IPDA Ireland hosts slow chat on Harnessing creativity in changing times

Ahead of the IPDA International Conference, IPDA Ireland hosted this slow chat on ‘Harnessing creativity in changing times; risk, resilience and professional learning’ from May 10th-12th 2019. This page features some of the responses to the questions asked.

Analytics

Over the 3 days a total 67 tweets were posted. The overall reach was over 47,000 impressions, thanks to the engagement of followers. There were 75 retweets, 94 replies and 243 post likes.

Q1. How, what and why are you learning as a professional?

I am currently in the dissertation phase of an EdD. I also actively seek out academic seminars and events around Dublin. The IPDA event in DCU being an example. These do not necessarily corelate with my profession
As a teacher and now teacher educator professional learning keeps me motivated to stay close to the moral purpose of teaching…why I wanted to teach in the first place…make a difference..
I engage in seminars/courses related to professional learning, music ed&topics to enhance teaching&learning more generally. I also do a lot of self-directed learning in my research & love attending conferences!
I am currently in the dissertation phase of an EdD. I also actively seek out academic seminars and events around Dublin. The IPDA event in DCU being an example. These do not necessarily corelate with my profession
As a teacher and now teacher educator professional learning keeps me motivated to stay close to the moral purpose of teaching…why I wanted to teach in the first place…make a difference..
I engage in seminars/courses related to professional learning, music ed&topics to enhance teaching&learning more generally. I also do a lot of self-directed learning in my research & love attending conferences!

Q2. How are you sharing your professional learning with your colleagues?

Primary school teaching principal & EdD student. Engages in PL inside & outside school. Inside school through teachmeets to encourage the sharing of PL among staff & to build capacity. Important that PL is shared & critically reflected upon to advance the learning of all
Developing professional learning networks would be v.useful to individuals. Also thinking of work in the primary sector widespread school clustering or school twinning where areas identified as strengths & weaknesses would complement one another & aid development as a team.
Maybe be a model of it- share in any way you can with your colleagues – find your tribe among staff- interact in any way you can- I think that you don’t need a title to lead
I’ve become more proactive over the past 2 years in just approaching people/ mgmt where I can and saying “We need this- I can do it!” and hoping they’ll invite me to share!

Q3. What are creative ways we can deliver professional learning?

Having conversation corners, show and tell stands and meet the author/ presenter opportunities can certainly break up conferences. The @aheadireland #UDL conf in Dublin has some really diverse/ creative ways of facilitating #PL
The Magic Whiteboard Roll is an amazing piece of kit for PL. it attaches to a wall electrostatically (no blu tac needed), you write on it, remove it, fold it up, bring it with you. Used it with EdDs as they developed their research. Ideas portable & easily amended
When facilitating PL I follow the #UDL principle of multiple means of engagement. By offering a choice of engaging through technology, conversation, walkabouts, games or make & do etc participants can learn/share in their own way
Professional learning communities (PLCs) have potential to transform professional learning. I facilitated one to support inclusive practice. Teachers implemented creative approaches to include all learners such as differentiation through choice

Q4: What are the challenges of encouraging creativity within professional learning?

I suppose challenging the ‘status quo’ of the well established norm in schools is a challenge. Newly appointed colleagues, for example, might be more concerned with ‘fitting in’ with ‘how things are done’ as opposed to proposing change!
What I suppose I was alluding to was people on hourly/temporary contracts (or zero hour). Or if a curriculum is so rigid it doesn’t really allow for much innovation.

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