Wednesday Webinars
Advancing the New Definition of Professional Learning
Sept. 29 – 1 p.m. Eastern
Facilitator: Stephanie Hirsh
Price: $39 for members; $79 for non-members
Description: As support grows for redefining professional development in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), learn how to make your voice heard in support of Learning Forward’s definition of professional development. Executive Director Stephanie Hirsh facilitates a discussion of the key components of the definition, including the steps in the cycle of continuous improvement. Discuss strategies for helping others understand and implement professional development that is aligned with Learning Forward’s definition, and how to become a strong advocate for professional learning at the local, state, and national levels.
Powerful Designs for Team Learning
Oct. 6 – 1 p.m. Eastern
Facilitator: Lois Easton
Price: $39 for members; $79 for non-members
Description: Author and national consultant Lois Easton leads a discussion focused on implementing powerful team learning strategies. Explore the crucial needs of teams that engage in the work of improving schools, develop strategies for implementing shared leadership and identifying key roles on a team, and discuss tools and tips for establishing a “culture of quality” that fosters meaningful dialogue focused on school improvement and increased student achievement. Learn the 12 qualities of powerful designs, and tips for how to design powerful learning experiences for your team.
Why PD Matters
Oct. 20 – 1 p.m. Eastern
Facilitators: Hayes Mizell and Stephanie Hirsh
Price: $39 for members; $79 for non-members
Description: Advocating for high-quality professional development often means engaging parents, community members, and policy makers who have little knowledge of what professional learning means and the benefits it has for students and educators. In this webinar, Learning Forward Distinguished Senior Fellow Hayes Mizell and Executive Director Stephanie Hirsh talk about how to engage community members in discussions of PD basics. Mizell will expand on key discussion points from his recently published booklet
Why Professional Development Matters, which explains in fundamental terms what professional development is and why it is an important school improvement strategy.
Components of a Comprehensive PD Plan
Oct. 27 – 1 p.m. Eastern
Facilitator: Frederick Brown
Price: $39 for members; $79 for non-members
Description: Director of Strategy and Development Frederick Brown facilitates this discussion designed to assist school and district leaders in assessing current professional development programs and maximizing the effectiveness of their professional learning initiatives. Discuss how to measure your school or district’s professional development programs in relation to our Standards of Staff Development, and focus on strategies for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of PD strategies.
Assessing the Impact of PD
Nov. 3 – 1 p.m. Eastern
Facilitator: Joellen Killion
Price: $39 for members; $79 for non-members
Description: Deputy Executive Director Joellen Killion facilitates a discussion designed to help school and district leaders plan and conduct an evaluation of professional learning. Develop strategies to assess a professional development program for its degree of evaluability, and to construct an evaluation framework – including a program’s theory of change, logic model, evaluation questions, data sources, data collection methods, data analysis plan, timelines, and persons responsible -- that outlines a detailed plan for an evaluation.
School-Based Coaching
Nov. 10 – 1 p.m. Eastern
Facilitator: Cindy Harrison
Price: $39 for members; $79 for non-members
Description: Cindy Harrison, co-author of
Taking the Lead: New Roles for Teachers and School-Based Coaches, facilitates this webinar focused on developing effective building-level instructional coaching programs. Define the essential characteristics of a coaching program, learn how to evaluate your district’s program using the Innovation Configurations, and explore strategies to implement effective coaching program features to ensure maximum impact on teacher practice and student learning.
Legislative Update
Nov. 17 – 1 p.m. Eastern
Facilitator: M. Rene Islas
Price: $39 for members; $79 for non-members
Description: In this webinar, Policy Advisor M. Rene Islas reviews our legislative efforts over the past year and looks ahead to federal and state issues that will affect educators in 2011 and beyond. Discuss Learning Forward's efforts to get its definition of professional development included in the reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and what you can do to support those efforts at home and in Washington.
