10-Minute Professional Learning Experiences

My colleague Kate @mineo_katherine and I had a quick conversation at lunch last Friday. She had just settled in after meeting with her middle-school reading group. We talked about engagement, time, materials, and her goals. One of those goals was to get the students interacting with each other digitally and publicly. Our students are 1:1 with iPads and this goal along with the challenges of time and engagement presented a great opportunity for professional learning.

I asked if she had time at the end of the day to meet. She  agreed to the meeting, but mentioned that she would only have about 10-15 minutes. I then went through some ideas and tech tools while considering the limited time we'd have for the session. Padlet came to mind and seemed match her goals.

Next, I began thinking of just how I'd present the tool and offer sound professional learning. I knew I would have to present this tool to her and I wanted to learn more about how the tool fit her thinking and goals.

We met at 4:00pm. I had Kate watch as I logged on and created a board. I demonstrated how to access the link and share it with students, how to change the background, how to name her board(s), and quick options for viewing the board. Then, I had her join the board using the iPad so she could experience what her students will. She was hooked! We wrapped the session by creating her account and an agreement to keep me in the loop about her progress with this new tool.

The keys to the 10 minute-ish PD for me were:

1. Clear understanding of the teaching and learning goals
2. Strong knowledge of the tool being shared
3. Demonstration
4. Active participation
5. Providing possibilities
6. Asking for feedback
7. Plan for the future

Early that following Tuesday provided me with all that I needed to know. Kate was sharing the tool with another one of our colleagues and conducting a 10 minute-ish PD of her own. She shared how she used it on Monday and the enthusiasm she and the students had when launching the tool for the first time. The motivation to share and learn was clear.

Professional learning needs to be ubiquitous and we're all responsible for sharing within our PLN. Ideas spread quickly, think about where you can jump in and provide a quick learning experience for someone in your building. Take something you know; make it informal, make it clear, make it engaging and you will make a difference!