What is a characteristic of effective professional development?

An effective professional development program is characterized by its emphasis on skill acquisition and application. This means that it focuses not only on teaching educators new skills but also on how to implement those skills in real-world classroom situations. By encouraging teachers to apply what they learn in practical settings, professional development becomes more relevant and beneficial, leading to enhanced teaching practices and improved student outcomes. This approach fosters continuous growth and learning among educators, ensuring that they are equipped to meet the diverse needs of their students.

In contrast, sporadic and unplanned development fails to provide a cohesive learning experience for educators. Limiting professional development to only new teachers neglects the ongoing growth and improvement opportunities for experienced educators. Avoiding practical applications means that the skills learned may not be effectively integrated into actual teaching, rendering the training less effective.