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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: professional development.

Professional Development Opinion Heart-Healthy Educator Evaluation Systems
Education evaluation systems claim to place professional growth and development at their heart. However, too much focus on operational components and not enough on the learning may set up potentially nullifying circumstances.
Learning Forward, February 3, 2014
•
2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Top Publications that Connect Leadership to Learning
Frederick Brown explores the most popular publications downloaded from The Wallace Foundation that includes a mix of perspectives, groundbreaking research reports, and insightful publications from multiple organizations that connect leadership to teacher and student learning.
Learning Forward, January 28, 2014
•
2 min read
Teaching Opinion More of This and Less of That: How Do You Score?
In professional learning that leads to changed educator practices and improved student results, there are five shifts that must occur. See how your state, system, school, or learning team measures up.
Learning Forward, January 22, 2014
•
2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Focus on Team Member Strengths for Learning to Flourish
As the Learning Forward staff reads StrengthsFinder 2.0 and uses the accompanying assessment to identify individual strengths, Carol François reflects on the importance of having each team member understand what makes him or her strong individually in order to have a strong team.
Learning Forward, January 17, 2014
•
1 min read
Professional Development Opinion Invest in School Board Learning
When school board members engage in effective professional learning themselves, they will ensure its implementation across the school system and hold the superintendent accountable for it. Stephanie Hirsh and Anne Foster share five ways school boards can practice effective professional learning.
Learning Forward, January 13, 2014
•
3 min read
Education Opinion Staff Agreements Help Nurture a Positive Working Culture
Stephanie Hirsh shares how Learning Forward works toward a culture that is productive, supportive, fun, and accountable.
Learning Forward, January 6, 2014
•
3 min read
Families & the Community Opinion 2 Resolutions for the New Year
Frederick Brown publicly commits to two New Year's resolutions in support of improving practice and advocating on behalf of learning for everyone, and asks you to share your own "learner-centered" resolutions.
Learning Forward, January 2, 2014
•
4 min read
Education Opinion Top 10 Most Popular PD Watch Posts for 2013
As we reflect on the past year, we would like to provide readers of Learning Forward's PD Watch with a look at the top 10 most-accessed posts from 2013, in decreasing order.
Learning Forward, December 23, 2013
•
2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Cultivating Professional Learning Growth Through the Learning School Alliance
For Carol François, watching schools develop and grow through the Learning School Alliance has been much like her experience planting a garden.
Learning Forward, December 19, 2013
•
2 min read
Teaching Opinion Promises and Pitfalls of Individually Focused Professional Learning
The backbone of educator evaluation systems includes individually focused professional learning. Joellen Killion explores the potential promises and pitfalls of professional learning aligned to individual areas for improvement.
Learning Forward, December 17, 2013
•
2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Share the Wheel for a Smoother Journey
Most of us have times when we are in the driver's seat as well as times when we feel like we are in the passenger seat. When it comes to school leadership, a willingness to share the wheel may result in reaching your destination more easily.
Learning Forward, December 12, 2013
•
2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Prioritizing Your Own Learning When You Lead Others is a Tough Task
"Calgon, take me away!" Tracy Crow remembers watching commercials for Calgon bath products and thinking, yes, when she's an adult, shell need a soothing bubble bath to escape the stresses of daily life. Since then, she has learned that, when it comes to prioritizing our own learning needs as leaders, we need to make "me time" public.
Learning Forward, December 9, 2013
•
2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Get the Most Out of Conference Learning
Beginning this weekend, more than 3,000 attendees will gather in Dallas for five days of networking, inquiry, problem solving, and paradigm shifting. Stephanie Hirsh shares several suggestions for getting the most out of this or any conference learning experience.
Learning Forward, December 5, 2013
•
2 min read
Professional Development Opinion Invite, Invest, and Unleash the Potential of Emerging Leaders
When Stephanie Hirsh thinks about emerging leaders and their connection to professional learning and school improvement, she envisions three stages to propelling such leaders forward so they can have the greatest impact on educator and student learning.
Learning Forward, December 2, 2013
•
3 min read
Load More ▼