Professional Development — The Blog

In Praise of Collegiality

But it is also an indicator of the value placed on having teachers gather together and work outside of their own buildings together. I can honestly say that within the first year I taught in this district, I got to meet more people outside of my building than I ever did in my previous school. Collegiality was just not a priority there, and getting the teachers together with each other only really happened if you were a department head for curriculum alignment and/or textbook adoptions.

Education, Learning, professional development, Teacher TrainingDarren RalstonNovember 5, 2018collegiality, collective efficacy, Professional Development, making connectionsComment

Open Question--How to Quantify the Efficacy of a Coach?

Interpreting data from Education studies can often be a test of faith more than anything. There are a lot of studies that conflate causation with correlation. To clarify what causation and correlation are, here’s a classic example: when ice cream sales increase, so does the murder rate. When one reads this, it seems that increased ice cream sales cause an increase in murder….

Education, Instructional Coaching, professional development, TeachingDarren RalstonOctober 8, 2018Instructional Coaching, Diane Sweeney, data, student centered coaching, education, profe, Professional Development, improvement Comments

Diffusion of Innovation: Fanning the Flames

As we prepare to build a fire, a really good fire that will warm our community and provide light and social connection, we must arrange our materials intentionally, and those big pieces of wood, the ones that burn the longest and keep the best coals, those are kept to the side, not because they are not necessary, but because creating the perfect conditions to get them to ignite is our ultimate goal.

Education, professional development, Teacher Training, TeachingDarren RalstonAugust 27, 2018Rogers Diffusion of Innovation, diffusion of innovation, innovation, change in schools, Education, Education Reform, teacher training, Professional DevelopmentComment

Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation and How it Can Apply to Change in Schools

Using Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation as an educator seeking change? It works, and is a good way to conceptualize the process by which professional development and new approaches can proliferate in an organic fashion.

Teacher Training, Instructional Coaching, EducationDarren RalstonNovember 29, 2017education, diffusion of innovation, Instructional Coaching, PD, Professional Development, Zaretta Hammond, Educational reformComment