Building a culture of rehearsal and embracing learning is important for teacher improvement.
Pinpointing the highest leverage areas for professional development requires grounded diagnosis in concrete data.
Creating buy-in and ownership in professional development involves providing proof of benefits and clarifying commitment.
Teachers should take the role of learners and track progress to increase success in habit formation.
Deep dives
Get it: Understanding the mechanics of teaching and learning
Get it is about helping teachers understand the mechanics of teaching and learning, focusing on the essential ingredients. Triangulation, translation, and tempering are key processes in making research useful and actionable. Triangulation involves looking at multiple pieces of research to identify patterns and form more confident inferences. Translation entails drawing out the most useful insights from research and understanding their implications. Temper the evidence by considering the statistical confidence of the research and its applicability to the specific context.
See it: Models of effective practice
Helping teachers see effective teaching in action through models is crucial. Models provide examples of both performative and non-performative aspects of teaching. Live demonstrations allow flexibility and customization, while classroom observations provide authentic and credible proof of practice. Videos offer the benefit of consistency and portability, allowing teachers to deconstruct the model in the context of their own teaching. Multiple models are helpful to form a deep understanding and build adaptive expertise.
Try it: Quality rehearsal for effective teaching
Rehearsing teaching techniques outside of the lesson context is essential for effective rehearsal. Shrinking the change and focusing on one small step increases the chances of successful implementation. Contextualizing the model for one's own setting allows for better adaptation. Scripting key moves helps ensure clarity and precision. Conducting multiple rounds of rehearsal, beyond comfort, refines the technique. Providing formative feedback between rounds further improves rehearsal quality.
Creating a culture of valued rehearsal
Building a culture where rehearsal is valued requires managing expectations and discomfort. Teachers need to be aware that rehearsal might be challenging but necessary for improvement. PD leaders should lead by example and demonstrate the benefits of rehearsal. Openly discussing the discomfort and agreeing on a safe and confidential environment for rehearsal can reduce fear. Managing expectations and fostering trust are key elements in creating a supportive culture for valued rehearsal.
Building a Culture of Rehearsal and Embracing Learning
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of building a culture of rehearsal and embracing learning. It highlights that leaders should manage expectations and frame the concept of getting better through rehearsal as a productive challenge. By leading the way and setting an example through live demonstrations or videos, leaders can create a supportive and confidential environment. The episode also emphasizes the value of teachers taking the role of learners and learning through action. It encourages teachers to replace old habits with new ones and to explicate their intentions to increase the chances of habits taking hold. Additionally, tracking and measuring progress can lead to greater success in habit formation.
Pinpointing Highest Leverage Areas for Professional Development
The podcast explores the challenge of pinpointing the highest leverage areas for professional development. It suggests grounding the diagnosis of areas for improvement in concrete data, such as classroom observations, lesson plan analysis, and student work sampling. The episode highlights the importance of using data solely for diagnosis and development, rather than judgment or grading. It also discusses the trade-offs in group professional development, emphasizing the need for personalized support for new teachers while multiple teachers can focus on the same area for development. The decision-making process for selecting the best professional development setup based on available tools and expertise levels is also discussed.
Building Buy-In and Ownership in Professional Development
The podcast delves into the concept of building buy-in and ownership in professional development. It suggests creating commitment points where teachers can actively choose their own path and understand the benefits of the plan laid out before them. The episode recommends narrating the journey, exposing the benefits of the plan, and clarifying the commitment necessary to achieve the desired results. It emphasizes the importance of providing proof, such as research evidence or social proof, to increase teachers' belief in the benefits. The episode concludes by highlighting the significance of teachers investing their own attention and effort, and how increasing their buy-in can lead to long-term improvements and growth.
