What Does Great Learning Look Like? Redesigning PD Begins With That Question
This is PLSAS’s Instructional Excellence Continuum - the teaching and learning framework that illustrates what great teaching looks.
In Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (PLSAS), the process of redesigning PD started by empowering the principals, instructional leadership teams, and teachers to describe what great learning looks like for them and create a Teaching and Learning framework from that articulation.
Using the framework as the goal, the community at PLSAS created a new professional learning system that helps educators get to excellence. In-person, blended, and online learning opportunities are part of the revised PD, and content from the Learn Next hub is a complement to materials created by teachers and instructional leaders in their schools.
THE ROLE OF MICRO-CREDENTIALS
PLSAS is working on a plan to integrate micro-credentials in this journey of redesigning PD for educators. Micro-credentials are digital badges or certificates that provide certification of the competencies that educators master on the job or during PD, giving their learning even more clout, weight, and purpose.
A Personalized Learning micro-credential will be the first one offered through PD. (PLSAS already has one on competency-based learning.) Teaching and Learning staff will provide coaching and support for teachers along the way, and a part of the micro-credential program is to “give back” with presentations and sharing their knowledge with colleagues.