How to Create a Digital PD (and why you’d want to)

If you’re part of a school staff, finding time for a professional development session can be tough. After administration and department meetings, carving out any extra time to provide teachers with sessions on other things such as the latest and greatest technology tools can be difficult. And, the last thing you want to do is schedule another meeting for teachers to attend after they’ve already attended a couple that week.

So I ask, why not have teachers attend a PD on their own time, when their done with grading and lesson planning? Why not let teachers attend a PD virtually, on their own time?

Use the power of technology to reach teachers.

With the technology becoming more and more prevalent in schools, it’s easier than ever to deliver a professional development session without actually having a meeting. Most teachers have access to a computer, so why not use those devices to deliver a PD? Those same tools that can be used in the classroom can be used to deliver an all digital professional development session. Some of those tools include:

EdPuzzle: Not only a fantastic tool for the classroom, but great to deliver content to teachers as well. Make a video of yourself detailing the content you want to cover, then, include a few review questions in the video.

Google Classroom, Edmodo, Schoology: Use a Learning Management system to deliver you content. If your school already used an LMS such as Google Classroom, Edmodo, or Schoology, it will be second nature for teachers to sign in and access you PD. Create a separate PD classroom for teachers to sign up. Populate your class with the material you want your teachers to review.

Vimeo/YouTube with Google Forms and/or Padlet: This recipe of apps provides an easy way to provide a virtual professional development session. Use a video app such as Vimeo to record yourself delivering information. Use Padlet to have teachers post comments or questions about the PD while at the same time allowing teachers to respond and comment to their colleagues posts. Lastly, use Google Forms for an exit ticket or review questions about the PD.

Seesaw: Seesaw is a great portfolio app for the classroom. It also can be used to provide a digital professional development session. Seesaw allows for the uploading of links, videos, and documents for teachers to review. In Seesaw, teachers can post comments and reply to comments posted by other teachers.