Winter PD is right around the corner for tech coaches everywhere. Whether its the last days before the winter break, or the first days back in January, most schools are providing professional development for their teachers in the near future. If you’ve been asked to plan and lead a PD session soon, I highly recommend giving these three episodes of the Restart Recharge Podcast a listen to help improve your teacher PD!
These episodes came from a mini-series our team did on the podcast back in June and July of 2021. You can listen wherever you listen to podcasts, but I’ve also embedded them below.
1. A Year of PD, Part 1 of the PD Mini Series. This episode really focuses on helping PD providers align their PD to district and building goals, which we know is incredibly important to support sustainable changes and make the most impact as a coach. If you’re reading this now, or in the middle of the school year, it’s not too late to give this episode a listen. Chances are, some folks might still be trying to figure out what to offer on the upcoming PD days, and this episode may help you get a seat at the table for those discussions. Give the guests Brooke Conklin and Emily Cowan a follow on Twitter. Listen here or below.
2. Differentiation, Part 2 of the PD Mini Series. This episode has been, hands down, one of my favorites from season one of the podcast. Guests Brooke Conklin & Tracee Keough give so many great ideas for differentiating PD for our educators (give them a follow on Twitter!). It is hard to master this art for our adult learners when we are given so little time for group PD, and this episode is guaranteed to leave you with some new ideas to make differentiating your PD possible. Listen here or below.
3. PD that Sticks, Part 3 of the PD Mini Series. Any PD is only as good as the intended audience can remember the material and put it into use. The final episode in this mini-series covers a number of fun elements you can add to ensure you provide a memorable PD experience for your attendees. Guests for this final episode, Brooke Conklin & Lisa Kuhn, are always creating a fun atmosphere for their educators, so you’re sure to walk away with new tricks up your sleeve after you give this one a listen. And don’t forget to follow them on Twitter, along with the Restart Recharge Podcast. Listen here or below.
I hope these three Restart Recharge Podcast episodes will help spark some new ideas and give you the boost you need to plan and lead an awesome mid-year (or any time) PD experience for your teachers. I’d love to hear what tips you have for other coaches when planning and leading PD… drop them in the comments below!
Tech To You Later!
-Katie, Ed.D.