Next Practice Program - Anywhere, Anytime Professional Learning

14 May 2009

Shouldn’t the pedagogy of professional development match the pedagogy we espouse for our students? In other words, shouldn’t teachers be accessing their own professional learning online anytime and anywhere? Are they in fact already doing this but not getting credit for it? How much professional learning is actually happening online in that ‘just in time – 5 to minutes spare – I’m learning this because it matters to me’ kind of way? And what makes this learning most powerful? Sharing, publishing, accessing, globally and on demand – it all matters but what matters most?

This panel discussion with three highly regarded educators challenged the traditional notions of how professional learning is delivered and accessed.

About the presenters

Jason Smith is the co-founder of TeacherTube, an online community for teachers by teachers. Jason will explore the role of technology enabled professional learning in equiping teachers for the ways students engage and learn. Jason has been a teacher, middle school principal, high school principal and district superintendent in public schools. He currently serves as Superintendent of schools in Melissa Independent School District, 35 miles north of Dallas, Texas.

Greg Whitby is Executive Director of Schools in the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, NSW. Having worked in education for more than 30 years – as a teacher and administrator, he is passionate about the capabilities of Web 2.0 (and beyond) in the learning space. As an educator and life-long learner, Greg believes there’s an urgent need to push the boundaries of learning in the 21st century. This means driving change at all levels by being innovative, thinking creatively and developing 21st century pedagogies that will inspire this generation of learners.

Katrina Reynen is Assistant General Manager, Innovation and Next Practice division in DEECD. In her current role she has been responsible for major innovation system reform initiatives including eLearning, Web 2.0 focused national KnowledgeBank: Next Generation project, network based Bandwidth Innovation Fund Projects and “Next Practice” practitioner based Innovation projects. Katrina is passionately committed to improving educational outcomes for Victorian students.

Recording of the online session