Flip Your PD

Flipped learning is a popular classroom strategy that encourages students to take charge of their learning. The teacher plans exploratory time for students to dig deeper into topics. What if we applied this same thought pattern to professional development?

Teachers have a clear idea of what they understand, what they don’t understand, and topics they would like to know more about. As an instructional leader, what if administrators presented their staff with a general list of topics and allowed them to choose prior to planning professional development? Let’s go a step further, What if teachers could prepare questions in advance to allow more time for in depth coverage of new topics?

The majority of professional development is done in a limited period of time, such as a planning period or an after school faculty meeting. To better use that time, a flipped strategy would allow time for teachers to review the covered material and submit questions/concerns in advance. This keeps the presenter from reviewing material that participants may not need reviewed. Technology tools such as Google Classroom, Google Drive, Seesaw, LiveBinders, Recap, and so many more create opportunities for online communities where educators (administration and staff) can work collaboratively.

Flipped Professional Development Ideas

Staff share

Allow staff to share content on one specific topic. For example: have teachers share how they implement videos into their content area. After the strategies are shared, have teachers rate the ones they are familiar with. Next, plan professional development with what teachers know in mind while encouraging new ideas. By simply sharing, a presenter or instructional coach didn’t waste time on strategies that teachers were already using.

Curate Resources

A shared folder, YouTube Channel, or professional development Google Classroom are a few easy ways to organize resources for teachers. If the topic for professional development is classroom management utilize the good resources already available on that topic. A YouTube channel could be created and shared with teachers providing a visual representation of what good/bad classroom management looks like.

Reflect to Plan

Provide opportunities for teachers to process and build on information already given. Teachers should be provided reflective time to evaluate how their using new strategies and what other support (if any) is needed to plan for future professional development.

The more autonomy teachers have in their learning, the more receptive they are to trying new methods in the classroom. To learn more about flipped learning visit: www.flippedlearning.org