Whats wrong with the usual PD.

Only touches the surface, how to turn stuff on, How to enroll students. It never touches on integrating within the classroom. With in My lessons.

Rarely ever lasts more than one day.

The content is determined by someone else.

The content is determined by the participant.

The topics are broad and undefined.

The focus is not on a thing or a specific action, the focus is on the practice of teaching.

The focus has shifted away from me telling you what to do in your classroom and towards you determining what quality teaching looks like, we need to make some changes in evaluation.

Connect with the new Danelson Framework for teaching

Deep, rich professional judgment - shared ideas about good teaching - (why we have and opportunity to earn PD and stipend for implementing ideas into your classroom)

Differntiation between teachers.

use of current pedagogical practices.

Linked to the mission of the school

Continuous processes that lead to ongooing professional growth

evaluation based on multiple curriculum-based formative and summative measures of student outcomes.

Nothing will change if you don't participate.

No requirements just a request.

The goal is to improve education in the school.

You are the students in this PD, you have the options.

You can choose how much or how Little to participate.

You can choose what resources to use.

You can choose who to collaborate with

You determine your own success or failure.

If there is one goal I have set forth for you it is simply to connect with other educators.

Connect with those in higher education, middle schools, even elementary schools.

See what other teachers are doing. Find new innovative strategies to get through to your teachers. Avoid those that have been tried and failed.

This is a very long term program. To put a lot of energy into it would mean burn out in a short period of time.

Connect instead with how it will work in your classroom.

Maybe one month, one topic might be of particular interest and you spend more time on it, great.

Maybe you just don't have time, fine.

Take a bit of time each month, read a few blogs, watch a recording. Write a reflection, or try an idea in your classroom.
this is not a college course with assignments and deadlines, its professional development. You will get out of it what you put into it.

Until we put it into practice in our classrooms this just won't do anyone any good.

Try something new, risk failure.

Don't ever do anything alone.

If you learn from someone in this Experience, then ask them to give you a hand.

I didn't build OOE alone, I just threw out the idea, the rest of the co-creators did as much or more than I did to create what we have.

This is student directed learning. If you are not getting what you need from what I say stop listening to me and start connecting with someone else.
We have over 100 people connected to this program and more joining everyday. If you can't find what you need then bring in a new friend.