How can we make in-house CPD sessions more engaging and useful for teachers?
Thousands upon thousands of teachers will have experienced at least one shocking training day - if not more!
Your headteacher stands up to give the 'welcoming speech' reflecting on the year gone by, highlighting particular successes and milestones to overcome; the person reading from a Powerpoint or the teacher-led workshops, whatever the situation, a typical start back to the school term has teachers gathering 'to learn'. For many teachers, experiencing the traditional INSET day will conjure palpitations and monotonous memories.
Of course, CPD
Great article – as a trainer, my biggest bug bear is the cold/hot room, uncomfortable chairs, poor quality training venue. My heart sinks when I see delegates with coats buttoned up or fanning themselves with paper – I know two things in that moment: 1. They resent anyone who has caused them to be in this room! 2. By the time they have warmed up/cooled down – half the morning has gone.
I used to get frosty silences from commissioners when being booked in response to my “is the room good for training?” So I now say “Shall I arrive extra early to ensure room temperature is conducive to learning or is that all taken care of in house?”
All this before I get to reassure them that I do not do “ice-breakers” (if they wanted to talk to the person on their left – they would have done so by now…) or Role Plays. It is usually only at these reassurances that they forgive the uncomfortable surroundings and accept the announcements as compensation.
Eileen Murphy