{"id":6743,"date":"2012-08-25T11:57:05","date_gmt":"2012-08-25T11:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eltchat.org\/wordpress\/?p=6743"},"modified":"2012-08-25T11:57:05","modified_gmt":"2012-08-25T11:57:05","slug":"how-can-cpd-be-cost-effective-and-not-take-up-too-much-time-eltchat-summary-12062013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eltchat.org\/index.php\/2012\/08\/25\/how-can-cpd-be-cost-effective-and-not-take-up-too-much-time-eltchat-summary-12062013\/","title":{"rendered":"How can CPD be cost effective and not take up too much time? #ELTchat Summary 12\/06\/2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

#ELTchat summary: How can CPD be cost effective and not take up too much time?<\/p>\n

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This was the ELTchat from Wednesday noon,\u00a0which I managed to join half-way-through. Reading the transcript\u00a0also\u00a0proved \u00a0useful for me as a way of catching up with the earlier part of the discussion. I proposed this question, partly because my school had just paid to bring over Adrian Underhill\u00a0(@ BobK99:Brilliant man: good video:http:\/\/t.co\/J59YHIBp<\/a>)\u00a0to do some workshops, followed by 1-2-1 sessions where each of us was prompted to develop an individual plan for our CPD. I was disappointed by the attitude of some of my colleagues who felt hard-done-by at having to give up their Friday afternoon, or Saturday morning, or even didn’t take part in either session.<\/p>\n

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What is CPD?<\/h2>\n

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It stands for\u00a0Continuous Professional Development, a way for teachers to make progress and grow in their field.<\/p>\n

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As\u00a0Marisa_C\u00a0said ‘CPD is not just about LEARNING – it’s also about reflection and the inspiration to learn some more – often socially stimulated’
\n‘Hypocrisy in the Profession of Education’ by Tom Whitby \u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/eQaqA8xq<\/a>\u00a0gives an interesting insight into the why’s of CPD.
\n@worldteacher:PD doesn’t have to be attending something or being online does it? Reflecting on lessons, reading something or sharing an idea are equally valuable.<\/p>\n

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Is CPD most beneficial for trained or untrained teachers?<\/h2>\n

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What about for teachers starting out in their careers?<\/p>\n

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I think it’s harder for new teachers to see how much more choice and opportunity they’d have if only….<\/p>\n

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Would a new teacher find the amount of information \u00a0and opinion out there overwhelming?<\/p>\n

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Some do! Very true; perhaps a mentor would help, especially for new teachers.\u00a0 They could offer some hand-holding \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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@rliberni\u00a0true it can all seem very overwhelming yet we ‘old hands’ don’t feel that!<\/p>\n

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@JoHart\u00a0kicked the proceedings off in style by suggesting that PLN and twitter chats such as #ELTchat, among others, should be accepted as CPD, as this would the reduce pressure to do non-relevant sessions. As this is not generally the case at the moment, it would require a change of thinking from management\/ administrators. Directors need to\u00a0realise the benefits of the training available on the\u00a0internet and understand that there is a whole new world out there. \u00a0Jo\u00a0mentioned IfL’s REfLECT programme which lets you maintain a PLN\/CoP and allows you to auto-submit CPD evidence annually.
\n@ElkySmith\u00a0stated that, in her opinion, it was the most important member benefit from the Institute for Learning and it is free to members.
\nJulian_LEnfant\u00a0said\u00a0something\u00a0echoed by everyone taking part this evening: I find the cross-fertilization of talking to all of you from so many different backgrounds challenging and thought-provoking = CPD<\/p>\n

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Local pd can be effective – especially for people not yet in social networks – but is it enough?<\/p>\n

esolcourses suggested that local PD can sometimes be very effective. She has seen both free and paid sessions done well.<\/p>\n

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Online development could be a very cost-effective\u00a0route to take, and could be tailored to each teacher’s particular interests. However the following comments are interesting on the subject:
\nI limit the amount of time I spend on social media these days, tbh. \u00a0I get more work done \ud83d\ude42
\nCan also be a procrastination tool \ud83d\ude09
\nA lot depends on your motivations for using it too, in my opinion
\nI agree. It can take up a lot of time and we need to see what value it is bringing too
\nYes, \u00a0that’s understandable and my use is patchy.
\nCPD & focusing – Making sense out of chaos: professional development with social media, by @ann_f\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/P5ftjKOf<\/a><\/p>\n

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Alone or\u00a0collaborative?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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How do you define Cost Effective?<\/h2>\n

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@Marisa_C\u00a0wanted to know whether that meant free or not.
\n@esolcourses\u00a0suggested that it meant time or money well spent.
\n@SophiaKhan4\u00a0was shocked at the cost of conferences and thought that cheap attendance was the way forward.
\n@BobK99\u00a0suggested that to be cost effective necessitated either a low charge to the participant or the costs being covered by the school. This was disputed by @esolcourses who believes that free doesn’t always equate to quality.<\/p>\n

@AlexandraKouk\u00a0thought that it was cost effective if the time and money spent provided good value.<\/p>\n

@mohamed_si\u00a0thought that it had to be productive relative to the cost.<\/p>\n

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@BrunoELT: Anything I do that I pay from my own pocket and reflects on my practice is cost effective for me.<\/p>\n

@esolcourses:attending conferences comes out of my own pocket and is expensive, but in my opinion, it’s money well spent.<\/p>\n

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Freelance teachers are certainly in a less\u00a0advantageous\u00a0position than if you worked for a large organisation.<\/p>\n

Financially it’s much harder without institutional support. But I have the freedom to choose, it’s true.<\/p>\n

I think in some ways you are freer to pick and choose – in\u00a0some\u00a0ways only.<\/p>\n

Well, as the head of a small institution, I am in much the same\u00a0position\u00a0as you – so I have to be very careful.<\/p>\n

Are free sessions were beneficial or not?<\/p>\n

But if it’s free do staff take it seriously?<\/p>\n

If they don’t, how much do they really care about CPD?<\/p>\n

I think to take it seriously they have to “buy in” or gain in some other way eg: It has to be accepted by the organisation and counted as work time.<\/p>\n

Some preferred the idea of paying for quality training, rather than sitting through something with no relevance which was free of charge, but took \u00a0targeted\u00a0free CPD seriously too.<\/p>\n

@theteacherjames:\u00a0As a freelance teacher I don’t have anyone to pay for me. We have to take some initiative for ourselves.<\/p>\n

@ BrunoELT: Exactly, James! Even employed, if we don’t take some initiative for ourselves nothing may change.<\/p>\n

@trylingual: CPD could be better if self directed (and funded?) I.e. you want more if you pay for it.<\/p>\n

There is tendency to value PD less if \u00a0it is free – the “get what you pay for” feeling.<\/p>\n

SophiaKhan4: the way you change as a teacher will always be the way *you* change, always individual at heart<\/p>\n

Marisa_C:Apply principles of Quality Circles\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/oZ8jx4Hp<\/a>\u00a0WE are!!!<\/p>\n

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How can we develop alone? Research and reflection can be done alone but only to a point.Collaboration is key.<\/p>\n

Hmm, I am not sure it is, I accept that having somebody to share with \/ talk to is perhaps better, but PD can be done alone.<\/p>\n

Agreed, I still do better alone – I reflect in my head better than in writing<\/p>\n

CPD can be done alone – sure – but social learning \u00a0is more effective learning – look what we’re doing here!<\/p>\n

Hmm! I do the social learning bit (I’m here after all!) but still actually learn better alone \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

We need to show that collaboration is always going to be more productive!<\/p>\n

I have to say I do most of mine alone…but for want of like-minded souls perhaps:-)<\/p>\n

Since ELT is also dominated by managers who are business people – a product-oriented attitude blocks sharing with others.<\/p>\n

What are the options for free CPD?<\/p>\n

There are many\u00a0free\u00a0webinars by the major publishers. These are useful resources and can supplement in-house Professional Development, although they often have an agenda such as – book sales!<\/p>\n

However many online conferences are\u00a0available\u00a0which are not linked to publishing houses, e.g. the excellent Virtual Round Table or VRT, and the Reform Symposium.
\nMarisa\u00a0asked whether, with the amount of free material accessible, fee-paying conferences are an old paradigm.<\/p>\n

@Julian_LEnfant\u00a0suggested subscriptions to ELT newspapers such as ELgazette(online version available), and British council newsletter could be beneficial as they contain interesting articles.<\/p>\n

@\u00a0Russell1955\u00a0and Nik Peachey also do a free monthly newsletter and you only need to register with them:-)<\/p>\n

Julian\u00a0reminded us that International House often runs free online conferences which are open to non IH-ers andShaun\u00a0announced that the next one would run in November 2012.And everything from that conference is here from the ppt slides to the recordings\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/VPYNSj9K<\/a>\u00a0– thanks\u00a0Alexandra!<\/p>\n

Marisa\u00a0offered us the\u00a0recorded sessions from IATEFL Glasgow\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/jdS8odfl<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0which are available to watch at leisure, and also mentioned the wealth of material made accessible by i-Tunes.<\/p>\n

@BobK99\u00a0agreed that the internet was a useful source of \u00a0free\u00a0development\u00a0material and that self-directed PD appeared to have better outcomes.<\/p>\n

@HarrisonMike:\u00a0If you’re in London, British Council runs a seminar season, free to attend – videoed & available online afterwards\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/h4Va8Q87<\/a><\/p>\n

Lots of free webinars on the net.
\n@burcuakyol did a great free moodle course\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/2tdINeG8<\/a>\u00a0which is still accessible (though no feedback) for beginning bloggers.
\n@JennyJohnson10: ‘Bring and Share’ your good ideas for cpd activities \u00a0to \u00a0the teachers’ meeting to tell colleagues about.<\/p>\n

@worldteacher: It helps my CPD to blog about seminars\/webinars I’ve attended \u00a0and gives me a record for future reference<\/p>\n

@Marisa_C:\u00a0Blogging also makes it easier to share my CPD with colleagues<\/p>\n

@theteacherjames:When I observe teachers, I often include articles on something that came up in the lesson.This encourages reflection and is different for each teacher.<\/p>\n

@SueAnnan: Write an #eltchat summary \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

So what else is available?<\/p>\n

@BobK99\u00a0proposed using ePortfolio to keep your eyes on development at all times.
\nMarisa\u00a0asked\u00a0at what point do \/ might \/ should Teachers feel the need for more structured CPD? (if ever) – meaning an actual course<\/p>\n

@william_dejean: I have found writers’ workshops to be the best way\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/tR0h3jHL<\/a><\/p>\n

Conferences are not free to attend but some of them are highly\u00a0valuable\u00a0for career development for teachers.\u00a0There are scholarships and bursaries available for attending conferences.<\/p>\n

Here is a list of the scholarships on offer by #IATEFL\u00a0http:\/\/t.co\/vzPrTsfk<\/a>\u00a0for 2013<\/p>\n

@AlexandraKouk wanted to know whether reflecting and sharing aspects of your teaching through a blog would constitute PD, and the answer was a definite ‘yes’.<\/p>\n

@esolcourses said that the networking attached to conferences and the chats over coffee provide excellent opportunities for learning,\u00a0\u00a0and let’s not forget the informal CPD that goes on between & after sessions, too. Just as useful, if not more so!<\/p>\n

I’ve heard of people who pick a focus each year – blog, or conference, reflective journal, presentation, etc.<\/p>\n

What about the ‘Time’ question?<\/p>\n

@BrunoELT\u00a0said that teachers have to recognise that there will always be a\u00a0time\u00a0investment involved in any CPD, which\u00a0@esolcourses\u00a0agreed with:I think a lot depends on what you are looking for and what you want to invest to get this.
\nDoesn’t worthwhile PD always demand time? Need for depth of thought.<\/p>\n

Teachers with busy timetables and family lives might find CPD time consuming.<\/p>\n

Time consuming doesn’t really feature if you are committed to doing it.<\/p>\n

How can overloaded\/overworked\/committed teachers find time for PD?
\nI have seen some use Twitter well for this, but many teachers are still uncomfortable with its use.<\/p>\n

Often the \u00a0issue is insufficient time, so people feel CPD takes time they need for prep\/resource find & teach – organisations need to build in time!<\/p>\n

@esolcourses: I agree that\u00a0worthwhile\u00a0PD demands time – \u00a0 but I’m suggesting the need to focus:-)<\/p>\n

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@trilingual: I recently read that 9 mins a day should be devoted to career development. Could the same be said for CPD ?
\nThis sparked off plenty of ideas about what could feasibly be achieved in such a short time frame:<\/p>\n