Forward-Leaning PD Events Spur Innovation; Join Colleagues for LASDK8 in September

As followers of this blog know, I find THE key to transforming learning is painting the picture for adult educator-leaders, and then giving them the resources to re-tool and create dynamic, flexible, adaptive, engaged learning ecosystems.  We are seeing a mini-explosion of professional development events aimed at meeting this critical need. Schools and districts realize that they have both internal brain power and experience, and the ability to attract others, to create active learning, growth-oriented learning events of their own.

I have been fortunate to be involved in this rapid evolution through the leadership of The Martin Institute, and via that organization, Harvard Project Zero.  This summer I keynoted and did a workshop for the first annual Summer Institute at Pinecrest Schools in Ft. Lauderdale, and attended/connected with #FUSE14, the leading design thinking event for K-12 educators. In August I will work with the leadership team on strategic evolution of the Center For Transformative Teaching and Learning at St. Andrew’s School in Potomac, MD which is leading the way in brain research and K-12 learning.

Now colleagues in and around (or with a short plane ride to!) the San Francisco Bay Area/Silicon Valley can help build that capacity through the first annual Los Altos School District EdSummit September 18-20.  Like other events of this nature, it offers an impactful line-up of speakers and active learning workshops, and will grow rapidly in the years to come. Why? Because good educators realize that effective learning for adults and students alike takes place when people are actively engaged in the learning process, not sitting listening to lectures. When thought-and-action leaders Kami Thordarson and Alyssa Gallagher asked me to give a workshop and do an #EdJourney book signing, I happily waived my fee and jumped on board! Come join us for a day or two of highly effective, affordable, transformational personal and professional growth.

Make this event, or one like it, a cornerstone of your professional growth plan for the year.  Commit to a day or two of expansive thinking and expanding your local, regional, or national PLC.  Bring this mindset back to your school and share with your colleagues…and you just may start a professional collaboration event of your own!