Building a Culture of Learning

Outline

This fast-paced session will begin with a brief introduction (5 minutes) that outlines the session's objectives: reimagining professional development (PD) to make it more accessible, engaging, and continuous. The introduction will highlight key themes, such as innovation, accessibility, and fostering a sustainable culture of learning, while aligning with ISTE standards.

We will then explore how to establish a shared vision for PD (15 minutes), focusing on strategic planning that enhances accessibility and engagement through technology. This section will address how to create a PD framework that is flexible and responsive to the needs of educators while overcoming common challenges like time and resource constraints.

Next, the session will cover how to overcome barriers to PD (15 minutes) by leveraging technology for flexible, on-demand learning opportunities. We will discuss real-life solutions such as self-paced courses, webinars, and creative incentives that keep educators motivated to engage in ongoing professional development.

In the next segment (20 minutes), I will demonstrate practical tools for technology-enhanced PD, showing how they can be used to create meaningful, flexible learning experiences for educators. Real-world examples of successful PD models like Ed Tech Tuesday and Webinar Wednesday will also be presented to show how these tools can be applied in practice.

Finally, to conclude (5 minutes), we will explore how to foster continuous learning and empower teachers to take ownership of their PD. I will highlight teacher-led PD initiatives such as the Collab Lab and Learning and Technology Showcase, where educators take the lead in their own development. The session will wrap up with a quick recap of key takeaways and a brief Q&A, leaving participants with practical tools and strategies they can immediately apply in their own schools and organizations.

Supporting research

Resources are featured on the provided slide deck.

I will also specifically highlight Amy Edmodson's work on psychological safety as well as additional articles, including:
Baragwanath, T.( 2021, October 25th). 3 Key Characteristics of wow-worthy new employee onboarding programs https://elearningindustry.com/key-characteristics-wow-worthy-new-employee-onboarding-programs
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022). Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm
Click Boarding. (2022, May 19). 18 jaw-dropping onboarding stats you need to know. Click Boarding. https://www.clickboarding.com/18-jaw-dropping-onboarding-stats-you-need-to-know/
Dill, K. (2022, June 20). School’s out for summer and many teachers are calling it quits. WSJ. https://www.wsj.com/articles/schools-out-for-summer-and-many-teachers-are-calling-it-quits-11655732689
Edmonds, C.( 2022, July 25th).Strong Teacher Retention Starts with Onboarding https://www.edelements.com/blog/strong-teacher-retention-starts-with-onboarding
Education first.( 2021). Ensuring high-quality teacher talent ; School Districts and Teacher Preparation Programs are Transforming the Teacher Pipeline https://education-first.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Ensuring-High-Quality-Teacher-Talent.pdf?mc_cid=b48db148a6&mc_eid=36af9c46e9
EdWeek Research Center & Merrimack College. (2022). 1st annual Merrimack College teacher survey: 2022 results. https://www.merrimack.edu/academics/education-and-social-policy/about/merrimack-college-teacher-survey/
Flannery, M. E. (2002, March 9). Missing: Future teachers in colleges of education. NEA. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/missing-future-teachers-colleges-education#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20U.S.%20colleges%20awarded,ha
Gregersen, H. (2018). Questions are the Answer: A Breakthrough Approach to Your Most Vexing Problems at Work and in Life. HarperCollins Publishers.