Professional+Development

=== There are many ways to promote **Professional Development** in schools, to implement curriculum, and train educators. These tasks are much easier when the technology available is utilized. This page is meant to be a collection of information gained from research on this topic. ===

Just as cassette tapes are not longer used to listen to music, VCR tapes are outdated when it comes to movies, paper and pencil are not as common to use as methods of communicating and implementing professional development in schools. In fact, the paper and pencil method is inefficient with all of the opportunities we have available. We will explore three big questions.


 * What tools are available? **
 * What information and resources should we use? **
 * What are some strategies and ideas? **

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Since curriculum mapping is essential to effective curriculum implementation and professional development needs to follow the same type of planning guide, the curriculum mapping resources that are available for individual courses can be used to map our professional development curriculum, as well. The curriculum must have goals and stay focused on those goals throughout (Laureate, 2010); the best way to do that is to map the path. Mapping curriculum can be a simple task depending on the program used. Some tools to help in this matter can be found at: =====


 * ===== Curriculummapper.com =====
 * ===== Rubicon.com =====
 * ===== Educationworld.com =====
 * ===== Schoolsoftwaregroup.com =====

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To train educators in professional development, there are many ways to help them understand what is needed. Something as simple as the DVD’s that we watch in this class would be useful. There are other resources for information that could be used, such as: ======

Wikis- webpages where information can be shared and audited by anyone that has been granted access
Professional Development Information and Resources:

Some of the best ideas about professional development come from this particular course, EDUC 7220. Some of those resources where information can be gathered would be:

Hargreaves, A. (2007). Sustainable leadership and development in education: Creating the future, conserving the past. //European Journal of Education//, //42//(2), 223//–//233.

Martin-Kneip, G. O. (2008). //Communities that learn, lead, and last: Building and sustaining educational expertise//. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Ornstein, A. C., & Hunkins, F. P. (2009). Curriculum: Foundation, principles, and issues (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Rasberry, M., & Mahajan, G. (2008). From isolation to collaboration: Promoting teacher leadership through PLCs. //Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ)//, 1//–//24.

Use the ERIC database, and search using the article's title.

Reeves, D. B. (2009). //Leading change in your school: How to conquer myths, build commitment, and get results.// Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

==== When participating in professional development, the most important aspect is understanding what goes into it, how it works most effectively, and the communication while it continues. To encourage communication, there are many technological tools that can be used effectively; some of those tools do not seem new at all, such as e-mail, blogging, webpages, podcasts, and videos. Presentations or information can be recorded when the time is convenient and used on the part of the second party when the time is opportune so that it maximizes learning within the group of educators. ====

Strategies and Suggestions for Professional Development:
==== There are many suggestions for the implementation and the training of educators. One great suggestion was that of presentation portfolios. These can be kept online for ease of viewing no matter how much distance separates you or what time constraints each participant has. Portfolios can be a way of communication of new ideas. Since we should always be upgrading outdated material, this could be a way for teachers to share what he or she has done to progress in their content area or in the classroom alone. Dr. Hayes Jacobs said that if we are not progressing forward, we are in some way declining. We are either in a state of growth or a state or deterioration. The portfolios are an excellent way to help us stay connected in our passion as educators, in our professional growth, and in our personal and professional accomplishments that help us move forward. ====