Comments on: Is It Possible To Have Self Directed PD? http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:04:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Aaron http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Aaron Thu, 09 Feb 2006 17:06:20 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/#comment-77 Hi Graham, I just wanted to thank you for this post. It's really a timely one for me as I am in the middle of trying to develop a PD program that well...is in alignment with how I really feel about PD - that it should be done by me not to me, because I want to, not because I have to. It's so much easier said than done isn't it? I for one really think your approach is a good one. I think it's respectful in that you are approaching the teachers where they are, and if I understand your proposal correctly, you wish to go where they wish to go. I really liked your idea of having open slots for teachers to come in and work on what they have issues around. I've been following this approach in 2006 - an experiment - and just this week our first real "As you wish and if you wish" PD session was held around web 2.0 and blogging in the ESL classroom. Instead of having the session be a "have to attend" thing, we made it totally optional, with a few perks for those who decide to go. Our attendance has been pretty low - a little less than half of our teaching team has signed up. But I'm really excited about that. The reason: the ones who come are there because they WANT to be there. They have interest in thinking/talking/learning about blogging and web 2.0. The result was interesting. Everyone in our first session left it feeling inspired to try it on their own. Thismorning I saw a few of them and they were still talking about it, and how cool it was. I don't know what will happen after this. Will they start blogging on their own, and in the classroom? I think that's up to them. My goal, I think, was pretty much accomplished. I wanted to stir up curiosity. I wanted to tell the "blogging story" and what it could enable in the classroom. I wanted a "that's cool!" response. I got it. I really think you're on the right track, and I would really love to follow how your program develops. Aaron Nelson Hi Graham,

I just wanted to thank you for this post. It’s really a timely one for me as I am in the middle of trying to develop a PD program that well…is in alignment with how I really feel about PD – that it should be done by me not to me, because I want to, not because I have to.

It’s so much easier said than done isn’t it?

I for one really think your approach is a good one. I think it’s respectful in that you are approaching the teachers where they are, and if I understand your proposal correctly, you wish to go where they wish to go.

I really liked your idea of having open slots for teachers to come in and work on what they have issues around.

I’ve been following this approach in 2006 – an experiment – and just this week our first real “As you wish and if you wish” PD session was held around web 2.0 and blogging in the ESL classroom.

Instead of having the session be a “have to attend” thing, we made it totally optional, with a few perks for those who decide to go.

Our attendance has been pretty low – a little less than half of our teaching team has signed up. But I’m really excited about that. The reason: the ones who come are there because they WANT to be there. They have interest in thinking/talking/learning about blogging and web 2.0.

The result was interesting. Everyone in our first session left it feeling inspired to try it on their own. Thismorning I saw a few of them and they were still talking about it, and how cool it was.

I don’t know what will happen after this. Will they start blogging on their own, and in the classroom? I think that’s up to them. My goal, I think, was pretty much accomplished. I wanted to stir up curiosity. I wanted to tell the “blogging story” and what it could enable in the classroom. I wanted a “that’s cool!” response. I got it.

I really think you’re on the right track, and I would really love to follow how your program develops.

Aaron Nelson

]]> By: Borderland » Blog Archive » Worked for Me http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Borderland » Blog Archive » Worked for Me Thu, 09 Feb 2006 08:31:20 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/#comment-76 [...] Is self-directed professional development possible? This is the story of how I got pulled into Borderland. Maybe Graham can use some of this as validation of his plan. [...] [...] Is self-directed professional development possible? This is the story of how I got pulled into Borderland. Maybe Graham can use some of this as validation of his plan. [...]

]]> By: Artichoke http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Artichoke Wed, 08 Feb 2006 03:49:06 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/#comment-73 Sounds potentially powerful Graeme, Worked in a school a few years back that ran ICT _PD slots in the holidays and after school called <strong>"A course with no name"</strong> - the teachers signed up and their "just in time" needs determined the content of the sessions offered. Difficult if you never get too many signing up at once, and you get too many diverse demands BUT in reality much commonality developed and then as happens in classrooms because they'd all come with different needs it seemed OK when teachers started showing other teachers how to do stuff whilst the facilitator was busy - learning hub/networks established Sounds potentially powerful Graeme,

Worked in a school a few years back that ran ICT _PD slots in the holidays and after school called “A course with no name” – the teachers signed up and their “just in time” needs determined the content of the sessions offered.

Difficult if you never get too many signing up at once, and you get too many diverse demands BUT in reality much commonality developed and then as happens in classrooms because they’d all come with different needs it seemed OK when teachers started showing other teachers how to do stuff whilst the facilitator was busy – learning hub/networks established

]]> By: Doug Johnson http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Doug Johnson Wed, 08 Feb 2006 03:37:44 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/#comment-72 Another approach to self-directed work with teachers on tech skills is explained in my handouts at: <a href="https://webmail.smartchat.net.au/horde/util/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doug-johnson.com%2Fhandouts%2F21st.pdf&Horde=d4111f6471cc0ccb091cb7572409d95c">http://www.doug-johnson.com/handouts/21st.pdf</a> We've used this approach off and on in our district. Not a complete success, but for some folks, very valuable. Doug Another approach to self-directed work with teachers on tech skills is explained in my handouts at: http://www.doug-johnson.com/handouts/21st.pdf
We’ve used this approach off and on in our district. Not a complete success, but for some folks, very valuable.

Doug

]]> By: Al Upton http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Al Upton Wed, 08 Feb 2006 03:35:21 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/#comment-71 Thanks Graham, I'm enjoying reading your well considered approaches to some of those challenges that confront us. The key word here seems to be 'time. Certainly document out of hours time spent so staff can get their 37.5 hours and get the last week 'off'. More importantly we need to seek support at local and systemic level to provide release time for professional learning. A variety of models exist including termly/yearly half and whole day release. Accountability and collegiate support could occur with like minded learning teams/pairs/small groups. A coordinator could be part of such a team to facilitate self directed learning and/or roster in periodic times to ensure continuity of goals/support/site&department directions etc Leaders need to look to leaders, need to look to their leaders, need to look to those of us at the grass roots level - and we all need to look to the kids. Thanks Graham, I’m enjoying reading your well considered approaches to some of those challenges that confront us.
The key word here seems to be ‘time. Certainly document out of hours time spent so staff can get their 37.5 hours and get the last week ‘off’. More importantly we need to seek support at local and systemic level to provide release time for professional learning. A variety of models exist including termly/yearly half and whole day release. Accountability and collegiate support could occur with like minded learning teams/pairs/small groups. A coordinator could be part of such a team to facilitate self directed learning and/or roster in periodic times to ensure continuity of
goals/support/site&department directions etc
Leaders need to look to leaders, need to look to their leaders, need to look to those of us at the grass roots level – and we all need to look to the kids.

]]> By: Teacher in Development :: Is It Possible To Have Self Directed PD? :: February :: 2006 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Teacher in Development :: Is It Possible To Have Self Directed PD? :: February :: 2006 Tue, 07 Feb 2006 21:40:48 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/#comment-67 [...] Inspired by Graham Wegner’s post…and his question about “Is self directed PD possible… [...] [...] Inspired by Graham Wegner’s post…and his question about “Is self directed PD possible… [...]

]]> By: XplanaZine http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/comment-page-1/#comment-66 XplanaZine Mon, 06 Feb 2006 15:34:04 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2006/02/04/is-it-possible-to-have-self-directed-pd/#comment-66 <strong>Daily Update -- January 6, 2006...</strong> Here's our take on news that matters for Monday, February 6. Today's theme is keeping up, and here are a some links to headlines about technology that is changing the way we live and learn. Gaming -- When it comes to video games these days, the p... Daily Update — January 6, 2006…

Here’s our take on news that matters for Monday, February 6. Today’s theme is keeping up, and here are a some links to headlines about technology that is changing the way we live and learn.

Gaming — When it comes to video games these days, the p…

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