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5 Free Ways to Do Professional Development in 1 Hour or Less
posted by: Guest contributor | May 11, 2015, 05:00 AM   

If your professional development budget was slashed then you’re in good company. Teachers across the country are getting less money (and finding less time) to invest in their own learning.

 

In fact, more than half the schools surveyed for The 2014 Teacher Development Trust report said that they’re finding it hard to provide teachers with necessary professional development because of financial burdens.


Unfortunately, with free time outside the classroom dwindling thanks to added pressure placed on state testing and implementing Common Core, it feels nearly impossible to find the time, much less the money, to pursue professional development on your own.

But there’s good news—you don’t need money, or much time, to develop new skills. All you need is an hour, maybe a Twitter account, and access to the Internet. Here’s how you can get valuable professional development in less than one hour (and for free!):

 


1. Participate in a Twitter Chat

Twitter chats are one of the easiest - and most powerful - ways for you to further your professional development and to cultivate the relationships in your personal network. There are multiple chats happening every single day, nationally, internationally, statewide and locally.

There are a few ways to find the best Twitter chats for you:

  • Ask coworkers—many teachers are active on Twitter and may already be loyal to a few great chats.
  • Check this calendar, which lists hundreds of chats for each day of the week, including weekends.



2. Create a YouTube Playlist (And Watch It)

YouTube is a treasure trove of professional development resources for teachers. With more than 300 hours of video uploaded every minute, you’re sure to find something valuable.

Use this resource to create professional development playlists that you can turn to when time becomes available; then, all you have to do is hit play.


To create a playlist, sign into YouTube with your Google account, search for videos (start with these awesome 3-minute lessons), and click “Add To” in the bottom left of the video area every time you find one you like. It may prompt you to make your own “Channel,” at first, but once you do you can add every video you to find to a custom playlist.

Create multiple playlists, sorting your videos by subject, tool or skill set, and be sure to take notes on how you can implement each idea in your classroom right after watching, when you’re feeling creative and inspired.

 


3. Pick One Tool & Master the Basics

The key to professional development is taking it one step at a time. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the opportunities—learn a new app, implement blended learning, teach a social media lesson—but it’s best to start with one idea; this will help you stay focused without exhausting yourself.

There are many tools that are easy to learn and effective in the classroom. Consider starting with one of these more basic tools:



4. Sign Up (And Watch!) A Webinar

Professionals in almost every industry use webinars to learn—and you should too. Webinars are often free and guide you through the lesson, which helps you stay focused and ignore distractions. There are a number of websites that offer free webinars for teachers, including:

  • CenterForLearning.org: Check out—How Can Differentiation Be Achieved Without Putting Too Much Burden on Teachers?
  • ASCD.org: Check out—Engage Your Students With Real-World Projects

  • EdWeb.net: Check out—Help Students Make Good Digital Decisions With Digital Compass


5. Try a New Tool in the Classroom

Learning a new tool and actually implementing it are two different professional development opportunities. The former (see #3, above) gives you experience testing a new tool, discovering features that will be valuable to you, and considering how it fits in your lesson plan.


Trying the tool in your classroom is a whole different professional development opportunity. This will teach you to be flexible and quick to troubleshoot, two valuable skills for 21st century teachers who are trying new things in the classroom.

Luckily, the lack of a professional development budget may not hold you back as much as you first assumed. You can still nurture your current skills and learn new ones in just an hour, for free. Now, all you need is a lazy Sunday afternoon!

 

Bio: Jessica Sanders is the Director of Social Outreach for Learn2Earn, an online fundraising platform that allows students raise money by reading books. She grew up reading books like The Giver and Holes, and is passionate about making reading as exciting for young kids today as it has always been for her. Follow Learn2Earn on Twitter and Facebook, and send content inquiries to social@learn2earn.org.

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