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Professional Development Overview
My Why
I will be conducting a presentation about professional learning for U.S. Army Leadership Course Instructors as well as school educators. As the learning and teaching outlook has evolved in the school system, so has this evolutionary outlook made its way into other avenues of higher learning and professional development. We as instructors/educators cannot just affect learning but lives altogether. As a U.S. Army instructor and parent of a neurodivergent child, I have advocated for and in my profession began to implement a more nuanced style of professional leadership for our troops that prioritizes an interactive hands-on approach rather than the sit-and-show approach that the military adopted from mimicking education institutions. For us to grow this PL evolution, instructors/educators and administration must understand the amazing results and opportunities that are possible when we challenge ourselves to be innovative to what has been, instead of continuing failed practices. Thanks to the backing and support of leadership, the implementation of revised learning activities and training opportunities has generated an amazingly positive response from both instructors and trainees alike in a small sample size of leadership courses. With a more interactive approach, the soldiers displayed much more confidence in their abilities due to having more hands-on time available to them and the overall training environment enjoyed an increase in morale. As we move forward and push for this approach to be adapted on a larger scale, the possibility of firm resistance amongst administration and educators who are entrenched in the sit-and-show learning approach that they are comfortable with will be present, however, we will continue to highlight the importance of PL growth through innovative means.
The What
When it comes learning and retaining information, we all go through this process at different speeds and in different ways. Creating short self-paced-video content provides a multitude of advantages when it comes to individualized learning. Looking at the video by Dr. McCammon, we see how short self-paced videos gives learners the ability to revisit content whenever they need to, allows for the ability to maximize educational time, and fosters a more active learning environment with an increased ability to engage in collaborative learning groups. This model learning environment corresponds perfectly with my push to increase the usage of AAC devices into classrooms for those that depend on or require such assistance. The models both encourages and challenges learner to have a more active role in their learning and allows the facilitator the means to expand learning activities for beyond the traditional teaching models.
As a facilitator in any learning environment, its always a good idea to try to move the learning outside the confines of a singular learning area. As a military instructor, I always try to find a way to connect in class learning to outside the class activities and discussions, creating a blended learning environment that challenges and encourages soldiers to think and learn based on a constantly evolving canvas and not a finished portrait. Chronicling Dr. McCammon’s video, we see how utilizing movement within your learning environment serves as a boost to your learners by minimizing learners’ fatigue, enhancing learners in class capabilities, and fostering innovative thinking. One of the best attributes of walk and talk is how well it fosters collaboration opportunities. These are all amazing benefits, that serves to advance professional development amongst all involved.
How- Narrative
.As I look towards presentation preparation, my attention to detail and approach could be the difference between the importance of this presentation ringing loudly through or falling egregiously silent. My first course of action is to be able to have my audience relate to the reason behind my presentation through the story. “There’s something kind of magical about a story structure that makes it so that when it’s assembled, it can be ingested and then recalled by the person who’s receiving it” (TedxEast, 2010, 2:53). My story highlights the meaningfulness of real-time capability, the current deuteriation of that amongst our present-day learners, and how we all stand to gain and need to improve in this area. As the presenter of this presentation, I don’t want my audience to feel that this presentation is about me and how I can create this huge change. I want my audience to understand that I only serve as a facilitator of meaningful information. “Your audiences want to know what you can do for them why they should adopt your view and what are the steps they need to follow to take action give them those things in a clear easily understandable way” (TedxEast, 2010). The most important aspect of my presentation is that my audience identifies with both the subject and the call to action. Challenges and roadblocks are in any situation of great change, however clear communication and connectivity through relatability, stand to minimize the amount and/or effectiveness of roadblocks and challenges due to firm support. As I prepare for my presentation, I will continue to practice and go over my material to ensure a clear, well-formulated, and impactful professional learning presentation.