At HIS, we believe the key to providing an exceptional educational experience for our students lies in our teachers’ continuous growth and development.
Professional development equips our teachers with the latest pedagogical strategies and techniques. By participating in workshops, seminars, and collaborative learning opportunities, our teachers can refine their skills, ensuring they are well-prepared to inspire and engage our students.
Education is an ever-evolving field. Through ongoing training, our teachers stay informed about the latest trends in education, technology, and curriculum design. This knowledge allows them to adapt their teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of our students. Additionally, professional development fosters a culture of collaboration among staff.
When teachers share insights, strategies, and resources, they are creating a supportive community that benefits everyone involved, teachers and students alike. Research shows that effective professional development leads to improved student performance.
When our teachers grow professionally, they can provide more meaningful and impactful learning experiences, which ultimately helps our students thrive academically.
Earlier this year, 50 members of our Lower School faculty participated in an IB workshop entitled: ‘Action, Agency and Engagement’.
Two IB facilitators joined us to lead the two-day workshop right here on our HIS campus. During the workshop, our teachers explored various strategies to inspire and support our students in engaging in purposeful, authentic, critical, and mindful action and agency within their learning. Here are some key takeaways:
Engagement: According to the IB, engagement transcends making connections or taking action; it embodies the desire to act coupled with the compassion to follow through. Teachers explored varying ways to guide students in making choices about their engagement and potential opportunities to then take action.
Understanding Agency: Teachers delved into the concepts of agency and action, discovering how these can manifest across our Program of Inquiry. The IB defines agency as students having ‘voice, choice, and ownership’ of their learning. This understanding helps us create a learning environment where students feel empowered to make choices and take initiative.
Identifying Opportunities and Taking Action: Teachers explored ways to identify and create opportunities for students to have agency within their learning experiences. This includes fostering an environment where students can ask questions, pursue interests, and reflect on their learning. Additionally, we learned to identify ways in which we can support students to take action based on their learning experiences.
As teachers implement these newly learned strategies in our classrooms, I encourage you to engage with your child about their learning experiences. Ask them questions like:
- What are you curious about right now?
- How do you think you can take charge of your learning?
- Can you share a recent learning engagement or assessment where you made choices about what to learn or how to express your understanding?
- Why is that important to you?
- What action can you take based on what you have recently learned?
In closing, at HIS, we recognize that the foundation of an exceptional educational experience for our students is rooted in the continuous growth and development of our teachers.
Through professional development—encompassing workshops, seminars, and collaborative learning—our teachers refine their skills and stay current with the latest pedagogical strategies, trends, and technologies.
This commitment ensures they are well-equipped to engage and inspire our diverse student body, adapting their teaching methods to meet individual needs in an ever-evolving educational landscape.