Knowledge is power - but how do you plug into new ideas when organisational budgets are flipping the switch on PD?
There is a wealth of opportunities that won't cost the earth or force you to travel it to be found online - and there's more to explore than MOOCs and webinars.
"In this paper, professional development is defined as an ongoing learning process in which teachers engage voluntarily to learn how best to adjust their teaching to the learning needs of their students. Professional development is not a one-shot, one-size-fits-all event, but rather an evolving process of professional self-disclosure, reflection, and growth that yields the best results when sustained over time in communities of practice and when focused on job-embedded responsibilities" (Defining Professional Development, ¶1).
What: EdCamp Citrus is an unconference devoted to K-12 Education issues and ideas. Where: Citrus High School, Inverness, FL
When: December 4, 2010
Cost: FREE!
Ive joined Steve Hardegon's new venture after listening to the intro,I love the idea of focussing my networking (with other educators) and co creating resources. It's a mix of the best of Facebook,Myspace,Ning,Conferencing,own webinars,leveraging all the best platforms to network and it's free. Yes its Elluminate-its beta so evolutionary at this moment. Steve will train you to host your own webinars in this early bird time.
Plus I can easily locate the people who share similar resource/interests to myself.
make conferences more practical, not just hands on training with new tools, but a focus on the actual creation of something that bridges new learning with what you already know, and asks you to create something useful.