Tools for Self-Directed Professional Development
1. Self-Directed PD Planning
- Promotes teacher self-reflection and PD action planning based on needs of teachers.
- Provides practical framework for teacher career-long PD planning.
- Provides opportunity for teacher-identified PD needs to influence school-based PD planning.
2. Reflection Form for Developing a Self-Directed PD Plan for Teachers
- Current Strengths
My current strengths as a TEACHER are...
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
- Learning Needs
I would like to/need to learn more about...
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
- How I Learn
I learn best when...
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
- Designing a Self-Directed PD Plan
(a) A goal I would like to strive for this year is...
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
(c) Resources which are available to me?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
(d) Some ways of keeping track of my progress are....
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
3. Inventory of Elements of Teaching
- Leadership and Planning
- Mentoring
- Lesson planning skills
- Ability to pre-assess student needs
- Ability to clarify learning outcomes
- Long range planning skills
- Understanding of different learning styles
- Use a variety of teaching methods
- Planning for individual differences
- Unit planning skill
- Developing new curriculum (units/programs)
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
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- Teaching Skills
- Clear directions to students
- Good pacing of instruction
- Interesting, clear, teaching methods
- Explanation of objectives to students
- Solid topic introductions
- Use of a variety of teaching techniques
- Use of questions which extend thinking
- Maximization of student participation in lessons
- Effective use of small groups
- Individualized instruction
- Effective work with special needs students
- Learning centres which challenge students
- Use of problem solving techniques
- Effective student evaluation strategies
- Effective (teacher) self-reflection
- Effective approaches to student discipline
- Effective skills in resolving classroom crises.
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______________________________________________
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- Teaching and Curriculum
- Elementary
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Physical Education
- Music
- Social Studies
- Art
- French
- Other
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
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- Secondary (List those areas in which you presently teach or may teach in the future)
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______________________________________________
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- Student-Teacher Interaction
- Teacher responses which extend thinking
- Teacher responses which promote creativity
- Effective counselling skills
* using reflective skills
* using empathy
* perception checking
- Building student’s self-esteem
- Discipline procedures which promote student self-direction
- Dealing with students with problems
- Teacher-Parent Communications
- Effective teacher-parent conferences
- Effective crises resolution techniques
- Parent involvement in school programs
4.1 Self-Directed PD Planning Form
| My goal is to...
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My level of commitment to this goal is...
_______________________________________________ Low High
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Specific steps I will take to reach my goal:
a.
b.
c.
d. |
->
->
->
->
|
a.
b.
c.
d. |
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| What could prevent me from reaching my Goal?
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| Strategies for overcoming possible problems.
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| Support Needed
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Benefits of Goal
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Ways of Tracking my Progress
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| Things I might consider doing next...
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Adapted from Transforming Professional Development, SPDU
4.2 Self-Directed PD Planning Form
A. Defining Individual Goals
Review your self-reflection form and identify your goal(s).
Professional goals:
1.
2.
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Describe in specific terms a short term goal which you would like to attain in the next two months.
Goal(s)-Short term:
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B. Personal Action Plan:
What resources will you require to attain your goals? (What learning materials, new information, skills of colleagues will you need to help you achieve you described goals?)
C. Finding Colleague Partner(s)
Which colleagues (from either your school or another school in the district) are in the best position to help you in this process of professional development?
4.3 Many Ways to Grow Professionally
- Attend a conference/workshop locally.
- Attend a conference/workshop regionally/provincially/nationally/internationally.
- Attend a workshop/conference or summer institute/course.
- Be a sponsor teacher for a student teacher.
- Become a BCTF PD associate, and carry on the Teachers Teaching Teachers Tradition.
- Become a BCTF Program Against Racism or Status of Women Program associate, and carry on the Teachers Teaching Teachers Tradition.
- Become active in your local association.
- Becoming a facilitator, and give a workshop locally, regionally, or provincially.
- Begin/continue university studies.
- Develop innovative programs for use in your classroom.
- Develop an annual personal PD plan, and maintain a PD portfolio.
- Explore the possibilities of bringing the BCTF’s Program for Quality Teaching to your local (call Christine Choinski @ 1-800-663-9163, local 1807, or 604-871-1807).
- Form/join a teacher research group.
- Participate in group planning.
- Hop on the Internet through BCTF Online or another PD site.
- Job-shadow in a related work situation.
- Join a professional organization/network:
- Provincial specialist association (33 within the BCTF)
- Local specialist association/Local Chapter of a PSA (See "Forming PSA Chapters")
- International network (ASCD, MSCD)
- Mentor a beginning teacher.
- Observe another teacher, and talk together about the lesson/program.
- Participate in curriculum development.
- Pilot curriculum/program.
- Read professional literature.
- Reflect, discuss, and research for the purpose of planning individual or group ongoing professional development.
- Develop the discipline of reflective journal keeping.
- Serve as your school’s PD representative.
- Share with colleagues what you found at a conference/workshop.
- Subscribe to/read professional journals.
- Watch professional videos.
- Work on a provincial committee (MoE or BCTF).
- Work on the Local Ed-Change Committee.
- Work on your local’s PD committee.
- Work with a colleague to discuss, observe, and critique a lesson/program (peer coaching).
- Write professional articles for your local’s newsletter, your PSA’s publications, or Teacher newsmagazine.