"Hit and Run" Professional Development

I've been forced to sit through these professional development sessions.  You know what I'm talking about, my fellow educators:  those PD experiences that are more closely related to what I call an 'information dump' without any real-world practical application, examples, hands-on collaboration, etc.  After such an experience, I would take my handouts (if any were provided), return to my classroom and the million and one and other things I have on my to-do list.  The handout would invariably get filed away in my PD folder and when I would try to re-call the learning experience...well, I think you get the picture.  This is not to say that I haven't had some amazing PD experiences in my career--I HAVE!  But I would love to say that all of these experiences were wonderful.

I also know what it's like to be on the other side of the fence.  Although I insisted that every PD I conducted be a hands on experience that fostered collaboration and creation, I am guilty of providing these 'information dump' professional development sessions as the K-12 Ed Tech industry usually bills PD per-day.  While I did my best to support my teachers post-PD (via phone calls, emails, one-on-one webinars, and training materials), I know that the best professional development experience--and successful integration and implementation of a particular technology product--requires ON-GOING support!

Until the K-12 Educational Technology industry realizes this and places the value on PD services and the direct correlation to future sales (especially cloud-based product subscription renewals), I think schools and districts will continue to struggle with adoption and user experience.

I also think that the approach to PD needs to shift from providing teachers with a punch list or menu of offerings to supporting teacher choice and helping them along a more personalized professional development path.

I know there are companies and districts out there getting it right.

But, I can only speak from my own experience, both as a teacher and as a service provider.