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Online PD and Innovation (Change) Theory
I am currently doing an assignment in MDDE 621- Online Teaching in Education and Training in one of my areas of interest, which is online pd. Struggling with it really.
I don't want to discuss innovation or change theory. I recognize that there is a link between pd as a part of organizational change and innovation, but I have covered this topic in other courses.
I want to focus on finding out why so much pd offered to teachers is ineffective. I can't talk about it without discussing the function of pd within an organization. Relating it to my own career, I want to cover the perspectives of the Department of Education, the school district, school development, and teachers towards pd.
I guess I am wondering how to write about pd and avoid getting into a rehash of innovation and change theory. I'm not sure if I am making sense here but that is why I am blogging it. Writing about it helps me clarify my thoughts outside the formal restrictions of an academic paper and allows me to get feedback from a learning community like this one.
Thomas Sheppard
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Hi Thomas,
I don't know if what I am going to say is in the literature that you would want to focus upon, yet as I read your post I was touched by the preceived concern that you have about what many teachers do not get out of PD. As I psychologist who has worked with many teachers who have discussed their life situations, their teaching situations, and their PD attitudes, I thought I would say the following. The impressions I get are as diverse as the personalities of the teachers. When people find the right niche and when they get support for any teaching or personal issues -- then I think they can ask for what they want in PD.
Getting what they want may be more about the "usual ways it is done". I have noted in my past courses that there is not the kinds of "hands-on or get to do it -- to integrate it" kind of learning in two day workshops and then back to work. It is often piecemeal. On the other hand some teachers get something from everything -- and I may be more like them. I'm grateful when I can be learning and meeting others. I appreciate a sage on the stage. However I think that one of the pulls to online learning is that I feel it is more continuous. That's the issue for me with a couple of days and back to work.Many of the teachers did better when they could tailor their learning to their interests and their work. Hope this helps to stimulate the 621 efforts. I really loved 621 because I felt that professional develop was revisited by the learners and that there was a lot of teacher input -- not just on change and innovation, but also on taking a look -- more a grounded theory approach -- examining what is.
Jo Ann