January 5, 2015

 

Professional Learning News
Happy New Learning 2015
 
It's the time of the year when everyone makes new resolutions. Jon Gordon recently stated "9 of 10 people will fail with their resolutions. 1/2 will fail by the end of January. Instead pick one word and let it inspire you all year." 


I chose "Change." Not particularly earth shattering...but, thinking about our work as educators, we deal with change every day. If students aren't changing, they aren't learning.


Change pushes me, challenges me, and makes me grow. I like to learn and change requires learning. I want to improve every day. I want to listen better, ask questions that deepen learning and stretch thinking, support and inspire others. As I look forward to 2015, I am excited about changes that will challenge me to learn and to implement new knowledge, skills and ideas.


 

Now, it's your turn. What's your word for 2015? 


Teachers' Needs Must Drive the Professional Learning Agenda
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation released a research report commissioned from the Boston Consulting Group. Teachers Know Best: Teachers' Views on Professional Development offers insights into the professional learning that teachers and other educators experience. Researchers surveyed more than 1,300 teachers, principals, professional development providers, and thought leaders. 

 

We think we know a lot about effective professional learning, yet we have too few examples of where what we know is truly working and scaling smoothly. This tells me I have a lot to learn. I hope you will read the report and share it with colleagues. Then have a conversation about what was learned from the report and what next steps might be. Let us know what you are thinking.

 

If you didn't get a chance to attend 
Learning Forward's 2014 Annual Conference 
in Nashville, or if you would just like to relive the excitement, here are two video excerpts to share with you. 

John Hattie, author of more than 14 books including Visible Learning and the Science of How We Learn, shares how his studies involving more than a quarter of a billion students revealed that 90-95% of the work teachers do enhances student achievement, and the real challenge in education is knowing our impact. Download his presentation.

 

Barrington Irving, aviation pioneer dedicated to empowering minority youth to pursue careers in aviation, discusses how his flying classroom challenged students from failing schools, but still needed to empower teachers who may not have been subject matter experts.
  

 

Learning Opportunities

UPCOMING EVENTS:

 

Learning Forward Virginia, Learning Forward Maryland and DC are the hosts for Learning Forward's 2015 Annual Conference, and we need you!!! There are several ways you can help. 

 

Bring your best work to D.C. in 2015

Apply to present at the 2015 Annual Conference in National Harbor, Maryland December 5-9, 2015, and share your expertise with educators from around the world.

 

Learning Forward's Annual Conference offers education leaders the connections, tools, learning opportunities, and strategies they need to understand and implement effective professional learning in their classrooms, schools, and districts. Submit your proposal to present a session and join your colleagues in exploring best practices in professional learning.

 

 

Volunteers needed to score proposals on February 6, 2015.

Breakfast is provided from 7:30 am to 8:00 am. Proposal review training will begin at 8:00 am and reviewing will continue until completed in the afternoon. If volunteers cannot make this start time, they should arrive when they are able.

 
Lunch will also be provided. Reviewers may bring a laptop computer.

We typically need about 60 reviewers to get all proposals reviewed three times. 
 
The scoring will take place at the Chesterfield County Public Schools, 13900 Hull Street  Midlothian, VA 23112. If interested in scoring, please fill out the form here.

 

 

Want to Volunteer for DC 2015 Conference? Click here
  
 
 

 

 

Wishing you all a joyful and learning-filled 2015!

 

 

Should you have questions or need additional information, please contact me or any member of our LFVA Board. Contact information is also listed on the LFVA web site. (www.learningforwardvirginia.org)

 

 

Sincerely,
Judy Newhouse
Executive Director
Learning Forward Virginia

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