Planning

A district professional learning plan provides the opportunity to establish short- and long-term professional learning goals for instruction, to articulate how professional learning will take place, and delineates desired outcomes. Approaching professional learning planning comprehensively allows districts to achieve efficiencies and reduce redundancy across schools. Districts with successful professional learning initiatives typically align goals, activities and outcomes across their departments, schools, and district. A professional learning plan should include the following essential elements: needs assessment; goal setting; and evaluation of success.

Needs Assessment

As with any plan, an early needs assessment can help focus professional learning efforts on activities that reflect gaps and priorities for classroom instruction related to digital learning. A clear understanding of learning needs also provides concrete outcomes or targets for professional learning opportunities and typically provides insight into the best methods for accomplishing these goals.

Resources

• Learning Forward’s Professional Learning Plans Workbook
• Maryland Teacher Professional Development Planning Guide
• Wisconsin’s Writing a Professional Development Plan (PDP)
• ISTE Standards

• CCSSO’s Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium Learning Progressions (InTASC)
• Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Framework (TPACK)
• Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition Model (SAMR) and Curriculum Redesign
• ASCD’s Five Levels of Professional Development Evaluation
• Texas Teacher School Technology and Readiness “STaR” Chart

From Policy to Practice

The state of Virginia funds one instructional technology (IT) resource teacher for every 1000 students across the state. The districts have the flexibility to employ an integration specialist, a data analysis specialist or a combination integration/data analysis specialist.

More

The role of the resource teacher is to work directly with teachers and administrators to integrate technology in the classroom, to train teachers to use technology effectively, and to assist with curriculum development as it relates to educational technology. Leaders use management systems to provide online and hybrid professional development sessions to schools. Web 2.0 tools such as blogs and wikis help foster participation and collaboration and the development of 21st Century skills.

One of the most important components in the transformation to digital learning is ensuring that educators have adequate training to effectively use digital tools and applications. Sustainable professional learning models, geared specifically to support teachers in student centered, digital learning environments can positively impact the teaching and learning experiences. Increased digital learning opportunities for students and educators demands a systemic approach to professional learning that supports teachers throughout their careers. Professional learning that takes place as an ongoing process, based on relevant research is the key to  ensuring high-quality, relevant, college and career ready learning experiences for students. In addition to providing professional learning opportunities for teachers and administrators, districts and schools should prepare a professional learning plan for non-instructional staff. All staff members will need to utilize the digital tools and resources  in some capacity and should be adequately trained.

Resources

• Standards for Professional Learning Resources
• Professional Learning in a Digital Age
• Culture Shift: Teaching in a Learner-Centered Environment Powered by Digital Learning
• National Education Technology Plan 2010 (NETP)
• Empowering Educators through Professional Learning Toolkit
• Navigating the Digital Shift
• State Digital Learning Exemplars

Facilitator Guide

The Facilitator Guide – Professional Learning provides education leaders with the information and resources they need to conduct a professional learning session. Participants will:

• Learn more about professional learning strategies.
• Complete the professional learning readiness assessment.
• Discuss the results of the assessment with your peers and strategize ways to improve professional learning in your school/district.
• Learn best practices from your colleagues.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other district and state leaders.

• Facilitator Guide – Professional Learning Slides