Professional Development

Listen to the podcast.

This podcast is focused on the COPE strategy for professional development. COPE is an acronym for the following:
Collaboration- with other peers, mentors, and experts. Find people that are close and available that you can trust with the every day questions.

Organizations- Look for education organizations, specifically in your subject area, that you can join and use as a resource. They will often give you a subscription to a professional journal for your subject area, and these are often filled with tons of information and resources totally geared at what you’re doing every day in the classroom. Every teacher should be a member of their professional organization. More generic education organizations can be helpful as well.

Periodicals- I already mentioned the journals of professional organizations, but normal magazines off the rack at the local bookstore or library can also be a great resource for information on the latest developments in a given field of study.

Education- Whether formal or informal, continuing your education in your own subject area, as well as in the newest developments in cognitive research and education, is critical. Don’t be fooled into believing that 120 credit hours will prepare you for 30 years in the classroom. As an educator, develop a love for learning yourself- and commit to becoming a lifelong learner.