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Develop a professional learning plan

By Learning Forward
December 2013
A professional learning plan establishes short- and long-term plans for professional learning and implementation of the learning. Such plans guide individuals, schools, districts, and states in coordinating learning experiences designed to achieve outcomes for educators and students. Professional learning plans focus on the program of educator learning. A program of professional learning is “a set of purposeful, planned actions and the support system necessary to achieve the identified goals. Effective [professional learning] programs are ongoing, coherent, and linked to student achievement” (Killion, 2008, p. 11). Events, on the other hand, are occasional, episodic, disconnected incidents that are scheduled periodically throughout a school year. Typically, they have little or no connection with one another and little chance of producing substantial change (Killion, 2008). Events are simply not enough

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New workbook offers step-by-step planning guidance

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Professional learning plans establish short- and long-term guidance for professional learning and its implementation. Professional Learning Plans: A Workbook for States, Districts, and Schools offers information and tools to walk educators through seven planning steps, from data analysis to setting goals to identifying learning designs to monitoring impact. Effective plans help individuals, schools, districts, and states to coordinate learning experiences designed to achieve outcomes for educators and students.

The workbook is available free for download at www.lf.wphlab.com/publications/implementing-common-core.

References

Killion, J. (2008). Assessing impact: Evaluating staff development (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.


Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


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