Question for anyone who has ever given professional development or attended it: What have been some of the most effective *formats* for large group PD that you have seen? I’m talking about discussion structures, ways of getting people to work together, generally making the most of the time. - ThreadSky

cultofpedagogy.bsky.social • 92 days ago

Question for anyone who has ever given professional development or attended it: What have been some of the most effective *formats* for large group PD that you have seen? I’m talking about discussion structures, ways of getting people to work together, generally making the most of the time.

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johannabrown.bsky.social•92 days ago

Just recently with the fantastic @abeslo.bsky.social! I think the key for it was having us do authentic shared and creative work together as we developed 5D Assessment tasks! @5dassessment.bsky.social

katiemc827.bsky.social•92 days ago

I’m sure this isn’t new but here’s one. Esp when tables aren’t an option, often the case in my experience, getting the large group to move to areas around the room to find job alike attendees. If feasible have them move chairs to create new configuration. Get’s them up and moving too.

jennekrajecki.bsky.social•92 days ago

🎶Mix-Freeze-Pair was used in a large group PD that I attended and having the opportunity to move and mingle helped reenergize the room!

sturmdon.bsky.social•91 days ago

I am curious how large a large group means for this post. Honestly, our district has gotten away from large group PD. We are offering lots of choices which then makes smaller groups.

cultofpedagogy.bsky.social•86 days ago

50-300? I prefer small groups as well, but typically when I get flown in for presentations, there are usually at least some that are larger groups like that.

cathywg.bsky.social•85 days ago

Ink Think (also known as Chalk Talk), Four Corner Synectics, Interview Design, Give One, Get One, etc.

djakes.bsky.social•91 days ago

Did a session for 150+ faculty meeting in a school that was being redesigned. Asked them to capture what they were curious/wondered about regarding the design, teams of 3, photographed/annotated comments into Padlet, 350 comments downloaded, analyzed by AI, presented results/trends in same meeting.

djakes.bsky.social•91 days ago

This was part of a larger design project to reimagine the relationship between physical/virtual learning spaces and time and how that relationship could be reimagined to create an new teaching and learning experience.

middleweb.bsky.social•83 days ago

@cathywg.bsky.social just joined Bluesky. She's organized hundreds of highly praised large group PD experiences.

tonyvincent.bsky.social•92 days ago

I prefer participants to be seated at tables of 4. I break up my PD sessions with discussions, guessing games, and short activities that are great for pairs or groups of 4. I always display a timer so everyone knows how long they have until we come back to whole group.

roxithompson.bsky.social•91 days ago

I try to include opportunities for digital collaboration in PD so that I model strategies that teachers can use the classroom. I wrote about a few strategies that have worked well for me:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/integrating-technology-professional-learning

drkarenhj.bsky.social•92 days ago

Things like seating the audience at round table of 8, giving them structured discussion topics? That’s way better than auditorium seating.

drkarenhj.bsky.social•92 days ago

*tables

drkarenhj.bsky.social•92 days ago

Also having groups develop specific implementation plans.

nacheteer.nachosm.com•92 days ago

In the best scenario you know your public in advance, like their context and needs. Then, adapt what you want them to learn to their context and needs. Maybe they could solve a problem they have by means of using the strategies, skills or resources you share.

marcusluther.bsky.social•91 days ago

For me, the most reliable PD in terms of value is when I get to experience the strategy/concept as a student would—seeing it modeled effectively (including the "why") as time and time again been the best "yield" for me as a learner

(Other designs can work, but the variance is much greater.)

vlmadden.bsky.social•61 days ago

Same. After setting the context, I lead people through as if they are the students and I am the teacher. Then we unpack the moves and content. Then teachers have planning time to apply to their own classrooom. Sharing and feedback.

rleowg.bsky.social•79 days ago

This is how I like to lead PD. I call it "playing school". It works well for teaching teachers about instructional strategies they can use like #eduprotocols

edugamergal.bsky.social•85 days ago

My colleague and I designed a playful professional learning workshop with a DnD theme. We dressed up, we had props, it was a sort of escape room esque puzzle room. Lots of excited educators talking to each other, solving clues and answers to puzzles were part of the content we were delivering.

emilykm-lpc.bsky.social•89 days ago

I love to gamify the learning - makes things novel to pique interest, makes discussions more interactive, and models strategies to use with students. D&D dice are a key ingredient!

angelastockman.bsky.social•92 days ago

Gamestorming. https://gamestorming.com/

dennisschug.bsky.social•82 days ago

I find models placing participants’ needs front and center have lasting effects.

Speed learning, spark and tell, 4 corners, rocks or sucks are some examples that come to mind.

It need not be complicated.

Spaces that prioritize learning and a sense of community belonging will sustain momentum.

philshapiro.bsky.social•57 days ago

Combining synchronous and asynchronous parts of professional developments make the best use of people's time, imho. The asynchronous can be a video or PowerPoint. The synchronous can then be more hands on and interactive. People should not waste synchronous time on asynchronous info/knowledge.

evidentlyreading.bsky.social•92 days ago

Once I started using this framework, my sessions became a lot more intentional. If at all possible, actually have folks practice the thing you are teaching them to do, as close to the real thing as you can make it. If not, then discuss how they could do it

https://blog.cathy-moore.com/action-mapping-a-visual-approach-to-training-design/#gref

evidentlyreading.bsky.social•92 days ago

I also like to call attention to the tendencies we have to avoid practicing in public. I am transparent about how I have a desire to do this as well, but get more out of it if I actually practice.

drfurlong.bsky.social•91 days ago

I’m interested in seeing responses to this as well! Jennifer, do you have recommendations?
I know many participants do *not* like to get up and mingle—but how else do we engage everyone and learn alongside them? The speaker should be the facilitator and not the only voice heard. #EduSky #ELSky

kirstenhodgson.bsky.social•86 days ago

I like 1, 2, 4, 8 as it allows people to do their own thinking and then build on it with others. Also like a few flip charts with different discussion points, have a group at each. They write down their input then move to next chart. Next group have to build on 1st gp's thinking b4 adding their own

davidwees.bsky.social•92 days ago

Check out the Idea Carousel group learning routine, set within the Experience, Unpack, Prepare, Rehearse, Reflect framework. Absolute game-changer for professional development, especially if the PD is repeated, iterative, and timely.

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