Professional Development Blog

Learning Forward's PD Watch

Learning Forward is the nation’s largest nonprofit membership association focused solely on ensuring success for all students through effective professional learning and school improvement. It advocates for every educator having access to professional learning that is results-driven, standard-based, and job-embedded. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: professional development.

Education Opinion Summer Learning Loss Is Not Just for Kids
As professional learning leaders, we have a charge to advocate for and design high-quality summer learning options for the educators we serve, says Carol François. Just as students experience summer learning loss, so do adults.
Learning Forward, March 28, 2014
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2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Everyone Is Invested in Measuring Professional Learning
Dawn F. Wilson shares how evaluating professional learning is an important endeavor for stakeholders at all levels, including policy makers, system leaders, and school-based educators.
Learning Forward, March 26, 2014
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2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Is Getting Consensus on Beliefs Really Important?
Stephanie Hirsh explores the practice of debating beliefs as a part of strategic planning and its effect on teams and actions.
Learning Forward, March 20, 2014
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1 min read
Professional Development Opinion Spring into Learning Designs
This has been a long winter for most people. Whether they have experienced severe drought, bitter cold, heavy rains and winds, or endless snows, most are ready for a change of season. It is also a time for changing seasons in professional learning.
Learning Forward, March 17, 2014
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3 min read
Families & the Community Opinion A Letter to Frustrated Educators
Tracy Crow shares some simple steps to help educators embrace ongoing changes in the learning profession.
Learning Forward, March 13, 2014
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3 min read
Professional Development Opinion Clarifying the Role of School Board Members
To properly understand their role in continuous improvement through professional learning, says Stephanie Hirsh and Anne Foster, a school board's members must study and learn together, demonstrating that they value learning for everyone on the team.
Learning Forward, March 11, 2014
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2 min read
IT Infrastructure & Management Opinion Learning Is the 'Secret Sauce' for Any High-Performing Organization
What do we hope to see when we read the OECD reports, look at the winners of Broad prizes, and look at top scorers in the National Assessment of Educational Progress? We're hunting for the "secret sauce," says Stephanie Hirsh, and she has an answer to what it is.
Learning Forward, March 6, 2014
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2 min read
Professional Development Opinion There IS Time for Professional Learning
Time is a precious commodity in schools, and if we're committed to changing results for students, we have to challenge our assumptions about time for professional learning.
Learning Forward, March 3, 2014
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2 min read
IT Infrastructure & Management Opinion 6 Components of a Comprehensive Professional Learning System
Remodeling Literacy Learning Together: Paths to Standards Implementation, from the National Center for Literacy Education, offers more strong evidence that when educators engage frequently in meaningful collaboration, their power to change practices and help more students at higher levels increases significantly.
Learning Forward, February 27, 2014
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4 min read
Professional Development Opinion Are You Ready for a Commitment to Transformation?
Ambitious school improvement efforts aren't for the faint-hearted. Before you embark on your next professional learning initiative, ask these questions to make sure that you and your team are ready to make the commitment necessary to achieve ongoing success.
Learning Forward, February 19, 2014
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2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Which Standards to Implement? All or None
Joellen Killion asks, "Which professional learning standards should we address as we plan?" The answer is simple, she says: The standards work as an integrated whole, so it is all or none.
Learning Forward, February 17, 2014
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3 min read
Education Opinion Seven Policy Shifts that Improve Professional Learning
As policies transform expectations for students and educators, policies must transform expectations for professional learning. Stephanie Hirsh shares a chart to consider how well your state or system is transforming its professional learning policies.
Learning Forward, February 12, 2014
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3 min read
Families & the Community Opinion Learning to Dive
Learning Forward hopes that educators find joy in learning. Read how achieving outcomes from aligning adult learning with our Standards for Professional Learning are a path to joy, and then share your own moments of joy with us.
Learning Forward, February 10, 2014
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2 min read
Teaching Opinion Collaboration and Commitment Turn Belief Into Innovative Solutions
Julie Blaine, president of the Learning Forward Board of Trustees, shares a success story that demonstrates the innovation and dedication it takes to rise to the top when implementing and supporting districtwide learning.
Learning Forward, February 5, 2014
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3 min read
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