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Page 1: Highlights in This Issue Update on Professional Learning ... · Update on Professional Learning for Teachers Consultation Michael Podlosky, Coordinator, Professional Development

Highlights in This Issue

Volume 12, Number 3 Spring 2012

• Editorial—UpdateonProfessional

LearningforTeachersConsultation...............1

• FeatureWorkshop—SpotlightonCognitive

Coaching.....................2

• InYourNeighborhood—CalgarySeparate

SchoolLocalandSchoolDistrictWorkTogetherTowardHigh-QualityProfessionalDevelopment..............3

• UpcomingEvents............4

• NewTeacherWorkshopsOnlineinApril................4

• SpecialistCouncilProfile—CareerandTechnology

StudiesCouncil...........5

• SpringProfessionalDevelopmentAreaConference,April20(eve)–21,2012...5

• LookWho’sTalking—IntroducingEight

NewPDFacilitatorstoSupportPDLeadersAcrosstheProvince....6

• Reminders.......................7

• Noussommesàl’écoute!—Deuxnouveaux

ateliers........................8

• FirstNations,MétisandInuitLanguageandCultureStudiesforAlbertaClassrooms......................9

• TeachersWantaBalancedApproachtoPD............10

Oneofthegreatestchallenges—andoftenasourceoffrustration—inadvocatingforprofessionaldevelopmentiswonderingifanyoneisevenlisteningtothe

recurringappealforchangeandcallforimprovedsupports.Sometimes,somuchtimepassesbeforeanythinghappensthatyouwonderiftheleadershipprinciplethatstates“ifyouignoresomethinglongenough,itwillgoaway”isinplace.

Beassuredthatyourvoicehasnotonlybeenheardbutlistenedto.Althoughithasbeenalmost16 monthssinceAlbertaEducationinitiatedamajorconsultation,inNovember2010,onprofessionallearningforteachersinAlberta’sK–12educationsystem,morethan600quantitativeandqualitativeresponseshavebeenreceivedandanalyzed.FollowingisaglimpseofsomeofthehighlightsinthefinalreportthataffirmthepivotalroleofteacherprofessionaldevelopmentinAlberta.

• Job-EmbeddedTime—Improvingeducatoraccesstojob-embeddedtimeforprofessionallearningwithintheteachingday,aslongasittakesintoaccounttheimplicationsfordailyworkloadsandcompetingteacherresponsibilities

• LearningCommunities—Enhancingopportunitiesforallschoolstafftoactivelyparticipateinlearningcommunities;andunderstandingthatlearningcommunitiesarisemostcommonlyfromorganizationalculturesofinquiry,risktaking,andopenness,builtthroughcollaborationandcooperation.Mentorshipandcoachingwereparticularlysupportedasspecificstrategiesforlearningcommunities.

• Self-DirectedLearning—Ensuringthatteachershaveoptionswhenchoosingwhichlearningopportunitiestoaccess

• TeacherFeedback—Providingmeaningfulopportunitiesforteacherstoofferfeedbackontheirprofessionallearningsupports

• Collaboration—Ensuringahigherdegreeofcooperation

Editorial

Update on Professional Learning for Teachers ConsultationMichaelPodlosky,Coordinator,ProfessionalDevelopment

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andcollaborationamongmembersofAlberta’seducationlearningcommunitytosupportteacherlearning

• CoordinationofDelivery—Improvingcoordinationofdeliveryofprofessionallearningsupports,withoutcompromisingtheself-directedlearningofteachers

Advocatingforteachers’controloftheirprofessionalpracticewillcontinuetobeamajorthrustoftheAssociation.Theconditionsofpracticeincludeallofthe

structuresrequiredforteacherstoprovidetheirbestpossibleprofessionalservice.Teachersknowthatprovidingthebestpossibleprofessionalservicerequiresmanyhoursofeffortandthatthemoreeffortputintopreparationbyteachers,thebetterthelearningforstudents.Securingmoretimeduringtheschooldayforteacherstodotheworknecessarytoprovidehigh-qualityinstructionwillbeapriority.Changecanbeslow,butnonethelessverypositiveandrewardingwhenyouknowyourvoiceisbeingheard.

Spotlight on Cognitive CoachingMarkYurick,ExecutiveStaffOfficer,ProfessionalDevelopment

Cognitive Coaching Series

TheAssociationhascoordinatedaCognitiveCoachingprogramthatisbeingfacilitatedbyJohnClarke,atrainingassociatefromtheCenterforCognitive

Coaching,HighlandsRanch,Colorado.TheprogramconsistsoffiveFridayeveningandfull-daySaturdaysessions.Acohortof48 people,comprisingclassroomteachersandschoolanddistrictadministrators,hasbeenparticipatingintheseriessincethefall.

Cognitivecoachingisapeercoachingmodelthatfocusesonenablingpeopletoenhancetheircognitiveprocesses.Itisbasedonthepremisethatthoughtandperceptionproduceallbehaviourandthatcoachingsomeonethroughthecognitionstagemediatesthinkingandallowsthepersontobuildhisorherproblem-solvingabilities.

Participantshavelearnedthatalargepartoftheprocessisbuildingtrustandrapport.Theyhavebeenprovidedwithopportunitiestodevelopskillsinmediativequestioning,

Feature Workshop

responsebehaviours,andpacingandleadingcoachingconversations.Theseskillsareutilizedin“maps”thathavebeendevelopedtoguidethethinkingprocessinplanning,reflectingandproblemsolving.

Participantswhosuccessfullycompletetheprogramwillbecertifiedascognitivecoaches.Duetothestrongresponsefortheprogramthisyear,considerationisbeinggiventoofferingitagaininthefall.

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Calgary Separate School Local and School District Work Together Toward High-Quality Professional DevelopmentDavidCracknell

Howdoestheteachingprofessionensurethatteachershaveaccesstohigh-qualityprofessionaldevelopment?Onewayistotakethebullbythehornsandstarttheprocessourselves.FouryearsagotheCalgarySeparateSchoolLocal 55didjustthat.

ThelocalcreatedanadhoccommitteetolookintomanyaspectsofPD.Thatcommittee,withtheassistanceofATAstaffofficersMichaelPodloskyandJ-CCouture,createdasurveythatmorethan1,400CalgaryCatholicteacherscompleted.Thecommitteepresenteditsreport,“CreatingOurFuture,”tothelocalCouncilofSchoolRepresentatives(CSR),theDistrictAdministrativeCouncil,theDistrictLeadershipCouncil(DLC)andtheCalgaryCatholicBoardofTrustees.ExpertiseandinsightgainedfromtheexcellentfeedbackfromteacherscreatedaspringboardfordiscussionsbetweenthenChiefSuperintendentLucyMillerandLocalPresidentDavidCracknelltocommenceajointefforttoprovidequalityPDforteachers.OutofthesediscussionscametheJointATA/CSSDPDCommittee,whichisnowinitsthirdyearofcooperation.

TheJointATA/CSSDPDCommitteehadanoriginalmandatetoaddressthreesignificantareas:(1) improvetheavailabilityandopportunitiesforPD,(2) engageinadiscussiontodefineembeddedPDand(3) coordinatePDeffortsbyworkingtogethertoshareideasandresources.Thecommitteehasalsoworkedinanadvisorycapacitybyprovidingfeedbackonleadershiptrainingwithintheschooldistrictandcontributingtodiscussionsregardingteacherprofessionalgrowthplans(TPGP).However,themainfocusison

In Your Neighbourhood

coordinatingeffortsandprovidinghigh-qualityPDforourteachers.

Afterthefirstyearofoperation,thecommitteesentabrochuretoallteachersdetailingthehistoryofthecommitteeandthegeneralphilosophyofqualityPD.ThishasnowmorphedintoayearlyupdatethatcomesoutinearlySeptember,settingthestagefortheschoolyear.Communicationwithourteacherscontinuesthroughe-mail.ThecommitteehasalsopresentedtoDLCmeetingsandCSRmeetingsofthelocal.

ThecrowningachievementoftheJointATA/CSSDPDCommitteeatthispointisthesignificantincreaseinthedepthandbreadthofPDofferingsavailabletoteachers.ParticularlyinspiringarethedistrictwidePDdays,inwhichteachershaveachoiceofmorethan60PDopportunitiesthroughoutthecityatvarious

DavidCracknell,formerpresidentofLocal 55,andLucyMiller,formerchiefsuperintendentCalgaryRomanCatholicSeparateSchoolDistrict1

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schoolhostsites.Thisconvention-styleofferinghasreceivedpositivereviews,oneofthemostexcitingbeingtheoften-heard“ThereweresomanysessionsIwantedtoattendthatIfounditdifficulttochoosejustone.”

Ifwehavelearnedanythingthroughthefouryearsdedicatedtothisproject,itisthatprofessionaldevelopmentisaprocess,notanevent.Theexcellentcooperationbetweentheschooldistrict(CSSD)andthelocalcontinuestofuelthisexcitingjourney.Whoknowswhereitcouldlead?

New Teacher Workshops Online in April

Areyouinyourfirstfewyearsofteaching?DoyouwanttoattendtheNewTeachersOnlineWorkshops?

Takethemonlineinanyorallofthesethreeafter-schoolInternetsessions:

Parents and Teachers: Same Goals, Different Goals Tuesday,April3from4:15to5:45PM

Engaging Students—The Art of Effective InstructionWednesday,April18from4:15to5:45PM

Classroom ManagementMonday,April23from4:15to5:45PM

www.crcpd.ab.ca/programs/category/32#programs

Upcoming EventsApril

19–21 Career and Technology Studies Council Conference

20 PD Facilitators Meeting20 Convention Association

Meeting20(eve)–21 Spring Professional

Development Area Conference

26–28 Middle Years Council Conference

May

4–5 Association Instructor Training

4–5 English Language Arts Council Conference

4–6 Health and Physical Education Council Conference

19–21 Annual Representative Assembly

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Career and Technology Studies CouncilCraigDeJongandLucindaHetlinger

Specialist Council Profile

WearefastapproachingtheannualCareerandTechnologyStudiesConference,tobeheldonApril19–21,2012,attheRiverCreeResortinEnoch(nearEdmonton).Theconferencescheduleincludesavarietyofinnovativeandcaptivatingsessionsaswellashands-onworkshopsfromAlbertaindustrypartners.The2012CTSConference:“SafeJourneys”willopenwithanaddressfromtheministerofeducation,theHonourableThomasLukaszuk.

Dr LindaDuxburyistheconferenceopeningkeynote,speakingon“EnteringtheDragon’sDen?WhatHighSchoolGraduatesCanExpectintheWorldofWork.”ThislookatdemographicandemploymenttrendsinAlbertaandCanadashouldbeparamountinourfutureeducationalframeworkdiscussions,aswere-visioneducationoverthecomingyears.Dr Duxbury’swordswillbesuretoinspireeducatorsasawholetomeettheeducationalneedswithinachangingprovinceandcountry.

TheclosingkeynotespeakeristheentertainingandprovocativeStephenMurgatroyd,whowillpresent“SlayingtheDragon:WhyUniversityIsNottheDestinationAlbertaNeedsforMostofItsStudents.”IencourageyoutoregisterfortheconferenceandshareinavaluableprofessionaldevelopmentexperiencewithCTSteachersacrosstheprovince.Pleasecontactlhetlinger@ecsrd.caforfurtherinformation.Theconferencescheduleispostedonourwebsite,www.ctscouncil.com.

InotherCareerandTechnologyCouncilnews,wehavebeenworkingtoprovidecontinuingprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesfortheteachersofAlberta.Thecouncil’sworkonplanningsessionsatteachers’conventionsanditssponsorshipofmini-CTSworkshopsandmultidaysessionsarejustafewofthewayswearetryingtofulfilltheprofessionaldevelopmentneedsofallCTSteachers.Ifyouhaveanysuggestionsabouthowwecancontinuetoimproveourservicetoyou,[email protected].

Spring Professional Development Area Conference, April 20(eve)–21, 2012ThespringProfessionalDevelopmentAreaConference(PDAC)willbeheldtheeveningofFriday,April20andSaturday,April21atBarnettHouse,inEdmonton.InvitationsweresentinMarchtoPDchairs,localpresidents,conventionassociationpresidentsandprogramchairs,specialistcouncilpresidents,regionalconsortiaexecutivedirectorsandAssociationrepresentatives,andmembersofProvincialExecutiveCouncil.

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Introducing Eight New PD Facilitators to Support PD Leaders Across the ProvincePleasewelcomerecentappointeestothePDfacilitatorcorps.ContactyourregionalPDfacilitatorstohelpyouwithPDneedsassessments,PDsurveysupport,PDplanningsupportandarangeofotherservices.Contactinformationisavailablethroughyourregionalstaffofficer,thePDcollaborativesiteorbycontactingGayleneSchreiberat780-447-9447or1-800-232-7208,ext 447.

Sharalynn AndersonCoronation

Iteachhighschoolhomeeconomics,French,English,CALMandafewoptionshereandthere.Ialsoservedasanadministratorfornineyears.CurrentlyIteachGrade 8languageartsandsocialstudies,ECS,andGrades 1and 2music.Ialsoworkwithearlyreadinginterventionstudentsfromtimetotimeandfacilitatealeadershipclasswithjuniorhighstudents.

Farida GarrettCalgary

IamaFrenchandSpanishspecialist,currentlyteachingSpanishandESL.Inthepast,ItaughtFrench.Iamalearningleaderforfineartsandsecondlanguages.

Carmen HarfordCalgary

IteachatBandedPeakSchool,BraggCreek,RockyViewSchoolDivision.IhavealsotaughtatSpringbankMiddleSchool,Calgary,RockyViewSchoolDivision;CarselandSchool,GoldenHillsSchoolDivision;GreentreeSchool,GoldenHillsSchoolDivision;andSayreHutteriteColony,GoldenHillsSchoolDivision.

Steven P KaplanBarrhead

Ihavebeenteachingfor13 years,withexperiencerangingfromGrades3–11inallsubjectareas.Inaddition,IhavefiveyearsofadministrativeexperienceandamcurrentlyinmysecondyearasprincipalofasmallK–6schoolinPembinaHillsRegionalDivision.

Look Who’s Talking

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Pina MartinovichCalgary

Ihave28 yearsofteachingexperienceinbiology,chemistry,physicsandreligiouseducationatthehighschoollevel.IamcurrentlyteachinginEvergreenCatholicSeparateRegionalDivisionNo 2.Inthelastfiveyears,IhavebeenaschoolcounselloratJohnPaul IISchoolinStonyPlain,Alberta,workingwithchildrenfromGrades 1to 8.

Myrna McLeanLa Crete

Ihave29 yearsofteachingexperienceatallgradelevelsandamcurrentlyteachingGrade 4;Ihaveservedasvice-principalfor6 years.

David Teasdale Stettler

IhavebeenatWmEHayCompositeHighSchoolfor18 years,teachingCTS(computers,finance,carpentryandwelding),mathematics,andknowledgeandemployabilityforGrades 9to 12.Iamthefirst-everteamteacherwithAlbertaDistanceLearningCentre,deliveringMathematics 14and 24onlinewithstudentsintheclassroom.IamcurrentlytheleadonlineteacherforClearviewSchoolDivision,basedattheStettlerOutreachSchool,andcoordinateonlinelearningforClearviewschools.

Leslie Wolowidnyk-VogelTurin

Thisismyeighthyearasateacher;allmyteachingyearshavebeenwithHorizonSchoolDivision.Ihavetaughtmanygradesandmostofthesubjectsunderthesun.Mycurrentassignmentisathree-gradeESLclassroomwithplentyofdifferentiationbetweenthegradelevels.Itcanbechallengingattimes,butIwouldn’ttrademyexperiencesforanything.

RemindersIfyouareanewPDchair,pleasesendyourname,[email protected]

PleasevisitthePDcollaborativesite,https://collaboration.teachers.ab.ca/pd/publish/pages/default.aspx,forresourcestosupportPDleaders.UseyourTNETlog-in.

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Nous sommes à l’écoute!

Lesecteurperfectionnementprofessionnelestheureuxdepartagersesdernièresnouvellesdontlelancementdedeuxnouveauxateliersquis’adressentànosmembresdesécolesfrancophones

oud’immersion,Ici,toutlemondeestlebienvenuetSoYou’reanAdministratorofaFrenchImmersionProgram?SupportIsontheWay!.

Ici,toutlemondeestlebienvenuestlefruitdutravailducomitéDiversity,EquityandHumanRights(DEHR)del’ATA.En2010,cetatelieraconnuungrandsuccèsauprèsdenosmembresanglophonesenAlbertaetdansnosréseauxnationaux;c’estpourquoinousavonsdécidédetraduireleguidedu

participantquil’accompagneetdecréerunatelierenfrançaisquenoussommesprêtsàprésenterdansvosécoles,lorsdevosjournéespédagogiques,devoscongrèsdeConseilsdespécialistesouentoutesautresoccasions.Envoicisadescription :

Dufaitdesgrandschangementsdémographiquesdesécolesalbertaines,lesméthodesetstratégiesd’enseignementd’autrefoisnesontpeut-êtreplusaussiefficacesdenosjours.Cetatelierpermetd’examinerleconceptdelacompétenceculturelle.Grâceàceconcept,vousapprendrezàreconnaitrecroyances,attitudes,politiques,structuresetfonctionnementdesétablissementsainsiquelesméthodesd’enseignementquipermettentauxécolesinterculturelles,d’aprèslesétudesdémographiques,debienfonctionner.

Lacompétenceculturellesuccèdeauxidéesdesensibilisationetdeprisedeconsciencedesdifférencesculturellesquitrèssouventaboutissaientàdeschangementsminimesdecomportementsindividuelsouorganisationnels.Aucoursdecetatelier,lesparticipantsdévelopperontdescapacitésquilesamènerontàévaluerleurproprecompétenceculturelleetprendrontdavantageconsciencedesdynamiquesdesinteractionsinterculturelles.

SoYou’reanAdministratorofaFrenchImmersionProgram?SupportIsontheWay!aétédéveloppéencollaborationaveclaDirectiondel’Éducationfrançaise,lesecteurperfectionnementprofessionneldel’AlbertaTeachers’Association,leConseilfrançaisetl’AlbertaRegionalProfessionalDevelopmentConsortium.Cettetrousses’adresseauxcadresdedirectiondesécolesd’immersiondelaprovince.L’EdmontonRegionalConsortiums’estdonnélatâchedegérerceprojetcollaboratifetl’atelieraccompagnelelancementdu

Deux nouveaux ateliers ParFrançoiseRuban,cadresupérieureausecteurduPerfectionnementprofessionnel

ICI,

TOUT LE MONDE EST LE BIENVENU

Enseigner dans une classe interculturelle

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First Nations, Métis and Inuit Language and Culture Studies For Alberta ClassroomsDoyouwanttoexplorethiscurriculum?DoyouhaveaninterestinAboriginalstudentsuccess?Considertakingfourafter-schoolhourstodelveintothiscurriculumwithyourcolleaguesfromaroundtheprovince.

Pleasenotethatthisopportunityisopentoonly25 teachers.Thereisnochargetoattendtheseevents.

Inregisteringforthisseriesofwebinarsyouagree,tothebestofyourability,toattendallfoursessions,tobepartofarecordingthatwillbemadeavailabletoK–12educatorsthroughouttheprovinceandtoparticipateinresearchaboutthismethodofdelivery.

Dates,times,registrationandmoreinformationcanbefoundontheLearningNetworksite,atwww.learning-network.org/programs/month/April,orwww.crcpd.ab.ca/programs/category/6#programs.

manuelHandbookforFrenchImmersionAdministratorsduministèredel’Éducation,réviséen2010.Cedocumentestmaintenantaccessibleauhttp://www.education.alberta.ca/francais/admin/immersion/handbookimm.aspx.

L’ateliertraitede4 élémentsclés :

a) Les10 savoirsessentielspourunadministrateurdeprogrammed’immersion

b) Commentcréerunenvironnementimmersif?

c) Commentoffrirlesupportnécessaireauxprofesseursd’immersionetauxparentsd’enfantsenimmersion?

d) Oùtrouverlesressources?

Aucoursdupremiervoletdel’atelier,lesparticipantssontregroupésetleséchangessefontsousformedefaceàfacealorsquelestroisautressedonnentsousformede« webinaire ».Qu’undirecteurd’écoled’immersionsoitnouveaudanssonrôleoupas,qu’ilpuissecommuniquerenfrançaisounon,ouqu’ilsouhaitetoutsimplementmettreàjoursesconnaissancessurlesprogrammesd’immersion,cetatelierluiserafortutiledanslamiseenœuvreetlemaintiend’unprogrammed’immersion.Sivousdésirezoffrircetatelierdansvosécolesouorganismes,n’hésitezpasàcontacterEdmontonLearningRegionalConsortiumouFrançoise Rubanàl’ATAàl’adressesuivante :[email protected].

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ThefollowingarticlewasfirstpublishedintheATANewsvolume 46,number 9.

Teachers Want a Balanced Approach to PDGayleneSchreiber,ExecutiveStaffOfficer,Government/ProfessionalDevelopment

InarecentstudyundertakenbyRockyViewLocal35,ATAstaff,internationalresearchersandteachersregisteredtheirconcernabouttheimpositionofdistrict-mandatedprofessionaldevelopment(PD).

TeachersdesireabalancedapproachtoPDthatisself-directedandinvolvescollaborativelearning.ResearchreflectsagrowingconcernthatPDisincreasinglyleveragedtoaccomplishgoalsthatliebeyondtheindividuallyidentifiedprofessionallearninggoalsofteachers.Asaresult,PDtimeandresourcescouldbecomeacontestedissue.Inaneraofmonolithiceducationalchange,teachershavebecomewaryofPDthatsupportsabewilderingarrayofdisconnectedschoolimprovementinitiatives.Teachershavelittletimeorresourceslefttoattendtotheirownprofessionallearninggoals.

LongitudinaldatafromtheATA’s2010PDSurveyfoundthatteacherautonomyinpursuinggrowthplangoalshasslipped.Only44.4 percentofrespondentsreportedthatteachershaveahighdegreeofautonomyandchoiceinpursuinggrowthplangoals.Bycontrast,48.9 percentindicatedthatteachershavesomedegreeofautonomy,and6.7 percentreportedthatteachershavelittleautonomy.In2009,51 percentofrespondentssaidteachershadahighdegreeofautonomyandchoiceandnoneindicatedthatteachershadlittleautonomy.Inotherwords,teachersnolongerfeelasconfidentastheyoncedidthattheyareincontroloftheirowngrowthplans.

Alsodisquietingwererespondents’concernsthatsomejurisdictionsexpectedteachers’professionalgrowthplangoalstosupportjurisdictionorschoolgoals.ThisisarguablynottheintentionofAlbertaEducation’sTeacherSupervisionandEvaluationPolicy2.1.5,whichdelineatesthepurposesandusesofteachergrowthplansandstatesthat“ateacher…isresponsibleforcompleting

duringeachschoolyearanannualteacherprofessionalgrowthplanthat:(i)reflectsgoalsandobjectivesbasedonanassessmentoflearningneedsbytheindividualteacher.”(http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/certification/standards/teacher.aspx,accessedJanuary5,2012)

ContemporaryPDresearchandliteratureadvocateforprofessionallearningconditionsthathonourautonomyandchoice,withapracticalcontentfocusrelatedtoteachers’dailypractice.Activeandcollaborativelearning,overasustainedperiod,whichisfocusedonasmallnumberoflearningoutcomes,isgenerallyseenasaneffectiveapproach.Opportunitiesthattakeadvantageofcollegialexpertiseandcollaborationincommonteachingtasksarecost-effectiveandappealingwaystosharepromisingpracticesandnewlyacquiredinformation.Collegiallearningincommunitiesofpractice,embeddedintothedailyworkofteachers,cantakemanyforms,suchascoplanningandcoteaching,mentoring,modellinginstructionaltechniques,reflectingonlessons,groupdiscussions,andcollaborativeplanningorassessmentofstudentworkorteachingresources.Itisnosurprisethat29 percentofRockyViewrespondentssaidtheprovisionofembeddedPDtime(duringthedayorweek)wasanimportantpriority,withafurther39 percentsayingitwassomewhatimportant.

Theimplicationsforteacherlearningandteacherefficacyareclear.Whenteachersareprovidedwithopportunitiesforfocusedandsustainedlearningabouttopicsandskillstheyhavechosentopursue,withsupportfromandinteractionwiththeircolleagues,asenseofengagementandenthusiasmislikelytofollow,andteacherlearningismorelikelytobetransferredintoclassroompractice.Thisapproachsoundsabitlikewhatteachersalreadyknowaboutstudentlearning:engagementfollowswhenrelevance,choiceandrespectforstudents’needsareconsistentlypresent.Perhapsitistimetodoawaywithone-size-fits-alllearningandprescriptiveoutcomesforteachers,too.


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