1o things teachers want from professional development

Have you seen the ’10 things teachers want for professional development’ graphic below by Sylvia Duckworth (@sylviaduckworth) circulating the Internet at the moment? This is centre-field for us at mme moe in our mission to make learning better for students. 

Here is how mme moe can help with each item on the list:

A voice and a choice in professional learning – This is crucial to teacher development. The alternative to agency is compliance-based PD.  mme moe supports you to do the professional learning you want and need. It is called heutagogy, the next frontier beyond pedagogy and andragogy.

Professional learning that is relevant for their students – Whether it is learning how to better manage small group dynamics, or getting a better understanding of authentic assessment, or managing your personal energy better, mme moe will help you target your improvement to your students.

Professional learning that they can use straight away – We are not totally oblivious to the slow burn of a thoughtful, reflective approach to improving your teaching,  but because we also like to see results quickly, you can use mme moe to dial-up your learning.

Professional learning that is created by professionals with classroom experience – We don’t necessarily agree that all teaching wisdom comes from the classroom, or that it can only come from a classroom, but either way, there is plenty of scope to dial-up the expertise you want and need through mme moe pathways.

Professional learning that is innovative and creative – Yes, but just as importantly, because  it needs to be of good quality, mme moe allows you to vote (literally) on whether what is on offer is up to standard!

Professional learning that makes them better teachers – You can use mme moe to dial into a lot of professional learning, but we firmly believe that what makes you a better teacher is you, and your mindset. We know that the same professional learning experience can ignite some but send others to sleep. It is not necessarily the experience. It is you!

Professional learning that is practical and not theoretical – All practice has a theoretical base, so we think this is code for more doing, and less listening in professional learning activities. This depends, in our view, on how each person best learns. Some just need quiet spaces to read and think and work it through; some do fabulous sketch-noting; some want to argue and contest their way through to the learning, but in any event, mme moe pathways encourage you to learn in the way that you learn best.

Professional learning that allows teachers to collaborate and speak honestly – A safe space is needed for this to occur, and mme moe provides that space.

Professional learing that will be relevant for a long time – Well, at least until the particular learning or skill is superceded, and you can use mme moe to keep up to date in a fast changing education context.

Admin to attend and participate in professional learning – We have the same aspirations for principals and school management. It makes sense, therefore, that mme moe also exists for school leaders so that they too continuously and incrementally improve at what they do.

Infographic by Sylvia Duckworth