NSDC's New Report: Professional Learning in the Learning Profession

"Learning is no longer preparation for the job...it is the job." -Tom Carroll, NCTAF President

Yesterday, NSDC released its new report on professional development. The report finds that while the United State is making progress in proving support and mentoring for new teachers and focusing on strengthening content knowledge, the type of support and on-the-job training most teachers receive is episodic and fragmented.

"Teacher quality is one of our top two priorities," said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in his opening remarks. He stressed the need to make sweeping, bold changes in education without regard to ideology.

The report commends schools for provide support for new teachers, but says mentoring and induction must go further. One-shot mentoring or workshop approaches are not effective in improving teaching and learning.

How can schools provide quality, professional development in the learning age? What are some successful, model programs being implemented in your state?

Keep the Conversation Going: Symposium Follow-Up

On July 10-12, 2008, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF), held a destination meeting for policymakers and educators who are working on “Building a 21st Century Education System”. We challenged national and state leaders to mobilize in support of 21st century teaching, moving schools away from an industrial model and changing schools from teaching 1.0 to teaching 2.0. Keynote speaker, Congressman George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee said, "The implications of globalization and the realities that today's students face make it increasingly important that we invest in an education system that supports 21st century teaching and learning." What does 21st century teaching and learning mean to you?

Over the next few weeks, we will be taking a detailed look at some of the topics that were featured at the 2008 NCTAF Symposium. Stay tuned …