Growing Teachers, Growing Learners
- Aug 8, 2018
- 2 min read
As we know, we are in a digital age. Teaching and learning are both changing. Previously, teachers were asked to be all-knowing content providers while students absorbed their wealth of knowledge. Now, teachers do not have to be ahead of their students and can instead learn with them (ChangSchool, 2011). Students are learning in new and innovative ways, but we are creating a faux pas by testing them in ways that do not match the instruction. While getting their undergraduate degrees, every educator learns that assessment must match instruction. We are unfortunately breaking our own rules because standardized assessments are not created for the digital age. Modern skills that we are teaching students for the future such as collaboration and problem solving should be formally assessed (Bates, 2016), but we are not there yet.
How can we continue improving teacher learning so that student learning improves? A school in Omaha, Nebraska has used Office 365 as a collaborative PLC platform to connect teachers across grade levels to discuss and learn from each other (Microsoft Education, 2016). There are numerous other successful online learning programs for educators as well.
BloomBoard is an online resource that allows educators to learn, collaborate, and earn micro-credentials for their newly acquired skills.
ed2go offers online professional development in a variety of areas.
Penn State World Campus offers online degrees in various disciplines at all levels.
My Learning Plan is an online program that tracks professional growth.
Because student learning is changing, teacher learning needs to change as well. Teachers need to continue growing if we expect students to continue growing.
References
Bates, T. (2016). Teaching in a digital age: Guidelines for designing teaching and learning. Vancouver, BC: Tony Bates Associates. Retrieved from https://teachonline.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/teaching-in-a-digital-age_2016.pdf
ChangSchool. (2011, January 26). Perspectives: Teacher skills in a digital age [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_BJcRVYQsE
Microsoft Education. (2016, June 3). Omaha Public Schools turn to Office 365 to streamline professional development [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ3fv3n9RFs&t=3s
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