Learning Forward Blog
By Melinda George As school districts plan for an uncertain fall, many district leaders are planning how to support educators in preparing for and teaching in this new reality. Professional learning has never been more needed. Good news! Money from the CARES Act to support these efforts is landing in school districts across the United…
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed school as we know it. As we face an unpredictable future, professional learning has never been more urgent. This issue highlights some of the ways educators are learning and evolving to meet the shifting needs of students and staff as schools close, shift online, reopen, and prepare for whatever lies…
Educators today have a heightened sense of urgency and stress during this unusual time. While they first worry about their own family and loved ones, they next worry about their students’ social, emotional, and academic well-being and success. Educators, like other adults, are asking questions about their lives, social interactions, and work and they seek…
Learning Forward + posts Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students. Learning Forward https://learningforward.org/author/learning-forward/ 1969 Learning Forward https://learningforward.org/author/learning-forward/ 1970 Learning Forward https://learningforward.org/author/learning-forward/ 1978…
By Karen Marklein, Rachael Milligan, and Julia Osteen Until a few months ago, moving all student and adult learning online was unimaginable for many of us. Enter the COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden transition to that reality. Now more than ever, educators need high-quality professional learning that includes collaboration with colleagues, supports sustainable practices, and…
By Laura Baecher Observation and reflection are essential for improving teaching practice, even now that most teaching is occurring online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, with the increasing popularity of video observation and coaching, we already have a tool that can be used for this purpose during distance learning. When video-based observation is successfully…
By Ebony Flott and Courtney Simpson With many schools closed for the rest of the academic year, instructional coaches and other leaders have wondered how to support teachers remotely. In an April 23rd webinar hosted by Learning Forward, Ebony Flott and Courtney Simpson, instructional coaches in Gwinnett (Georgia) County Public Schools, explained how they are…
Learning online is different from learning face-to-face, and that’s true whether you’re 15 or 50. Just as teachers are adjusting their methods to work for students in a virtual context, those of us who lead professional learning need to adjust so that our efforts are beneficial for the educators we support. We must pay special…
May 12 proved to be a significant day for Congress’ response to the pandemic. In addition to NIH Infectious Diseases Institute Chief and White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci testifying before the Senate HELP Committee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) introduced a $3 trillion COVID-19 Relief Package that included significant educational funding…
On May 1, Learning Forward and featured guests Nader Twal, Amy Pendray, and Jennifer Crockett of Long Beach Unified School District led a conversation on how to boost learning with podcasts. This chat was based on an article from the April issue of The Learning Professional that discussed the Long Beach district’s approach that enables…
