Educators bring a diversity of experiences and educational backgrounds to the classroom. While most enter the field as graduates of a traditional teacher education program, many come to teaching after years of working in other fields. Nearly 20% of educators earned certification through their state’s alternative certification program. This diversity makes for a vibrant educational environment but poses challenges for school leaders in planning the district’s PD program.
With different skill sets and varying levels of competency throughout the faculty, an in-service day that presents the same learning to everyone is not an effective approach to professional development. Some participants won’t be able to absorb all the information in such a short period, and others are already knowledgeable about the topic, so the exercise is a waste of time.
To better use PD time and resources, districts need to offer each teacher the opportunity to choose learning that meets their individual needs and goals.
Unlike a syllabus, which covers a single course within a defined time period, a learning path is a route that educators can take to achieve specific learning goals. Along the route, they engage in micro-courses offering small, bite-sized learning activities focusing on a single concept or skill. Each lesson builds each other while leading the teacher toward subject mastery.
This style of learning utilizes the principles of adult learning theory, which posits that adults learn best when learning is relevant and self-directed and when it considers the learner's prior knowledge. By offering learning opportunities that are personalized to meet the unique needs of each faculty member, districts can ensure that the learning is relevant. Teachers can choose learning opportunities that will fill in skill gaps and lead them on a path to develop skills and knowledge pertinent to their role in the district and their career stage.
While educators will always have to complete district- and state-mandated training, most professional growth develops when they can pursue topics that are important to them and their goals. Teachers enter the profession with varying levels of skills and experience. Not all need to begin with an introductory course on a particular topic, and to do so would be a waste of time and resources. A learning path model enables educators to begin where they are on a continuum of lessons that teach increasingly complex skills, and they can move forward from there.
This approach to learning is intrinsically motivating. The self-determination theory holds that humans are naturally curious and self-motivated and strive to learn. However, to embrace personal growth, three psychological needs must be met. To thrive, learners must have a sense of competence, a sense of autonomy, and a sense of community. They must believe that success is possible, that they are directing their learning and selecting their own paths, and that they must know that they are a contributing part of something greater than themselves.
Indeed, anyone who enters the field appreciates the value of education and embraces learning opportunities. However, traditional one-size-fits-all PD programs often miss the mark, and in-service days can become drudgery as they fail to meet a teacher’s psychological needs.
A learning path model meets these needs by offering short, easily digested lessons that build confidence. Educators can move in their own direction at their own pace, and since they share their challenges and successes with their peers, they create a supportive community in their schools and districts.
The advance of mobile technology has brought about the era of hyper-connectivity. People can now access the internet around the clock from a device that they carry in their pocket. In this digital environment, learning platforms have blossomed. Free sites like Khan Academy and Duolingo have millions of users. Brick-and-mortar universities, including a few in the Ivy League, now offer entire degrees online.
Unlike traditional PD, where everyone learns the same thing at the same time, harnessing this new technology enables your faculty to participate in PD when and where it is convenient for them, and they will be able to select lessons and paths that are relevant to their needs.
There are tens of thousands of online learning opportunities that teachers may explore, but sending educators to multiple platforms to pursue appropriate learning isn’t practical. The logistics of verifying the effectiveness of different programs, ensuring that learning is collectively measured by the same standards and that credentials earned are valid, and tracking individual progress can overwhelm the resources of any district.
School leaders need a streamlined way to develop learning paths and lessons that meet the specific needs of their faculty. They also need a way to consolidate PD in one place where they can easily track the progress of all activities. MobileMind offers a solution.
MobileMind is a cloud-based learning hub from which school leaders can create lessons and learning paths that meet the unique needs of their district and their educators. PD program developers may select prebuilt lessons and pathways for common training topics from the ReadyMade MarketPlace or create their own lessons to meet specific district needs. This personalization ensures that learning will be relevant and effective, as it considers the needs of adult learners.
Teachers can access these lessons and paths from a mobile device or desktop browser, making it possible to fit short lessons into their schedules and regularly engage in PD. Learning paths offered in this way are effective because educators can easily pursue topics at their own pace and grow as professionals. Additional motivation comes from the recognition of their progress, as they are awarded badges and micro-credentials upon reaching milestones in their learning. School leaders can track individual and group progress in the learning hub, where all activities, including traditional workshops, coursework, and mandated training, are consolidated in one space.
A diverse workforce requires personalized learning opportunities, and advances in mobile technology and cloud computing make this possible. MobileMind simplifies the process of using these tools so districts can create effective PD programs their faculty will find engaging and relevant.
MobileMind provides personalized professional development through ReadyMade Marketplace. Get pre-built learning paths, micro-courses, and badges for EdTech training with one click. Schedule a call to learn more.
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