This post is the third in a multi-part a series on Middle Level Digital Leadership, contributed by Brad Currie.
Sometimes I wish educators had a little more time to engage in true professional growth opportunities during the work day.
All it would take is 100 minutes a week, or 20 minutes each day, to just close the classroom or office door and simply learn!
With such hectic and demanding schedules, is daily professional development even a feasible option? Yes! I’ve compiled simple steps you can take every day to grow professionally and learn from others, without ever leaving your classroom or office—in 20 minutes or less.
Monday
Read a book for 20 minutes. Better yet, share your thoughts via an online book talk using a tool like Edmodo. Currently, I am reading a 17,000 Classroom Visits Can’t Be Wrong by John Antonetti and James R. Garver.
Tuesday
Follow a particular hashtag on Twitter for 20 minutes. #SatChat, #EdChat, #NTchat, and #EdTechChat are just a handful that you can learn from. Make sure to lurk, consume, share, and reflect.For example, #EdChat meets at 12 PM and 7 PM on Tuesdays for an hour. Try to find 20 minutes during that time see what fellow educators are discussing, and engage with them when you have something to share!
Wednesday
Watch a webinar on best practice strategies or initiatives in the field of education for 20 minutes. Imagine Easy has a collection of 50+ on-demand webinars available for free. You can also check out EdWeb.net and SimpleK12 for an abundance of content that can take you from good, to great.
Thursday
Read or write a blog post for 20 minutes. Two of my favorite blogs to read are ClassTechTips by Monica Burns, and Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne. Or, reflect on what you’ve learned this week on your own blog, and share it on Twitter.
Friday
Listen to a podcast from the BAM! Radio Network for 20 minutes as you commute to work. Check out Jason Bodnar’s Principally Speaking Podcast, or Adnan Iftekar’s E.P.T. Podcast for great educational insight, as well. Share your reflections with the #PodcastPD hashtag community.
There are a plethora of other ways to stay sharp professionally. As this school year winds down and we gear up for the next, time should be put aside in the master schedule that allows for educators to grow on a daily basis. Modeling what it is to be a lead learner becomes contagious and will ultimately impact the success of all middle level students.
