Learning to facilitate Professional Development

The Teacher Learning Network (TLN) has delivered quality professional development courses for a number of years. I came across it recently as I was seeking providers that can provide on-demand professional learning. You can either attend a live or recorded course, complete an evaluation and you will receive a certificate.

One area of interest has been their courses focusing on the delivery of professional development to colleagues.

In my practice, there have been several occassions where I have presented professional development workshops, whether it may be a ten minute session in a whole school staff meeting or spending an hour with colleagues guiding them through the application of a resource in their teaching or learning.

But there is scope to further develop and refine my knowledge and skills in the delivery of professional development and do an even better job. The feedback that I receive has been good, but I aspire to do better.

So far I have done one course on presenting profssional development to colleagues. While it might be targeted to those who may want to be a provider of professional development, the knowledge presented is applicable to conducting it with fellow colleagues at school level such as planning the session itself, persuading the school executive to allow the presentation, organising time to prepare and undertaking the presentation. 

I also have completed a course on how to present professional development online. I learnt how to structure a presentation or course that engages with the audience i.e. encourage attendees to undertake short activities. This is based on the structure that the TLN follows.

I would recommend that teacher librarians sign up to TLN. It usually costs around $350 for 12 months but I think there are benefits to be gained. There are also courses relating to leadership which I intend on doing to brush up on my leadership skills. 

Teacher Librarian as Leader - Kay Oddone

Recently I read a blog entry by Kay Oddone of the University of Southern Queensland. I had been lacking literature relating to Leadership and how it may relate to the Teacher Librarian Role. Also I have been wanting to reflect on how I have demonstrated and applied leadership within my professional practice. 

By viewing her entry, there is a reference list that has been provided for anyone who may be searching for literature for themselves that is related to the topic and is worth pursuing. 

Reflecting on this article, I did not know that I have demonstrated capacity as a leader and more than likely have not noticed it until now. It has been more difficult to lead when you fill in for an absent colleague, but I have been presented with opportunities in various roles to demonstrate leadership.

Developing a positive reading culture within a school community has been an example of leadership, creating wide reading programs for schools or coordinating wide reading initatives e.g. NSW Premier's Reading Challenge. Even if filling in for colleague, I can still easily show leadership through my engagement amongst staff and students during a wide reading session. 

Modelling appropriate and safe use of technology is another example of leadership that I have applied. I have explained to students the purpose and role of copyright and how it relates to viewing material e.g. asking students to delete audiobook mp3 files off their devices once the loan period has expired. Also, I have provided workshops to teach students how to evaluate websites for their usefulness an reliability. 

Through undertaking professional development especially in recent times, I have discovered that I have applied innovative pedagogies and this has been without noticing it too or have had experiences where I have shown at least capacity to apply those pedogogies.

I also have provided at times professional development within school settings and have been exploring getting involved in providing professional development to fellow Teacher Librarians within my professional networks. 

I have set myself a challenge in the short term which is to promote the leadership aspect of my role. How can I promote to others that I am a leader in what I do.