Professional development
should be what we as educators strive toward in our careers. For me personally
I receive a lot of my professional development at yearly music educator
conferences where speakers and program leaders give sessions on everything from
new innovative techniques and ideas for the classroom, to going into detail for
education resources. One of the most useful things I learned at these
conferences was on the computer program Smart Music, a program that allows
students to explore a wide range of musical literature as well as improve their
musicianship.
I find these music
conferences to be an excellent professional development courses, especially for
music educators such as myself, primarily because it is run by other music
educators from a variety of schools, leadership positions, and backgrounds,
giving us conferences goers a wealth of experience to learn from and absorb.
My PD strategy for my TI
Initiative I plan on using establishing
a “community of practice” where educators are engaged in learning through technology together to improve
technology integration into the curriculum. It is my belief that using this “community of
practice” is key in maintaining professional development. I think the biggest
challenge facing me is actually being a manager. I am by nature not by inspiration,
but realizing people’s natural strengths.
“Brand-ed” School
Leadership is the showcasing of a schools positive features, as well as what
sets it apart from other schools. This can come in the form of the schools professional
brand, or a school leader’s personal brand. Branding as a form a leadership has
come into prominence with the popularity of social media, where it is becoming
increasingly easy for school leaders to establish their schools brand, as well
as keeping the public aware of developments within the school.
I have very little actual
experience with PLN’s in an online way, with the exception of these courses.
Off-line even though I am not part of the school system my current employment
at a local music store that provides to all the most schools in North Central
West Virginia has allowed me to for close ties and relationships with many of
the state’s music educators, in all levels of the school system. That being
said, I think that using PLN’s in the workplace to promote professional growth
and development is a great idea, and one that I am open to using in the future.
I think the fact that you get to attend a yearly music educator conference is great! I think that each subject has it's own way of being taught, and so it would have its only special meeting. I am kinda on the same page as you with the PLN topic. I also don't work in a public school, so I don't have that connection that teachers could have. I have my own personal social media accounts, but I don't use them for education purposes (only this blog). I think that they would definitely be useful and benificial and something that I too plan on being part of in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe conference that you are able to attend sounds like it would be very beneficial to you! I wish that there were more conferences offered for the different subjects taught in a school. I would really like to go to a library media conference in the near future but I have not heard about any being offered. Your professional development "community of practice" sounds like it would be great for all teachers. Everyone needs practice with looking at using new types of technology. I agree with your thoughts on Branding and I think that by having their own Brand, a school could get a lot of positive feedback. Once you have a Brand and it is out there as long as everyone is positive toward it then I think it is very beneficial for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree that conferences are great professional development. Especially ones with same content teachers. These offer "related arts" teachers like me (in art) opportunities to network with teachers, exchange lesson ideas and share experiences. We grow and learn from each other and work collaboratively through problems and questions. I attend conferences when I can and I always leave energized and feeling excited about what I learned. Conferences at least in art also allow the teachers to become the students again and learn and play in a stress free environment. We don't have to focus on if every student grasped the knowledge or needs re-teaching. We just worry about our projects and sharing with others collaboratively. I absolutely love the break it provides me with - everyone needs brain breaks and conferences are a group professional development source for that.
ReplyDeleteBrandon,
ReplyDeleteGreat conferences can be very inspiring and leave you with a renewed sense of doing and making a difference, I totally get that, but I also sometimes find the same rejuvination right in front me... my students. When they are really struggling with a concept we have been teaching and teaching (that I know they really need) it inspires me to rethink (not just the how but also the what) the lessons and try to find a different approach or how sometimes the simplest word will be said to trigger an "AHHA" moment for the class. I agree with you too... conferences can be a place to find or be exposed to a great new tool that has the potential to really impact student achievement... cool tools are... well COOL!
Brandon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for describing your current Professional Learning experiences. I’m going to checkout Smart Music, and ask the music teacher at my school if he’s aware of the program.
A community of practice is a great way to develop a collaborative school-community to help improve and support any initiative. I really hope you consider a PLN, with the connections and relationships you are currently building, you could offer a lot to a social media platform. Nice post!