't have to settle for the old practice of a "sit-and-get" for their professionals. Promoting online learning communities as formalized professional development honors teachers' autonomy, professionalism, and commitment to life-long learning.
Professional Development
Opinion
Learning to Network, Networking to Learn
Whether you check out your twitter feed or walk down the hallway to talk to a colleague about your ideas and questions, when you open yourself and your classroom to new ideas, your students benefit greatly.
Professional Development
Opinion
The Value of Connection: Bringing the World Into Classrooms
I didn't know I was unconnected until I got connected. I thought I was doing just fine, I read some education books, I had some new ideas, and I spoke to my colleagues. I thought I was connected but I really didn't know what that meant. I didn't realize that there were other ways to share, other ways to be inspired, other ways to be challenged. I didn't realize that there was a whole global community of educators who were reaching out to one another, pushing each other forward, teaching and reaching for a better way to do education.
Curriculum
Benefits of Online, Face-to-Face Professional Development Similar, Study Finds
Researchers found similar effects on student learning and teacher behavior regardless of whether teachers took part in online or face-to-face professional development.
Teacher Preparation
Rapid Rise Seen in Use of Digital Tools for PD
Teachers and principals are becoming increasingly comfortable using online tools to hone their professional skills, according to a new survey.
Classroom Technology
New 'MOOC' Model for Online PD Offers Diverse Course Lineup
Coursera's efforts to bring "MOOCs," massively open online courses, to teacher education will begin with 28 courses.
Classroom Technology
Rapid Rise Seen in Educators' Use of Digital Tools for PD
The number of teachers and principals using a variety of online tools for professional development has jumped significantly, according to a new survey.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Scaling PD in a New Online World
Traditionally, professional development is heavily linked to teacher raises and/or benefits. Unfortunately, these online tools are not particularly traditional, and thusly do not as a free product yield the fruits of an established, in person (expensive) professional development provider. There is less incentive for the average teacher to test these interesting waters, and while they may not be the ultimate solution, they are undoubtedly shaping the path to true customizable, anytime PD solutions for our teachers. Doesn't it make perfect sense to give our teachers as much access to improvement as they could possibly want?
Standards & Accountability
Common Core Raises Profile of Virtual PD
Ongoing and effective professional development is critical, experts say, and technology holds the key to providing deep learning experiences for teachers that can be scaled across state borders.
