Professional Learning vs. PD: The Distinction Matters

Part of the reason many districts fail to achieve the promise of high-quality professional learning is that they operate with what the authors call a "PD mindset." This mindset manifests in sporadic, one-time events, inservice sessions, guest speakers, webinars, and workshops that are not part of a larger plan or vision. The authors believe that education leaders and learning designers need to shift from this "PD mindset" to a "professional learning mindset," in which professional learning and growth are centered around accelerating personal and collective learning and closing the knowing-doing gap for leaders and teachers. This article discusses how to make that shift.