9th Annual 21st Century Learning Conference

Creating an In-House Program to Meet Your School’s Needs

Teachers are busy people. Extremely busy. But where does professional learning fit into our demanding vocation? We all agree it’s important to dedicate ourselves to our own professional development, but aside from conferences and bringing in the ‘experts’, how can we make professional learning more contextual, more personalized, and more connected to student learning?

Ben Summerton and Steve Katz are founding members of the team that created a unique, and subsequently replicated, professional development model that maximizes the number of teachers who can participate and benefit from ongoing professional learning in school. From 2011-2015 over 360 individual teachers participated in 96 weeks of sessions, which accounted for over 4000 total attendances. The FishBowl model has spawned similar programs at International School of Kuala Lumpur (The Den) and Singapore American School (The LOFT). Come to this session and learn what worked, what didn’t work, and then work with Ben and Steve to figure out how such a program might be successful given your unique set of circumstances.

Beginning in 2011, the EdTech Team at Korea International School introduced The FishBowl model: Professional learning created and delivered by in-house experts, multiple times per day, with just-in-time topics, and voluntary attendance. More than up-skilling, The FishBowl proved through it’s growth in participation that a collaborative learning culture can be created; one that connects teachers across a school, focuses on skill development, and spreads new pedagogical ideas that ultimately benefit student learning. It shares, values and reinforces best practice.

This workshop will give you insights into the model so that you can adopt and adapt pieces to fit your own school. In fact, you’ll participate in a typical 30 minute session that we run so that you can experience first-hand what the program offers teachers.

Learners will:

• understand key components of a successful professional development program
• understand the advantages of contextualized professional development using in-house talent
• consider strategies for implementing a professional development program using available resources
• create a drafted plan for implementing in-house PD at their school

What to Bring

Attendees should have pertinent school information accessible such as class schedule, list of potential professional developers on campus together with their respective responsibilities, and school goals.

Come along and learn the principles and practices of building an effective professional development program in your school.