Did You Know the 5E Model is a Great Framework for Getting the Most Out of Professional Learning?

This year, just like our students will experience in their own learning, our teachers will be experiencing back-to-school Professional Learning in a variety of new and different formats. It’s highly likely most educators will have all, or the vast majority, of their professional learning and meetings carried out in a virtual setting. At the very least it will be a hybrid format with limited in-person meetings (certainly not whole faculty very often) and a blend of face-to-face and virtual sessions. These sessions may be live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous) from either district/campus personnel or from a variety of online resources.

Most teachers will be craving that in-person contact as our profession is built around human contact and interaction along with collaboration and relationships. Just like our students, most educators are going on about six months without the usual day-to-day contact and interaction with their colleagues. I’ve talked with so many educators and this is something that comes up all the time and is one of the most exasperating aspects of this COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s face it, Zoom or Google Meets or whatever remote virtual meeting tool you use simply doesn’t cut it as a long term solution for connecting.

All of that to say that virtual professional learning is already fighting an uphill battle to keep the attention of educators as we look to launch this next school year. On top of the typical professional learning topics around pedagogy, professional learning communities, and “bloodborn pathogens”, this year provides a whole host of new learning to navigate. Teachers will be working to understand exactly HOW the on-site and on-line learning will look for their district and campus this year. Districts will be rolling out master plans for this work and these plans will be dense with a mix of pedagogy, safety practices, and a slew of “what if” scenarios. On top of that, many teachers will need support in the use of technology and on-line learning software that will be necessary for a robust student learning experience this year. If we pause long enough to reflect on this reality, it can be overwhelming.

I’d like to present a simple framework to help teachers make sense of and better apply what they will be learning during back-to-school professional development this year. The framework is a lens to use as you plan your learning for the days ahead and it’s an adaptation of the 5E Model many of us associate with science and math lesson design.  But did you know, the components of the 5E model also offer a great framework for managing our own professional learning.  Here’s how:

5E Model

• Engage – look for content and learning opportunities that are relevant to your needs but will also allow you to be deeply engaged and connected to the learning experience.  Come ready to learn and be present in the moment.
• Explore – find great ideas and resources from the presenters or from colleagues you are learning alongside.  Use this time to challenge your thinking and assumptions and set out to discover 3 new insights or takeaways from each session you attend.
• Explain – think about how you would explain or share what you have learned with colleagues and be ready to connect your learning to practices and existing beliefs that guide your work as an educator.   Yes, you’re learning something new for yourself and you’re building the capacity of the PLCs you’re part of as well. 
• Elaborate – be active in refining your own learning and understanding as a result of peer feedback and the collaborative influence that comes from sharing about your learning.  Make a commitment to try 1 or 2 new things from the day’s learning and be specific in how it will impact your work and what goals you have for the improvement of your work.
• Evaluate – how does your new learning influence or apply to your daily practices as an educator?  Do you have new questions or challenges as a result of your learning?  Do you have a new source of inspiration and excitement?

This year will present educators with a many new challenges and many new rewarding experiences. COVID-19 has caused a monumental shift in our practices as educators both in how we help students learn and how we learn ourselves. I hope this adaptation of the 5E Model will help encourage you to navigate the new learning ecosystem that will be before you soon. I also hope it allows you to make sense of so much and to best apply your passion, heart, and love for teaching to a most unique and unpredictable 2020-2021 school year!

Blessings!

Chris

Originally posted on July 27, 2020 @ 8:00 am