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Transform Your Teaching: The Power of Personalised Professional Development

Section 1: Investing in Your Growth

As a teacher, you have the incredible opportunity to shape the minds of future generations. However, in order to provide the best education for your students, it’s important to invest in your own growth and development as well. Ongoing professional development is the key to unlocking your full potential as a teacher.

At Bellearn, we understand the unique challenges and demands that teachers face in their profession. That’s why we have created personalized professional development programmes that are designed to meet your specific needs and goals. Whether you are a new teacher looking to build a strong foundation or a seasoned educator wanting to enhance your skills, our programmes will provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to thrive in the classroom.

Section 2: Tailored to Your Needs

What if your professional development as a teacher was tailored uniquely to you? Welcome to Bellearn´s Personalised Professional Development (PPD). We believe that one-size-fits-all approaches to professional development are ineffective. That’s why our programmes are personalised to meet your individual needs and preferences.

PPD is the process of creating a unique programme of learning that is personalised to the experience and context of each teacher. Before starting the programme, we conduct a thorough assessment to understand your strengths, areas for growth and professional goals. Don’t worry, it doesn´t take long and is all done online, using the latest in AI technologies. Based on this assessment, we create a customised learning plan that includes a range of experiences and activities

Section 3: Professional Development – It’s All About You!

Welcome to the Learning Zone

The Learning Zone is the specific area that is formed by a teacher´s ´when and where´ i.e., experience (past) and context (present).

Experience:       

every teacher has a unique timeline of where and when they have taught. Whilst many teachers could have taught a Year 2 class, or a Year 9 Mathematics class, they won’t have the same experiences as the students will have been different, even in the same school, and the environment (context) will have been different. Experience is a core component of professional knowledge. And, while there is no guarantee that the more experienced a teacher is, the more knowledge they possess, there is an assumption that those experiences will have added to the professional knowledge (know that) and expertise (know-how) of the teacher. Whilst there may be commonalities in experience when layered with context, a teacher´s experience is unique to them and that is why a personalized approach is so important.

Context:              

every teacher works in a unique context, their ‘here and now’. Context is where knowledge is applied (know with). This is also called the ´Transfer´ phase of learning. The closest that we get to sharing a context with another teacher is if we team-teach or job-share. And, as with experience, there may be commonalities, but the truth is that every context is unique and that is why PPD is so important.

Section 4: Personalised Professional Development

PPD starts with the Teacher

Professor John Hattie´s Visible Learning research (1) clearly demonstrates the powerful learning effect of linking the past with the future, i.e., linking what we already know (know that) and can do (know-how), to what we want to know and be able to do. An Effect Size of 0.93 (where d = 0.40 – the average Effect Size) means that this is an incredibly powerful way to start the learning journey for each teacher. Like all good classroom practice, PPD starts where the learner is in their own journey, not from a fixed point that is unattainable.

PPD is based on Choice

PPD allows educators to tailor their learning experiences to their specific needs and interests, by identifying their own unique professional context, goals, and challenges. This personalised approach ensures that time and effort are invested in areas that will have the greatest impact on their professional practice. Too much professional learning (training, courses, in-service training, twilight/after-school training, school improvement training, external courses, online courses, etc) is driven by somebody else´s agenda. Whilst there are times when these traditional approaches can be useful, in the main they are not optimized because there is little impact in the classroom. PPD is founded on the principle that teachers know what they need to become better at, so they should make the choices and drive their own professional development. When this is done in conjunction with in-school support (peer support and/or school leadership) it becomes a highly effective learning tool.

PPD is Built Around Teachers´Busy Lives

Teachers are busy people. One of the biggest challenges of being a teacher is to balance the need to continuously improve our practice whilst balancing the realities of the day-to-day demands of the job. Students come first! When we arrive at school in the morning, we can never be quite sure what the day will throw at us. As well as managing the academic development of our students, we are also responsible for their social, moral, emotional, and physical development & well-being.  Putting aside large amounts of time for professional learning, whilst desirable, is often impractical as teachers are either marking books, planning and preparing lessons, meeting with colleagues, putting up displays, running sports teams, managing interventions, dealing with behavioural issues, etc, etc, etc or catching up on much-needed sleep or family time!

PPD is based on the concept of micro-learning. Micro-learning is a process where learning is designed and delivered in small chunks, with critical core content and a call to action in the classroom. It is not limited to specific time frames or structures. Teachers can engage in learning activities at their own pace, ensuring that their professional development is a continuous journey rather than a one-time event. This flexibility enables educators to stay up-to-date with the latest research, best practices, and educational trends, enhancing their teaching effectiveness over time.

It´s Time to Personalize Your Professional Development

In conclusion, PPD offers a more effective approach to professional growth for teachers. By focusing on individual needs, promoting self-directed learning, and allowing for continuous development, Personalised Professional Development empowers teachers to make meaningful and impactful improvements to their teaching practice.

References:

Sources:

Harvard DCE. (n.d.). Why is Professional Development Important? Retrieved from https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-professional-development-important/

Asana. (n.d.). What is a Professional Development Plan (PDP)? 6 Steps [2023]. Retrieved from https://asana.com/resources/professional-development-plan

12:57 16Jul, 2023