Dive Brief:
- Maryland State Department of Education employee Angie de Guzman created the P.L.A.Y. — “People Learning and Asking Why (Y)” — professional development model to help teachers learn how to use digital tools while increasing engagement and enthusiasm through increased personalization
- At a “P.L.A.Y. Date,” educators participate in teacher-directed PD, gathering collectively to explore, ask questions, and experiment with digital PD tools that fulfill unique needs with the help of a facilitator rather than a formal trainer or instructor.
- According to EdSurge, the idea stemmed from the book "Personalized PD," a "collection of professional development ideas that have been used around the country."
Dive Insight:
The push for personalized digital PD continues, though the P.L.A.Y. model stresses exploration as a top priority for educators. On the other side of the nation, a California district is encouraging its teachers to design their own PD with help from a $500-per-educator annual bonus of sorts. And on a national level, platforms like Knowledge Delivery Systems and myTeachSource are also helping teachers with more tailored training programs. Digital options for PD are also cost-effective, with many saving districts a considerable amount of money.