Thing 22

My own PD online! What a great opportunity to let a professional choose what they think will make them better! As an administrator I would have no problem allowing my staff to choose a PD subject/topic/lesson that they thing would allow them to excel in their subject area(s). We talk a lot of individualizing lesson plans for students, individualized education plan, individualize this and that, but often we send teachers to PD or only give them a select few to choose from. With web 2.0 it allows the teachers to create their own PD. I will make this option available to teachers and find an effective way to record it is begin done, and how is it going to impact their daily teaching.

I absolutely would do my own PD online, I am taking an optional 23 things to know about web 2.0! And I think others would if there is a way we can allow the teachers a way to replace an already existing PD activity with a 2.0 activity.

The advantage is subject/person specific professional development. If a social studies teacher wants to start implement Google Earth in his/her lesson plans, and is given the opportunity to learn how to use this in a PD opportunity, instead of being made to go to a PD session on writing lesson plans, what a benefit to the teacher and the students. In a way, I think this might help prevent "burn out" in teachers...?!?

My experience with this course has been positive, more self discipline was needed, and I need to continue (start) to build this type of "work" into my daily schedule. If I just put it in, like it's an appointment I'm a lot more likely to do it! I'm thankful I am at the Monroe ISD and that access to many of these sites are not blocked, reading some of the issues people ran into was discouraging and frustrating for them, I'm sure.