10 education trends for 2018 (eSchool News)

Personalized Professional Development for Teachers
by Adam Geller, Founder & CEO of Edthena

Districts are increasingly being tasked with providing teachers with more individualized support while not being stretched too thin from a capacity or budgetary standpoint. This ongoing trend is causing districts to make more strategic decisions about their professional-development investments. Teachers who feel supported in their roles are more likely to stay teaching in the same location.

The right research-based strategies and technology – like observation and feedback using video – can help districts scale PD efforts. St. Vrain Valley School District in Longmont, CO, for example, began using peer coaching to address its teacher and substitute shortage. Instead of hiring substitutes to cover for teachers to attend PD sessions, the district’s teachers began using video to receive instructional coaching and support. Teachers record and upload portions of their lessons and then share it with the district’s mentor teachers, who act as peer coaches, to receive targeted feedback.

By implementing effective strategies and technology, districts can successfully meet today’s growing demand for higher quality PD despite other constraints they may face.

Read more at https://www.eschoolnews.com/2018/01/05/industry-experts-10-education-trends-2018/2/