Professional Development

Professional development focuses on learning methodology, the ways of organizing learning experiences; the “how to” of learning.  Teaching strategies provide a context for complex learning to take place.  Complex learning is not linear; this is a central challenge for education to overcome.    Traditional and transformative learning practices do not advocate for the exclusion of one over the other.  Setting the context is what is relevant.  Within a rich and meaningful context for learning, individuals will take up learning challenges more readily and respond more positively to direct instruction

Different learning strategies fulfill different purposes. The task for educators is to choose the right one. This is a critical balancing act. LSF provides professional learning opportunities for teachers to enhance their teaching.

Through EcoLeague teachers can participate in professional learning Teacher Forums to develop their skills in facilitating action projects with their students. For more details about the 2009 Teacher Forums taking place in Calgary, the Greater Toronto Area, and Montreal please visit the forum registration page.

Project FLOW also provides teachers with opportunities to participate in professional learning workshops that allow them to develop their skills in facilitating action projects with their students. Participants share opportunities and challenges facing teachers and students in implementing action projects. Tools, techniques and curriculum resources that support the development and implementation of action projects in the community are explored. Workshops will be held across the country and there is no registration fee! The only catch is that we ask you to commit to implementing a water-based action project with your class once you get back to school.

Please contact Lilly Briggs, LSF Project Coordinator, at lilly@lsf-lst.ca for more information on EcoLeague and Project FLOW workshops.