Connecting and Communicating Ideas
The Why
The What and the How
Professional Development is important to ensure the success of my fellow educators. Using the Philosophy of Professional Learning, using the course "Maximizing Learning Potential with Blended Learning and Differentiation in a K-12 Classroom", I believe that educator will not only gain knowledge about the how to properly implement blended learning and how to effectively differentiate work for students while in a blended learning educational environment, they will also feel that they are supported when they implement in their respective classroom. There will be continuous support given by the instructional coach and administrators to make sure that the learning is properly implemented and to give them constructional feedback during the process. They will also still have access to the course materials during the implementation stage.
At Medio Creek Elementary School, change is coming. As a dedicated special education teacher, I've witnessed the strong impact of blended learning with differentiation on my students' academic growth and engagement. It has always been a challenge how the theories can be properly be implemented inside the instructional setting. In my quest to improve teacher training, I turned to professional learning.
Unlike traditional professional development sessions that often feel disconnected from classroom realities, professional learning offers a more immersive and continuous approach. With the support of innovative tools like PowerPoint, google product such as Jam board, Google slides and Google Doc and Canva, I crafted engaging resources to equip educators with the strategies and skills needed to thrive in a blended learning environment. But the journey doesn't stop there. Recognizing the importance of collaboration and continuous growth and development, I compiled my insights into a compelling video message. Addressed to district leaders and administrative staff, this call to action asks for a shift towards professional learning as the foundation of teacher development.
Alternative Professional Learning Title:
Maximizing Learning Protentional with Blended Learning and Differentiation in K-12 Classroom
Call to Action
In the world of education, educator's growth is heavily connected to continuous learning. This is traditionally known as professional development. However, its effectiveness of professional development is heavily questioned. The current trend often involves workshops that need more relevance to educators' needs, leading to educators feeling that their time is wasted and no learning has accrued. To address these shortcomings, there's a push towards "professional learning." Unlike "development," "learning" emphasizes an active and collaborative process, empowering educators to take ownership of their growth journey.
Professional learning focuses on ongoing reflection, experimentation, and collaboration among educators, recognizing the educators' diverse backgrounds, knowledge and skills. It shifts the focus from a one-size-fits-all approach to a personalized and empowering model that enriches teaching practices and student experiences. To prepare for the start of school and cultivate an "educational state of mind," many educators have consciously set aside the previous year and are focusing on rejuvenation. It's noted that our working memory tends to have limitations in retaining information effectively (Phillips, 2014). This reframing signifies a shift towards continuous growth, collaboration, and adaptability—a journey that holds the potential to elevate the quality of education for all.
Alternative Professional Learning Outline
Professional Learning Collaboration
Collaboration is crucial to the success of professional learning. Collaboration is known to boost morale across the organization (Moseley,2019) It can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where participants feel that their voices are heard, valued, and respected, contributing to the professional learning objective. To foster collaboration, the participants will engage in group activities where they will work together to discuss case studies, create a lesson plan, and solve various problems. There will be discussion forums to keep participants engaged. Participants will also be encouraged to give constructive feedback on each other’s work to promote a culture of collaboration, and monthly virtual meetings will help to share experiences and foster real-life interaction opportunities.
Who is in charge?
Professional learning will be a collaborative effort by different individuals to ensure effective collaboration. I will be the course facilitator with the help of the curriculum and instructions team; this means we will provide instructions, guidance, and resources on blended learning. The facilitators will be the curriculum team and administrative staff; their role is to facilitate discussion during collaborative work both in person and online; the facilitators will ensure participants are actively participating, provide them with guidance, and facilitate meaningful exchange of ideas and feedback among the participants. The technical support team will be available to assess any technical difficulties the participants and facilitators might encounter.
Targeted Audience The Professional Learning is targeted for teachers, administrators and instructional coaches. Each on of them will have a crucial role in the implementation process to ensure the success of the Professional Learning
Who are the audience?
Self Directed Learning
Learners will be primarily responsible in fostering self-directed learning. Facilitators will create an environment that is supportive and encouraging to the learners enhance self-directed learning experience. Students will be given clear objectives, several resources and opportunity to collaborate that promotes to critical thinking and experiential learning.
Alternative Professional Learning
Slide deck and course link
Professional Learning Handout/ Course Materials
This Professional Learning will not require the campus nor the district to invest in any significant resource or curriculum aside from what the district or the campus is currently using. The learning materials will be uploaded in the LMS (Canvas) and will be accessible to the participants throughout the school year. Teachers will be expected to use the technology that the district has already provided as Southwest isd is a 1:1 technology ratio for both teachers and students. According to Gulamhussein (2013) it is the cost of the time the teachers spending in a Professional Development that will cost the greatest.
Join the PL Class- Workshop and Implementation Phase
If you already have a Canvas account, you can follow this link to view my course:
https://canvas.instructure.com/enroll/8PNXTH
If you do not have a canvas account you can sign up for a free account at https://canvas.instructure.com/register
and join the code: 8PNXTH