1. 1. Leveraging Digital Tools for Self- Directed PLCs/PD Jon Maxwell, Ph.D. #DigitalPLCs
2. 2. Teachers are Professionals Need to treat them as professionals Too much of their job is being controlled by others Especially Professional Development #DigitalPLCs
3. 3. Quality Professional Development What should PD look like for educators? Ongoing or Cyclical Focused on Student Achievement & Growth #DigitalPLCs
4. 4. Data Driven Needs Assessment Aligned with campus goals, state and district learning standards, assessments, and professional learning activities including formative teacher evaluation Aligned with school, grade level, and/or classroom needs Based on qualitative and quantitative data #DigitalPLCs
5. 5. Collaborative Planning Encourage teachers to facilitate the learning activities rather than having them organized by administrators Provide opportunities for teachers to offer input about topics for professional development Keep topics practical and applicable rather than theoretical and philosophical Teachers research strategies or concepts Focus on content and modeling of teaching strategies for the content Actively plan to support pedagogical content knowledge #DigitalPLCs
6. 6. Active, Collaborative Learning Inclusion of opportunities for active learning of new teaching strategies Provision of opportunities for collaboration among teachers Provide options to support different learning styles Embrace teachers variety of experiences as learning opportunities Facilitate dialogue among educators geared towards problem solving Create a system-wide culture that welcomes diversity, openness, and critique #DigitalPLCs
7. 7. Implementation with Guided Support Inclusion of embedded follow-up and continuous feedback Just-in-time support Facilitate dialogue among educators geared towards problem solving Create a system-wide culture that welcomes diversity, openness, and critique Support alternate theories and varied reflections to drive discussions, debate, and problem solving #DigitalPLCs
8. 8. Evaluation & Metacognition Provide time for teachers to collaborate to discuss issues, problem solve, modify lesson design, and brainstorm solutions Utilize assessments (formative) to determine growth (positive or negative) and next steps Should include a balanced assessment approach Facilitate dialogue among educators geared towards problem solving Create a system-wide culture that welcomes diversity, openness, and critique Support alternate theories and varied reflections to drive discussions, debate, and problem solving #DigitalPLCs
9. 9. All Steps Centered on Student Achievement & Growth Student Achievement & Growth are the main goals of education All educators & educational leaders should be focused on the needs of students What can I do to assist and facilitate student achievement? #DigitalPLCs
10. 10. Digital PD Teacher Driven PD via Digital Research Articles Videos Websites #DigitalPLCs Image from http://www.educause.edu/visuals/shared/ERO/ERO1303/xERO1376-ArticleArtwork.jpg.pagespeed.ic.AjbG5wwtjW.jpg
11. 11. Digital Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) Digital PLCs Twitter Chats Webinars Google Groups https://groups.google.com/d/forum/digital-plcs-for- educators Digital Lesson Sharing Example: EduSmart #DigitalPLCs
12. 12. Digital PLCs Google Groups Digital PLCs Allows members to: Have online discussions Share resources Share Experiences Make Connections #DigitalPLCs
13. 13. Digital PLCs EduSmart Digital PLCs Allows members to: Create & share lessons Give feedback about lessons Learn from other teachers #DigitalPLCs
14. 14. Digital PLCs EduSmart Video: https://youtu.be/pL5SpBW4R1k
15. 15. Create Your Own Digital PD & PLC Groups and CHANGE THE WORLD Contact Information: Jon Maxwell, Ph.D. JonathanMaxwellTX@yahoo.com Twitter Handle: M0301587 https://drjonmaxwell.wordpress.com Do not hesitate to contact me with questions or share your ideas! #DigitalPLCs