"So fascinating and inspiring. This course instantly re-energized me for the academic year!"
– Malcolm, Technical Theatre Essentials Attendee
In today's blog, we're talking all things professional development, from setting professional learning goals for teachers, to how you can unlock access to our May-exclusive PD Packs...
Why is Professional Development important?
Professional development is an important part of any job, but especially when it comes to education, where every year brings substantial changes to the profession.
From next texts being added to the curriculum, to shifting engagement strategies, teacher training gives a clear time and place to keep up with these changes, helping teachers to:
- Improve their knowledge in specific subject areas, including new texts, topics, or skills
- Stay up to date with the latest research, policies, and effective engagement strategies
- Feel more confident in their profession as they continue to foster their professional skillsets
One of the most important qualities of a good teacher is this drive to keep learning, to actively engage with student needs, and use these experiences to challenge themselves and grow professionally.
How does DT+ ensure that our courses meet these requirements?
In the feedback survey for our online professional development courses, we ask teachers to rank how likely they are to change their teaching approach based on what they have learned.
With over 60% of teachers responding 'Extremely Likely' or 'Definitely' to this question, we can be confident that the teacher training provided is having a tangible impact on their time in the classroom.
Are you a customer of DT+? Get started with the brand new Training Academy today!
Professional Goals for Educators
Setting professional learning goals has been shown to improve motivation, build professional confidence, and help people to manage their time more effectively. For educators, professional development goals can also provide a barrier to challenges such as burnout, which 44% of K-12 workers report feeling 'very often' or 'always'.
Some examples of professional goals for teachers include:
- Experiment with a new learning strategy at least once a semester
- Join a community of educators online to develop my communication skills
- Enhance my knowledge of Elizabethan theatre and specific Shakespearean plays
Once you have decided which professional goals you want to prioritize, they can begin to serve as a framework for your training, helping to identify what you need in order to achieve each goal.
Check out our latest high school training course, Shakespeare Isn't Scary!
Digital Theatre+ Professional Development Courses
With the end of the school year approaching, we've pulled together a curated selection of our on-demand training courses and webinars, hand-picked to blend learning on multiple topics, texts, and skills.
Available until May 31, these training packs are designed to help you earn some extra PD hours ahead of the summer... or save them all for the new school year. Plus, each pack includes additional ready-to-go resources to help you apply your learning in the classroom!
Choose your PD Pack from our three options:
Find out what's included in each pack and sign up today!
Don't want the full pack? Explore individual learning opportunities here.