Teachers in today's schools are very lucky! Never before have there been so many professional learning opportunities available -both online and face to face.
Within our school board, there are numerous opportunities for professional development. For the second year in a row, Halton has offered Formal Collaborative Inquiries -where teams of teachers at neighbouring schools come together to identify a student need and inquiry question, then work over the course of 4 days or so to co-plan and co-teach to impact student achievement. Halton has also introduced Informal IT Inquiry days, where identified teachers from each school attend a 1/2 day workshop that focuses on key ICT skills that they can take back to their classroom. As well, there are over 20 workshops offered to teachers after school for an hour or so that explore components of Google Apps for Education -like Google Sites, Google Classroom and basics.
Beyond Halton, there are many other ways to access professional development opportunities. Below are three links to free, online educator courses that are offered in the next few months. Often, these courses provide a certificate or recognition of completing the course.
Assessment and Teaching of 21st c. skills
ASCD Free Online courses
MOOC Canada
If you were interested in becoming a recognized ICT Education -like an Apple Distinguished Educator or a Google Certified Educator, information and courses for obtaining these designations are all available online.
Twitter Chats -My newest method of professional development is taking part in Twitter chats, where staff in all kinds of schools all over the world connect to discuss issues they are encountering everyday -whether its technology, literacy, math or environmental issues.
There is literally something for everyone!
Get out there and find an avenue to learn something new!
I agree all you need to do is look for that open road! I will share the free courses with my co-workers...thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about this post for a couple of days now as I have a student that is looking "beyond classroom courses" and is coming up empty. For some kids, like educators and leaders, they need guidance on how and where they can learn and participate online, outside the structured classroom setting (or structured course setting, like an AQ). This one student that I have (in grade eight) just completed his Reach Ahead Grade 9, at 98% and has completed this self-paced course Eight Weeks ahead of the Grade Nine students. I am searching for student focused MOOCS that might interest him and keep his brain engaged.
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