Problems of Practice Shape Professional Learning With Teacher Leader Academy
Teacher Leader Academy (TLA) began with a cohort of teachers who elected to participate in professional learning that centered on a problem of practice. A problem of practice is rooted in the everyday needs of learners; it’s a challenge that calls for a solution.
Educators participated in 90-day cycles of learning during the TLA pilot.
During 90-day learning cycles, teachers worked collaboratively with their grade level or subject area teams on this problem, utilizing resources on the Learn Next platform to delve into creative solutions and new instructional techniques. For example, one teacher worked on “differentiating, personalizing, and learning for different kids.” The teams provided feedback to each other via a video coaching platform, where they were able to observe each other teaching.
“I’m about to bust out a whole new pedagogy in my teaching style. It’s going to definitely take me out of my comfort zone, but it’s a change that needs to happen. So I’m happy that this is kind of like encouraging me to… holding me accountable, I’m not going to be able to drop the ball on this one. Like I’ve got to see it through.”
Teachers are empowered through this process to focus on deeper, more sustained learning - rather than sit-and-get for a one-day traditional PD session - and can implement their learning and evaluate its effectiveness with students in real time.
The TLA pilot represents a process for learning that is critical for driving student achievement and teacher growth, and it left those leading it with a number of lingering questions (see below) that they will continue to unpack as the work continues.
