Peer-to-peer sharing is one of our most meaningful and effective kinds of professional development—and it’s so easy to do. Whether it’s presenting at a meeting or conference, writing an article, or participating in an online chat, you can share your expertise with your colleagues, and enrich their professional development as well as your own.
Present
One of the greatest strengths of AMLE’s Annual Conference is the number of sessions presented by classroom teachers and school-based administrators eager to share their lessons learned with their colleagues. That could be you up there!
Being able to share your experience with your colleagues, inspiring them, and helping them meet their challenges can be satisfying. The time spent preparing for your presentation can be just as fulfilling as you reflect on your knowledge, organize your thoughts, and practice your presentation skills.
When you attend the AMLE Annual Conference in Austin this fall, picture yourself up there … then keep an eye out for the AMLE 2017 Annual Conference Call for Proposals and apply to present!
Publish
How many times have you read an article in a professional magazine or newsletter and thought to yourself, “I should write about how I handled that same situation—it worked beautifully.” Do it!
You don’t have to be a seasoned author to write an article for a professional publication. If you are passionate about what you do, and are eager to share your successes and your challenges, you are well on your way!
In the January 2015 issue of AMLE Magazine, Rick Wormeli, in his Teacher Coach column, offers a helpful overview of the writing process and provides more than a dozen tips for sharing your experience and wisdom by writing for a publication. Read Rick’s tips, then visit www.amle.org/AMLEmagazine for information about how to submit an article.
Take to the [Information] Highway
An effective way to connect with middle level professionals is by developing an online Personal Learning Network (PLN). A PLN gives you almost instant access to colleagues around the world with whom you can share your ideas and learn from theirs. In the January 2016 issue of AMLE Magazine, Christopher Weiler offers tips for launching a PLN.
Don’t overlook social media tools like Facebook, and LinkedIn to share your story. Join a Google Hangout or participate in an online chat, such as #mschat. Join Twitter, write an article, and tweet it! Consider starting a blog, which gives you an opportunity to write as much and as often as you’d like without the restrictions of print publication.
Kudos!
Great ideas deserve to be shared—it’s how we grow ourselves and our profession!