When looking into research of audiences, I did not focus on a particular set audience such as the corporate sector or the Armed Forces. I looked into professional development and how it can affects the audience it is intended for. We have all sat through professional development courses that do not have any practical advice that we can implement. We have sat through the rah-rah sessions to gear us up for a new program that never quite gets off the ground. As adults, we have different needs to be met when we attend classes.
Malcolm Knowles, a pioneer in the study of adult learning, observed that adults learn best when:
- They understand why something is important to know or do.
- They have the freedom to learn in their own way.
- Learning is experiential.
- The time is right for them to learn.
- The process is positive and encouraging.
Retrieved from thoughtco.com
When professional development courses are being created they should always reflect Knowles’ tenets to be effective. Currently, our teachers are scrambling as we made the sudden move to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has never been a greater need for timely, practical and pertinent professional development. Below are 10 points administrators should consider for professional development to prepare for the upcoming school year.
- Teachers need to be instructed on the three types of learning they may be utilizing: remote, face to face, and hybrid.
- Technology literacy
- Restructuring lessons to meet delivery modes
- Online engagement techniques
- Enhancing accountability
- Developing independent learning opportunities
- Understanding frameworks such as flipped classroom and CAFE model.
- Developing trauma informed teaching practices
- Social, emotional, and culturally responsive pedagogies
- Realigning Assessment techniques
The move to remote learning happened overnight. These new professional development courses will will not happen overnight. However, it is most important to capitalize on the momentum of change at this point in history. We can not lag in making changes to our pre-service programs and our professional development programs.
References
Darling-Hammond, L., & Hyler, M. E. (2020). Preparing educators for the time of COVID…and beyond. European Journal of Teacher Education, 43(4), 457-465. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1080/02619768.2020.1816961
Lemov, Doug. (2020). Teaching in the online classroom: Surviving and thriving in the new normal. New Jersey: Jossey-Bass.
Peterson, Deb. (2021, February 16). The Basics of Adult Learning. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-adult-learning-31425
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