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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: professional development.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 Innovation can help us overcome persistent challenges in professional learning
While innovation may scare off those who have been involved in too many pilot projects, we need to take this opportunity to examine the impact, scale, efficiency, and effectiveness of new strategies in professional learning.
Learning Forward, March 14, 2013
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3 min read
Education Opinion Teachers Aren't the Only Educators Who Need Support to Implement Changes
Changes of the scope of new standards, assessments, and educator effectiveness systems require extensive, widespread professional learning for every educator who shares responsibility for the success of these new initiatives.
Learning Forward, March 5, 2013
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3 min read
Education Opinion We Can't Neglect Professional Learning Evaluation
Knowing professional learning is achieving its intended outcomes is not a simple matter, but that's no excuse for neglecting its evaluation. Explore a three-stage approach to measuring the impact of professional learning.
Learning Forward, March 2, 2013
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5 min read
Education Opinion You've Got Your Teacher Evaluation. Now What?
A couple of weeks ago, Megan Allen, a fifth-grade teacher in Tampa who blogs at transformED, wrote a post entitled "I've got my teacher evaluation. Now what?" In her post, Allen shared six suggestions that would help link teacher evaluations to effective professional development. The following post is our response to Megan.
Learning Forward, February 25, 2013
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3 min read
Education Opinion Survey Indicates Need for High-Quality Professional Learning
Today's release of the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Challenges for School Leadership provides valuable information about teacher and principal needs, highlighting the increasing importance of high-quality professional learning.
Learning Forward, February 21, 2013
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2 min read
Education Opinion Leading the Way on Common Core
A Kentucky task force develops (and shares) model Innovation Configuration maps to support the implementation of the Common Core State Standards.
Learning Forward, February 18, 2013
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4 min read
Education Opinion Commitment Is Vital to Professional Learning
Most important to the success of all of our connected initiatives, including Common Core and teacher assessment, is leaders' commitment to effective professional learning.
Learning Forward, February 14, 2013
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2 min read
Education Opinion Using Data to Align Learning Goals
Examining three ways teacher leaders can use data to align professional learning to student learning.
Learning Forward, February 6, 2013
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2 min read
Education Opinion The Second Dimension of Professional Learning
Implementation has been the weak link in the chain of professional learning. That can't be the case.
Learning Forward, January 31, 2013
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3 min read
Education Opinion What Are School Boards Asking About Common Core?
A local school board meeting yields insightful questions about the board's role in ensuring successful implementation of Common Core State Standards.
Learning Forward, January 28, 2013
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2 min read
Education Opinion Creating the Conditions for School Success
Principals who engage in five key practices set the stage for improved educator and student learning in their schools.
Learning Forward, January 23, 2013
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2 min read
Education Opinion How We Became a Learning School
Participating in the Learning School Alliance transforms an Illinois elementary school.
Learning Forward & Stephanie Novak, January 16, 2013
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2 min read
Education Opinion A Credo That Still Rings True
What attributes should we strive to develop in students, teachers, and ourselves?
Learning Forward, January 14, 2013
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1 min read
Education Opinion Coaches Recognize Learning Is Change
Research on change can help us lead, plan, design, facilitate, support, and sustain professional learning.
Learning Forward, January 10, 2013
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2 min read
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