Professional Learning Log November 2013

SD57 had some great professional development opportunities on our Nov 29th Pro-D Day.

Taking kids outside for nature-based learning, presentation & discussion on project-based learning, exploring and addressing the reality of poverty, bootcamp for TTOCs, assistive technology... just a sample of the events promoted across the district. There were lots of workshops and organized PD that were site-based, or part of small groups, and a SmartLearning literary focus for one "family of schools." No doubt many individual teachers stuck it out alone, catching up on professional reading, taking a closer look at teaching & learning problem, or conducting inquiry. Maybe you made something, or taught somebody something, or challenged your own thinking.

Outside of our inner circles, we so seldom hear from each other about our professional learning on Pro-D days... it would be great to hear what you got up to on Friday. Consider leaving a comment below that describes briefly what you learned or got out of the Nov 29th Pro-D Day, and maybe a bit about the context.

Nov 29th PD Opportunities

There are a number of great opportunities lining up for professional development on the Nov 29th PD day (sign up on the Firstclass "PD ReG" feature):

• Project-Based Learning -- guest "Skype" presenters from Calgary and a PBL Edcamp; lunch provided (@PGSS Library) 
• Clicker 6 -- Hands On workshop for use of a "UDL" tool for special needs students and others in developing reading & writing (@Westwood) 
• Elementary Core French -- discussion and ongoing inquiry for matching instructional design to Core French ELOs (@Peden Hill) 
• Sub-Conscious TTOC mini-conference -- assessment, classroom management, Daily 5, support programs, classroom technology; lunch provided (@ D.P. Todd) 
• Below Zero -- connecting kids with nature... outdoor ed/nature play/environmental awareness, UNBC facilitators (@ Pinewood) 
• Foodsafe Level 1 Certification -- two sessions, one by Ab Ed dep't, one for general audience (@ SBO, Duchess) 
• Aboriginal Coaching Modules -- working with Aboriginal youth and athletes (@ Nusdeh Yoh) 
• Assistive Technology -- working with Boardmaker (@ Duchess) 
• Poverty: Exploring our Reality -- participant discussion and community panel (@ Van Bien) 
• Behaviour Intervention Strategies -- Ed Assistants and Youth Care Workers welcome (@ SBO) 

And some more that are not on "PDReg" -- contact the organizer to register:

• Printmaking - part of a Day of Art -- contact Val Wright (@Heather Park)
• Smart Learning with Susan Close -- follow-up on the work done the day before w/ Foothills, Quinson, Heritage -- contact Sarar McGuffie (@ Foothills)
• English Language Learners (ELL) teachers afternoon workshop -- lunch at Moxies, then Edcamp/Idea and Resource Sharing -- contact Tennys Scott (@PGSS) 
• Pre-Employment Program (PEP) teachers morning workshop -- resource review "7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEENS" -- contact Gerry Chidiac (@Duchess ) 

Let the PD Coordinator know if you have other submissions or would like your school-based PD event shared with/for others. I'll update a little closer to Nov 29th.

Still looking for something to do? Here are some suggestions: http://sd57pd.blogspot.ca/2013/11/varieties-of-pd.html 

Don't forget, these 5 PD days we have each year are for your professional development. They represent the formal PD time that adds to all the informal PD you do through-out the year. They are 100% up to you as professionals to decide how to use (within some contractual goal-posts and generally accepted definitions of what constitutes PD). Know what PD means, what you want to get out of a PD day, and use them well! The PD Committee would love to hear how your Nov 29th day goes -- feel free to share your story.

Varieties of PD

Last week we had a fantastic Pro-D Rep Training session at the Van Bien T&D centre with BCTF facilitator Donna Bulmer. We had our best turnout in a decade -- 22 teachers school PD Reps and PD Committee members. Our agenda: explore the nature/purpose/possibility of PD models, growth plans, teacher inquiry, professional learning communities, and issues in professional development.

The feedback indicated that the PD reps each had a few new perspectives on how professional learning could be supported in their schools, and some fresh ideas on how to individual and group inquiry.

One of the "take-aways" was a reminder of the variety of forms that PD can take. Here were some suggestions:

1. Attend a conference/workshop locally.
2. Attend a conference/workshop regionally/provincially/nationally/internationally.
3. Attend a workshop/conference or summer institute/course.
4. Be a sponsor teacher for a student teacher.
5. Become a BCTF PD associate, and carry on the Teachers Teaching Teachers Tradition.
6. Become a BCTF Program Against Racism or Status of Women Program associate, and carry on the Teachers Teaching Teachers Tradition.
7. Become active in your local association.
8. Becoming a facilitator, and give a workshop locally, regionally, or provincially.
9. Begin/continue university studies.
10. Develop innovative programs for use in your classroom.
11. Develop an annual personal PD plan, and maintain a PD portfolio.
12. Explore the possibilities of bringing the BCTF’s Program for Quality Teaching to your local.
13. Form/join a teacher research group.
14. Participate in group planning.
15. Hop on the Internet through BCTF Online or another PD site.
16. Job-shadow in a related work situation.
17. Join a professional organization/network: Provincial specialist association (33 within the BCTF),  Local specialist association/Local Chapter of a PSA, International network (ASCD, MSCD)
18. Mentor a beginning teacher.
19. Observe another teacher, and talk together about the lesson/program.
20. Participate in curriculum development.
21. Pilot curriculum/program.
22. Read professional literature.
23. Reflect, discuss, and research for the purpose of planning individual or group ongoing professional development.
24. Develop the discipline of reflective journal keeping.
25. Serve as your school’s PD representative.
26. Share with colleagues what you found at a conference/workshop.
27. Subscribe to/read professional journals.
28. Watch professional videos.
29. Work on a provincial committee (MoE or BCTF).
30. Work on the Local Ed-Change Committee.
31. Work on your local’s PD committee.
32. Work with a colleague to discuss, observe, and critique a lesson/program (peer coaching).
33. Write professional articles for your local’s newsletter, your PSA’s publications, or Teacher newsmagazine.

Source: Tools for Self-directed Professional Development - http://www.bctf.ca/ProfessionalDevelopment.aspx?id=6380

To this list, I would add a few personal favourites:

1. Use a face-to-face get-together to "unpack, mull, and fuse" -- make sense of the professional learning and teaching stories that have occurred over the last month.
2. Use Social Media (like Twitter) to engage with a personal learning network, scan educational links and articles, or join live chats with other educators.
3. Map out an educational ecosystem -- lay out a big poster and make lists, webs, and sketches of what's happening in a teaching context (class, dep't, school): values, goals, evidence of progress, schemes, unifying projects, new roles for parents, observations on inclusion and differentiation, etc.

Feel free to leave a comment and share unique things you do to support your professional learning.