Support Professional Development
and Communities of Practice
Action Steps for Superintendents and District Leadership Teams
- Collaborate
as a leadership team to determine current and new professional
development needs and investigate ways in which technology can support
these needs.
- Determine what your district needs to do to implement technology-based professional development and communities of practice.
- Provide
technology that enables every educator to participate in an online or
technology-based community of practice with peers across and outside of
your district.
- Review how other school systems are accessing online or technology-based professional development content.
- Provide
peer coaches who understand and practice effective pedagogy in
compelling learning environments to lead professional development
sessions. Focus on skill development, not content.
- Identify pockets of excellence and use these environments as standards for school improvement.
- Use technology to meet the diverse needs of students.
"We
have high expectations of our staff. We don't want you to work here
unless you are comfortable with and able to use technology."
— Dr. Chip Kimball, Superintendent, Lake Washington School District, Redmond, WA
Getting Up to Speed
Henke, K. G. “Educators and the Long Tail: Implications for Teaching and Professional Development.” (Executive Summary) CoSN Compendium,
2009.
ICT Competency Standards for Teachers: Policy Framework. United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2008.
Miller, M. Teaching for a New World: Preparing High School Educators to Deliver College- and Career-Ready Instruction. Alliance for
Excellent Education Policy Brief, 2009.
Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership
Going Deeper
The National Staff Development Council
November Learning Building Learning Communities Conference
Silva, E. Teachers at Work: Improving Teacher Quality Through School Design. Education Sector, 2009.
“We have high expectations
of our staff. We don’t want you to work here unless you are comfortable with
and able to use technology.”
—Dr. Chip Kimball
Superintendent
Lake Washington School
District
Redmond, WA