6 SMART Tips for Effective Professional Development

This summer my department partnered with technology companies (such as PBS Learning, Google, and SMART Technologies) that provide resources used and loved by NYCDOE teachers to provide an innovative professional learning experience. The goal of the program was to create and connect teachers across the district who are power-users of the same resources so they could become area experts supporting others back in their school and districts.

What was terrific about the partnership is that these companies really came to life with real people building relationships with our staff to support them and help them grow. In the end it was a win, win. The participants loved this type of learning. Our partners enjoyed the new connections and communities they were able to build and they will be expanding this work to other districts as well. 

Here are six tips for SMART professional development opportunities.

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Inspirational Videos Help You Frame Focus + Follow Up Professional Development

If you are looking for inspirational videos to spruce up professional development at your school this year, you have to look no further than "The Brainwaves" video anthology which features videos on a myriad of topics from innovative educators.

The videos are free and generally run between 5 - 10 minutes. Should you decide to use them, you may want to follow these guidelines from WNET for using digital media in the classroom.

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10 Innovative Ideas To Provide Time for Professional Development and Collaborative Learning

Finding time for teachers to meet and learn together is often very difficult, but a resourceful school team can utilize creative ideas that have worked well in other schools.  It is important to put these structures in place early in the year.

Here are some ideas for providing time for educators to learn together.

1. Provide teachers on a particular grade level or who teach a common subject with a shared prep so they can plan and study together.
2. Invite teachers to determine how their shared preps can be used for any study group they can imagine.
3. Organize some regular large group activities for children.  Some schools have a weekly K-2 sing-along run by the music teacher on Friday mornings, allowing K-2 teachers to meet in a weekly study group.  On Friday afternoons, an activity for the upper grades could be planned.  Other schools organize large group gym activities, like Olympics or Field Days, run by the gym teachers and educational assistants.
   

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