Agency-wide Definition of Professional Learning

The definition for professional learning was not included in the article that followed up our regional and central office meetings last week. Read below for the definition, which will also be put on the Intranet under the links for materials for the August 2010 meetings.

Heartland AEA Definition of Professional Learning
Agency Professional Learning Committee
August 2010

Heartland Area Education Agency 11 is committed to being a learning organization. Investing in employees’ professional learning is vital to providing staff the ability to learn and grow. This enables us to provide exemplary services to our clients. Heartland empowers staff to be accountable for their own learning needs. To improve the Agency’s overall effectiveness as well as help individuals achieve continued high performance, the professional learning plan at Heartland Area Education Agency:
• Focuses on outcomes, standards, and ultimately student achievement,
• Aligns to agency goals and objectives,
• Is grounded in research and best practices,
• Is job embedded with opportunities for process, practice and application,
• Fosters collaboration and learning with and through colleagues,
• Focuses on providing individuals with learning matched to their unique needs and
• Is experienced through a variety of formats, such as courses, workshops, reading, projects, feedback, assignments or jobs and utilizing cutting-edge technology.

The committee decided that common language about professional learning was important for our agency. The Agency Professional Learning Committee based its definition of professional learning on the definition developed by the National Staff Development Council. The NSDC definition was altered because it describes professional development in schools, and our agency needs a broader definition to address the learning needs of all employees.

If you have any feedback about this definition, please contact Sharon Kurns at skurns@aea11.k12.ia.us, and she will share it with the committee.