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Designing and Implementing Effective Professional Learning
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Designing and Implementing Effective Professional Learning



September 2013 | 256 pages | Corwin

For sustained success, educators must commit to their own lifelong improvement.

Commitment to high-quality professional learning is a common aspect of educational systems of the the world’s highest-achieving nations. Despite evidence that effective professional learning can be a powerful lever for school improvement, much of the professional development (PD) that is conducted in the United States has had limited impact on teacher practice...

In these pages, John Murray identifies research-based characteristics of effective teacher professional learning, detailing eight strategies for planning and executing professional development programs and evaluating their results. Content includes:

  • The proven “backward” approach to articulating the goals of your PD program
  • Descriptions of innovative and effective designs for professional learning such as Lesson Study and Instructional Rounds  
  • Powerful approaches to designing and implementing  online PD

Packed with templates that make getting started easy, this all-in-one resource will facilitate deep professional learning that truly enhances student achievement.

“This book is one that any teacher or administrator who is involved with leading professional learning and continuous improvement—new to the field or with great experience—would find great value in.”
— Jeff Ronneberg, Superintendent
Spring Lake Park Schools, MN

“This is a critical resource that should be on every education leader’s bookshelf. You will be challenged to find another book with so much helpful information on so many important professional development strategies that you can get started on immediately to facilitate real change in your school.”
— John D. Ross, Educational Consultant
Pulaski, VA


 
List of Figures
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
1. The Need for Change
Traditional Approaches to Teacher Professional Learning

 
New Demands Require Change

 
 
2. Effective Teacher Professional Learning
Theoretical Models of Professional Development Action

 
Characteristics of Effective Professional Development

 
Summary

 
 
3. Context: Building an Atmosphere to Support Teacher Learning
Learning Communities

 
Leadership

 
Resources

 
Summary

 
 
4. Content: Specifying the Goals of Professional Learning Activities
Identifying Goals

 
Evaluating Your Professional Development Program

 
Summary

 
 
5. Process: Selecting Specific Activities and Strategies
Learning Designs

 
Implementation

 
Summary

 
 
6. Lesson Study
A Cycle of Instructional Improvement

 
The Lesson Study Philosophy

 
Lesson Study Steps

 
The Essential Elements of Lesson Study

 
Challenges to Engaging in Lesson Study: Misconceptions to Avoid

 
Summary

 
 
7. Critical Friends
The Origins of Critical Friends

 
The Philosophy of CFGs

 
Critical Friends Steps

 
The Essential Elements of Critical Friends

 
Benefits of CFGs

 
Summary

 
 
8. School Rounds
A Lesson From Medicine

 
The Rationale for School Rounds

 
The Steps in School Rounds

 
Learning With Rounds

 
Summary

 
 
9. Action Research
A Hands-On Approach

 
Why Choose Action Research?

 
The Action Research Process

 
Benefits of Action Research

 
Summary

 
 
10. Mentoring
The Power of Relationships

 
Why Mentoring Matters

 
Essential Steps in Building a Mentoring Program

 
The Work of Mentoring

 
The Role of the Principal

 
Essential Elements

 
Summary

 
 
11. Peer Coaching
Harnessing Peer-to-Peer Wisdom

 
The Rationale for Peer Coaching

 
Essential Steps of the Peer Coaching Process

 
Essential Elements

 
Summary

 
 
12. Online Professional Development
The Rationale for Online Professional Development

 
A Framework for Implementing Online Professional Development

 
Monitoring and Evaluating Online Professional Development

 
Summary

 
 
13. Personal Learning Networks
Going Global

 
The Power of PLNs

 
The Process of Creating and Cultivating PLNs

 
Getting Started

 
Using Tools to Connect: Early PLN Formation

 
Advanced PLN Formation: What Does It Look Like?

 
The Challenges of PLNs

 
Summary

 
 
14.The Challenges of Introducing New Forms of Teacher Professional Learning
How Have Teachers Experienced Past Professional Development?

 
Are Teacher Needs and Preferences Being Considered?

 
Are Teachers Treated With Respect?

 
Are Teachers Being Asked to Collaborate, Think, and Innovate?

 
Do School Leaders Make the New Strategies Easy to Implement?

 
Are Professional Development Activities Linked to a Compelling Purpose?

 
Breaking Down Barriers

 
Summary

 
 
15. A Call to Action
 
References
 
Index

"This is a critical resource that should be on every education leader’s bookshelf. Anyone involved with staff development will find help in the clear and concise information Murray provides. You will be challenged to find another book with so much helpful information on so many important professional development strategies that you can get started on immediately to facilitate real change in your school."

John D. Ross, Educational Consultant
Pulaski, VA

"This book is one that any teacher or administrator who is involved with leading professional learning and continuous improvement—new to the field or with great experience—would find great value in. "

Jeff Ronneberg, Superintendent
Spring Lake Park Schools, MN

"Library media specialists will find this information helpful in their role as school leaders and staff developers. Short, readable chapters, solid information, lists and many tables contribute to the book’s extreme usefulness."

Library Media Connection, August/September 2014
Key features
  • An authoritative, state-of-the-art sourcebook for planning, designing, and implementing high quality professional learning.
  • Provides an original conceptual framework that is based on the premise that effective professional learning is informed by context, content, and process.
  • Includes full chapter treatment of seven promising designs for professional learning including Lesson Study, Instructional Rounds, and best online approaches.
  • Each of the chapters on PD designs begins with a realistic example of the strategy being used which is later integrated throughout the chapter to help readers understand how to effectively implement the design.
  • Includes templates and other reproducibles to assist readers with implementation.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

1. The Need for Change


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