Effective Professional Leadership
The ADL program at Lamar University has inspired me to find more effective methods to ensure that all students I work with can fully benefit from their educational experiences within the primary education system. Thus was born my blended learning proposal for implementing blended learning in the classroom. Over time, my audience has expanded from the individual students I interact with to a broader range of students I aim to reach. Consequently, my focus this semester has been on developing an efficient professional learning program for educators. This initiative aims not only to equip them with the necessary knowledge to implement a blended learning environment but also to instill the conviction essential for the heartfelt execution of a learning experience that benefits every student with genuine fidelity. The overarching goal of my professional learning course is to empower educators to create true differentiation in an elementary classroom setting through a blended learning initiative, transitioning away from traditional instructional methods.
I currently contend that the traditional approach to professional development is inadequate in yielding optimal results. Below, you will find a video that articulates the necessity for reform in professional development practices. To enhance outcomes, I have created a professional learning plan, distinguishing it from the conventional courses we have previously attended. This professional learning course will include hands-on workshops, collaborative planning sessions, and access to a wealth of digital resources designed to support the integration of technology into daily teaching practices. Additionally, unlike the professional development courses we as educators often attend, this course will emphasize continuous reflection and feed-forward encouraging learners to adapt and refine their teaching strategies. Ongoing support will be implemented throughout and beyond the implementation of blended learning. By building a community of practice and support among educators, I aim to create a supportive network where teachers can share successes, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate progress together. Lastly, this course is meant to take place throughout the course of a school year to give educators a sufficient amount of time to obtain the knowledge and skills needed for successful implementation ensuring that every child receives the attention and resources they need to succeed.
My purpose for wanting to change the layout of our current professional development programs is to ensure that the information provided is actually beneficial. As the years pass pd the change in pd has gone from going and and listening to someone talk to gain new information to becoming more interactive. Now we are required to breakout into groups. We are required to create anchor charts and practice new ideas. The problem is the end result for previous pd and the pd of today is the same. Teachers leave the room and may try to implement an idea once or twice and then go back to what they are comfortable with. Most complain about it being a waste of time.. Handouts go into a pile never to be seen again. The vast amount of information is sometimes too much to handle and ends up never being used..
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What then is the purpose of professional development?
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It is known that learning is a lifelong process. There is always room for improvement. There are new ideas and better ways that can produce better results everyday. Professional development courses for our teachers is an important aspects for educators. It can ensure that as our world evolves, teachers do so to.. Each generation learns and responds differently and in order to reach our students we have to change our teaching tactics to keep up with their learning needs and desires.