“A Dark Portrait” of Teacher Professional Development in the US
A recent report indicates that “80% or more of the professional development offered and participated in by teaching professionals failed to meet the federal definition.” The Center for Learning in Practice (CliP), created to design and educate about exemplary evidence-based professional development, pre-dates the report but targets the same problems it identifies.
Our sustainable learning model revolutionizes the architecture of teacher professional development at home and abroad. Director Dr. Diana Woolis’ proven model and digital platform enable continuous learning for practitioners using real time data and feedback about practice.
In early 2017, the Carey Institute will release a schedule of events to provide more information about the platform, including how to gain access. Additionally, we will offer custom services for teacher training groups meeting at the Carey Institute’s conference center, enhancing and amplifying the impact of the professional development pursued on our campus. (Imagine—stay connected to your seminar community through a facilitated web-based peer learning network even after you’ve departed your workshop).
The need to improve teacher professional development is a urgent at the local level, as well as the global.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that 1 in 200 children in the world is a refugee. Simultaneously, the world faces a shortfall of 3.3 million primary school teachers and 5.1 million lower secondary school teachers by 2030. Countries affected by emergencies and disasters are the areas most in need of education personnel.
Plowing ahead, the CLiP team has been ground truthing its work with INEE, UNICEF, War Child, International Rescue Community (IRC), CARE, the Ford Foundation, as well as our state professional development partner, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). From all angles, we are receiving overwhelming confirmation of our work and demand for our services—many have signed on as volunteers and advisors. (We would like to extend a special shout out to Colleen McDonald, National Board Certified Teacher and Ellen Sullivan at NYSUT for helping us bridge local success to global need. Thank you!)
Stay tuned for the next installment when we announce details of a Global Action for teachers of refugees, our world-wide online discussion and crowdsource connecting teachers, professional developers, and others to identify sector needs, resources and opportunities.