Getting the most out of online professional development

#UKEdChat session 499 – There was a time when training days meant one thing: a trip to the dank local council educational centre. Their trainers would do there best with an overhead projector, acetate and hopeful open questioning to convey their message.

But at least lunch was ok, right?

There are now more options for continuing professional development (CPD) than ever, but in recent years online CPD has really come into its own. From videos to YouTube to our very own Thursday night Twitter discussions, the opportunities for teachers to learn and hone their skills has never been greater.

There are even opportunities to ‘attend’ free online conferences, like our upcoming UKEd Conference in June, where there back channels between professionals can simulate that of a face-to-face conference using social media, allowing teachings to network virtual and share ideas about the presentation they are viewing.

In the #UKEdChat discussion on Thursday 16th April 2020 at 8pm (UK) we discussed what online professional development opportunities are available, how to cut through the noise and marketing, and how to use the discussions to further your knowledge and build your network.

Questions

How does your use of offline and online professional development differ?
Do you consume online professional development formally, or in an ad hoc way? What does this look like?
Apart from UKEdChat.com and UKEd.Academy, where else do you find your online CPD?
How can schools integrate online CPD with their wider training programme?
What are the benefits/disadvantages of online professional development over offline alternatives?
How do you bookmark, save, record or make notes about the CPD things you learn online?
What is the best thing you have learned online recently that could impact on your professional development?
If you offered an online course, webinar or presentation, what would it be about?

Click here to view the tweet archive