Summer break is here and I know many of us are eagerly anticipating that long-awaited vacation or the family gathering we’ve had on the calendar for months. Pretty soon we’ll get to wake up without an alarm and enjoy the freedom of using the restroom whenever we want.
I usually spend the first few weeks of summer unwinding and stepping away from all things school-related. But if you’re anything like me, after a few weeks, I find myself taking a few moments to tweak my lessons, read education books, and explore a few professional development (PD) opportunities.
I really value my summer, so when I invest time in PD, I want it to improve my teaching practice. I want to learn evidence-based strategies that help improve student learning. However, I realized that there are some PDs out there that tend to prioritize engagement over effectiveness. The same fallacies that teachers often fall into when it comes to student engagement versus learning are the ones I notice in some professional development sessions.
Engagement vs Effectiveness in PD
For example, let’s take a look at Get Your Teach On. I know it is a really popular conference attended by many teachers but I do have a few reservations. To begin, a lot of their presenters seem to be chosen based on their social media following and classroom aesthetics rather than their effectiveness. In addition, the special guests such as 98 Degrees, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, and Mario Lopez do not have a direct connection to education. While it does sound exciting and engaging, this has nothing to do with improving instructional practice and student learning.
It is also apparent that a lot of effort goes into aesthetics. They tend to put up elaborate photo-booth displays for pictures for social media. Don’t get me wrong! I tend to label myself as a “girly girl” so these aesthetics appeal to me. I think it looks very cute. But here’s the thing. I am not looking for something that is visually appealing and I am not interested in branding. I am looking for strategies to improve my teaching practice. Just because something looks great on Instagram doesn’t mean it’s instructionally effective.
In addition, to me, the focus on aesthetics over depth reflects a much bigger problem with how we approach professional learning in education. Teaching is extremely challenging. Anybody that has been in the classroom knows this. It requires serious, intellectually demanding work. Yet, when educational events such as Get Your Teach On, focus on color-coordinated decorations, celebrity guests, inspirational hashtags, and photo booths, I can’t help but feel they are infantilizing our profession. I get the feeling that my job is not being taken seriously. And I’m not the only one that thinks that way. Read the Reddit thread here.
Is This PD Actually Worth It?
Teachers need professional development that challenges their thinking, sharpens their practice, and supports student learning. PD should respect the complexity of teaching by offering evidence-based strategies that teachers can apply in their classrooms. Teachers also need PD that treats their work with the seriousness it deserves because teaching is serious work. As teachers, we have the responsibility of helping students access opportunities that can change their lives for the better.
Therefore, consider asking yourself the following questions before registering for a PD:
- Is this PD grounded in evidence-based practices?
- What are the credentials of the presenters?
Are they experienced classroom teachers with a track record of improving student outcomes or are they primarily influencers with strong social media presence? - Will this PD meaningfully improve my instructional practice?
- Does this PD prioritize substance over style?
Are lessons focused on improving learning or are they designed more for aesthetics and entertainment? - Am I choosing this because it’s popular or because it’s purposeful?
Honorable Mention
I’ve attended several teacher conferences over the years, and without a doubt, the most impactful one I’ve experienced is ResearchED1. I attended their New York conference and I can honestly say I learned more in that one day than I have in an entire week at some other conferences. So what made it so valuable? It was the depth of content and the credibility of the presenters. The credibility of presenters were not masked in aesthetics. They were practicing educators, researchers, and authors with strong academic and classroom backgrounds. Their sessions were embedded in cognitive science and evidence-based practices. It’s the kind of professional development that treats teachers as professionals. You can see the difference below.
Conclusion
As educators, our time is valuable, especially during the summer. We deserve professional development that respects our expertise, challenges our thinking, and equips us with strategies that actually improve student learning. While entertaining events and classroom aesthetics can be fun and inspiring, they should not come at the cost of effectiveness. Before committing to any PD, it is worth asking whether it truly supports our growth as professionals.
Notes:
- I am not being sponsored for this recommendation. I genuinely find it valuable. ↩︎