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Episode Summary:

Have you ever been in a PD session where the goals were unclear, and the entire experience felt scattered? It’s a common issue that leaves participants frustrated and disengaged.

Clarity is the key to transforming professional development sessions into impactful learning experiences. Research by John Hattie shows that teacher clarity significantly affects learning outcomes, and the same principle applies to PD. When facilitators clearly articulate their objectives, participants are more engaged and able to apply what they learn.

Imagine facilitating a PD session where participants know exactly what they will walk away with, how it will solve their real classroom challenges, and why it matters. 

By using clear goals, transparent communication, and framing content around participants’ needs, you can create sessions that inspire lasting, meaningful change.

Ready to fix your PD sessions? Listen in. Start by outlining clear objectives, connecting them to participants’ needs, and guiding them through the process with transparency and purpose. Swap confusion for clarity, and watch your PD sessions transform into powerful learning experiences.

Resources:

• Key Considerations for Unlocking Impactful Professional Development For K-12 Math Educators [Change to blog post link]
• Assessment For Growth: A Blueprint Course For Standards Based Grading in Math Class
• Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Attention District Math Leaders:

K-12 Math Coordinators, Coaches, Directors and Math Leaders. Get Professional Development Support from Make Math Moments

Learn how you can create, coordinate, and implement an aligned school and district math action plan for improved student success. 

So that you can create long term sustainable student success in mathematics and proficiently & pedagogically strong educators.

Book a call with us to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning.

Episode Summary:

Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or instructional coach, you’ve likely been in a PD session that just didn’t hit the mark. Maybe the objectives were unclear or the direction felt scattered. Here, we’ll break down how to avoid that and share strategies, supported by research, to help you become a more effective facilitator.

The first thing we need to address is clarity. As a facilitator, do you have a rock-solid understanding of what you want participants to walk away with? Can you clearly articulate that? Clarity is key to the success of any PD session, just like in the classroom.

Connecting Clarity to Learning Outcomes

John Hattie’s research shows that teacher clarity significantly impacts student learning outcomes, and the same applies to professional development and for designing math coaching sessions.

 Just like drafting a learning goal for your students, you need to define what lasting and enduring understanding you hope to establish for your adult learners.

For example, if your goal is to connect mathematical representations, your objectives might sound like:

1. Understand that all elementary mathematics can be represented visually.
2. Recognize that certain models, like the array, number line, and ratio table, are versatile across many situations.
3. Understand that multiple representations promote access for all learners and enhance conceptual understanding – critical for some, but good for all. 
4. Recognize that solving a problem in multiple ways demonstrates mastery and critical thinking.

Transparency and Long-Term Objectives

While these objectives may seem ambitious for a single PD session or a math coaching session, they can serve as long-term goals to work toward collaboratively. Clearly defined learning objectives empower you to facilitate with greater transparency and purpose.

For added clarity in your sessions, consider using a strategy inspired by Dale Carnegie’s speech-writing formula: “Tell the audience what you’re going to say, say it, then tell them what you’ve said.” Start by clearly outlining your objectives. What do you want participants to take away? 

How will this session help them address the challenges they face in their mathematics classrooms? By offering a clear big picture at the outset, you enable participants to engage with confidence and focus. Keep in mind that your participants don’t have the road map—show them the destination upfront, so they can relax and trust that the work will be meaningful.

It’s not just about what you want them to learn—frame those objectives in terms of their needs. Teachers are busy and need to know how your session will solve real problems they face. Connect emotionally, and you’ll earn their attention and trust.

Recap: Keys to Effective PD Sessions

• Be clear about your objectives.
• Share those objectives with your participants upfront.
• Frame the objectives around their needs and challenges.

FULL TRANSCRIPT

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