The Future of Professional Development

Michael Iannini's monthly newsletter focuses on how professional development for international schools is changing and why it is for the better.

7 JANUARY, 2021  |  ISSUE #5 “In times of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves beautifully equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” — Eric Hoffer, Reflections on the Human Condition The Future of Professional Development Happy New Year << Test First Name >>, I like to think that the days of hiring a consultant and forcing every staff member to pile into an auditorium are long behind us. Unfortunately, there are too many educators longing for a return to face-to-face workshops and conferences. A one size fits all buffet of learning, which is without question the biggest waste of money and time a school can invest in.  I realize this is a very off-putting statement, especially for those that hope to participate in a Conference in some exotic location, but truth be told, research on adult learning clearly shows that very little learning is applied back in the work place if the learning isn't embedded in the job. At best we can hope that staff can use 10% of what they learned, but what they learn will most likely only impact their individual practice. Virtualizing PD not only can give us access to all of the great speakers that we want to travel to see, but do it on our terms so that we can chunk the content enabling us to apply what we learn while we are learning it. In my most recent article on this topic I share how I helped ACAMIS successfully pivot from face-to-face to virtual PD, Why virtual PD is the new norm and 6 considerations to make it work: Confessions of a skeptic convert.  I invite you to also join me for an interactive presentation on why virtual PD is better for our schools at the 21st Century Learning Online Conference. Use this promotion code PDISCOUNT149 to get a 25% discount on your registration fee. At this conference I will not only be speaking about the future of professional development but also co-facilitating a 5-step design process that will help schools address the social, emotional needs of their learners in a distance learning environment. Lastly, I invite you to complete this 5-minute survey on professional development. In my role as the contracted ACAMIS PD Coordinator I am always looking to identify new educational trends that we can support with world class trainers. This annual survey helps ACAMIS to identify timely topics facilitated by proven speakers that can help participants embed learning in their roles. I wish you a purposeful and collaborative year ahead, Michael Iannini, Founder, MiddleLeader.com Reflect, Focus, and Grow Professional growth comes from applying the learning, and that is the bulk of the process. Read more Virtualizing PD Schools shouldn't fly in consultants for PD nor send staff to far-off conferences. Read more Capacity-Building Strategies To develop a middle leader’s capacity, schools have several strategies they can use. Read more ACAMIS 2021-22 PD Needs Survey This survey is composed of 11 questions and takes 5 minutes to complete. The results will be shared with all respondents. To persevere in a pandemic we need to work interdependently to achieve shared goals. This FREE Master Class is designed to ensure you develop yourself as a leader and encourage you to work interdependently with peers and senior leaders to achieve transformative goals. Start your new year with my Free Master Class on Goal Setting.  21ST CENTURY LEARNING PRESENTATIONS Virtual PD Can Be More Effective Than Flying in Consultants Michael Iannini will share ACAMIS’s experience virtualizing its workshops and conferences that indicates the benefits of facilitating teacher training virtually. Design for Social Emotional Learning [Online course] This session will take participants through a 5- step design process that helps them address the social, emotional needs of their learners in a distance learning environment. LIVE SESSIONS WITH INFLUENCERS Training isn't Enough! with Jennifer Abrams Jennifer Abrams and I vent about how good learning gets undermined by needs for immediate answers. The Gift of Coaching with Steve Barkley Steve and I discuss how middle leaders can start developing their coaching skills. UPCOMING PD OPPORTUNITIES Personalized Instructional Coaching with Steve Barkley Facilitated by Steve Barkley Feb 5 - Apr 29 | Online Instructional Coaching is an activity that most administrators, supervisors, and middle-level leaders see as crucial in the task of building continued teacher capabilities across a school staff. Leading in Your Role: School Nursing in a Pandemic (Mandarin and English cohorts) Facilitated by Anita Tsang and Henry Wong Feb 27 - Mar 20 | Online The purpose of this workshop is to guide the participants to develop and share best practices when dealing with pandemic health and safety measures, thus safeguarding the students and the school community. Leading Effective Teams: For New and Aspiring Teacher Leaders Facilitated by Michael Iannini Apr 17 - May 15 | Online This course will instruct participants on how to foster greater interdependency among team members and develop a sustainable collaborative team culture. Check out our previous issues! Copyright © 2021 Middleleader.com, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Middleleader.com Cyberport Hong Kong Hong Kong Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.