Shaping the PEI Learning Landscape

    Professional development is an integral part of any career.  One must always have a growth mindset that encourages us to be curious and explore new knowledge or techniques. “Professional development describes programs that enable educators to improve their own teaching — both by learning new teaching tyles, tips and techniques, as well as subject areas; and by interacting with expert instructors and experienced educators in the program of their choice.” (University of San Diego, 2024). However, the time needed for professional growth always conflicts with the everyday tasks of the job.  I myself am guilty of being in the middle of a presentation and silently wishing I could be doing something that needs to be done rather than listening to the presentation.  The presentation may be helpful, but it may also mean that my family time at home on the weekend will be compromised because I didn’t finish a task that needed to be done that week. I always keep this in mind when I have learning that I feel would be helpful for our staff.  

    Professional development needs are different for every teacher.  It’s important to make everyone aware of your services and give them choices in what may be the most beneficial for them. The goal is to improve student outcomes; therefore, “it is important for educational leaders to provide access to high-quality professional development that offers a timely response to individual needs. Each learning opportunity should demand thoughtful consideration to ensure it is the most appropriate option to support teacher growth.” (Frontline Education, 2024).  Some ways to gather information on what is needed are to create a Google form, request feedback from grade levels on what is most pertinent to them, or to align presentations with the school's educational goals.  Teachers need to see how this will impact their teaching in the short and long term to be engaged in what you are presenting.

    Building strong relationships with your teachers is an integral part of providing meaningful professional development.  Just as you adapt your teaching for certain students, it is also important to know what may or may not work for your teachers. It’s important that they see you as a trusted professional who will be there to help guide them through the process whenever needed without judgment. This is especially important for those new teachers who may be struggling to meet all the perceived demands of the job. For that reason,  I’ve always appreciated professional development that provided me with slides, support documents, or videos to refer back to when I have an issue or need a quick refresher.  I also think it’s important to collaborate to create lessons that teachers can use with their classes.  This is often where I personally get stuck.  While I might see the value in what I have learned, the time to change what I have been doing to something else will probably require me to do it on my own time.

    Finally, professional development should be simple and direct, be ongoing, and offer opportunities for feedback and discussion. We should commit to allowing the proper time for the information we have presented to be mastered.  Too often, we present something one time and don’t allow our teachers the time needed to digest and implement the learning with our continued support.  We as librarians need time to listen to feedback and self-reflect on what we liked about the presentation and what we would present differently next time. It’s also important to suggest where they may find further information, such as blogs, webinars, books, social media, or academic courses.

     As colleagues, continued collaboration will no doubt benefit our students but also ourselves. It feels good to have others to rely on when we need them.  Being part of something that has improved our students' learning experience can be very rewarding, and no doubt, it is our goal each and every day. 

Works Consulted

10 strategies for effective teacher professional development (with examples). University of San Diego - Professional & Continuing Education. (2024). https://pce.sandiego.edu/10-strategies-for-effective-teacher-professional-development-with-examples/ 

5 ways to make teacher professional development effective (& 7 powerful resources). prodigygame.com. (2023, June 15). https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/teacher-professional-development/ 

Cox, J. (2019). Professional Development Graphic. 15 Professional Development Skills for Modern Teachers. Retrieved from https://www.teachhub.com/professional-development/2019/11/15-professional-development-skills-for-modern-teachers/. 

Effective professional learning strategies (that actually work). Frontline Education. (2024, May 15). https://www.frontlineeducation.com/professional-learning/ 

Teacher Professional Development Discussion. (2019). https://neeadvantage.com/blog/teacher-professional-development-3-activity-ideas-for-school-leaders/. Retrieved June 2024, from https://neeadvantage.com/blog/teacher-professional-development-3-activity-ideas-for-school-leaders/.