Planning for Professional Development

Selecting professional development opportunities can be a challenge. It seems that every year we get bombarded with more and more opportunities to learn. But the challenge doesn't stop here. Even after we've narrowed down which opportunities we're going to pursue, we still have some important decisions to make. Here are are my top 3 tips to get the most out of a professional development opportunity, whether it be a workshop, conference, or convention:

1. Have a Game Plan
At times I am extremely tempted to just show up at conferences and fly by the seat of my pants. After all, they seem to be one of the few breaks I get away from school--a mini vacation of sorts. Sometimes I also try and rationalize that with everything that's planned on the agenda, all I should have to do is show up; I'm bound to learn something. If you honestly want to get the most out of the professional development experience though, this is not the way to go. You'll end up leaving without any sense of accomplishment and probably drained because you wasted so much time trying to run around and find something worthwhile to feel like the whole experience wasn't a complete waste. As with any lesson that you teach, you need to begin with an end in mind.

Take a look at the agenda and consider these important points to plan your visit ahead of time:

• Why are you going to this event in the first place? Is it to simply get materials or curriculum for a new course? Do you need some additional textbooks or resources? Would you like some feedback on a project you are working on? Are you looking to expand your professional network? Do you need some new discipline or classroom management strategies? Lab ideas? Collaboration tools? Everyone goes to professional development events for different reasons, so just following your friends or roommates won't cut it if you want to get the most out of the event.
• What learning opportunities are available? Presentations? Demonstrations? Panels? You should make sure you are choosing several different presentation styles throughout the workshop. No matter how skilled the presenters are, sitting through 5 presentations all day will end up leaving you either bored or overwhelmed.
• What topics are available? Again, consider the purpose of attending the conference. Pick opportunities centered around these topics. During the initial planning, I usually circle titles of workshops that catch my eye, and then go back and take a closer look at the details (presenter, time offered, etc). I would also advise throwing in at least one wild card into your agenda--something completely left field. It can be a topic you've heard about but never had the opportunity to explore on your own or perhaps something extremely controversial or cutting edge. If nothing else, it will at least keep you abreast on what's out there.
• Who is presenting? Colleagues? Professors? Industry representatives? Politicians? Vendors? Do some digging on their professional lives if you don't already know them. What position do they take on the topic? What are they best known for? What type of feedback do other attendees have about their delivery methods or ideas? For instance, I would want to hear a fellow teacher talk about integrating technology into a lesson rather than a salesman trying to sell me a specific product because the teacher has experience with application in the classroom and might have some useful suggestions for troubleshooting.
• When are they offered? Sometimes workshops will overlap, so it's important to prioritize which one you think will be most beneficial.  
• How do you learn best? Some people do best listening to discussions while others enjoy a hands on approach or demonstration. Others learn best in more of an informal environment. Whatever the case, make sure you pick opportunities that best address your learning style. If you are unsure about a workshop, try sitting near the back so that if during the session you realize that you're bored in the first 15 minutes, you can slip out without distracting the rest of the audience. Remember, in most cases, you have no obligation to stay, so don't feel bad for leaving.

2. Avoid the Extra Baggage
Being away from home is exciting, but often times we let ourselves get bogged down by too many extras, both physically and mentally. To avoid feeling drained instead of inspired, pack light. If you're going to a career fair, carry only a small bag with some business cards, a writing utensil, and a small tablet. Try to avoid the salesmen who are passing out five pound bags of literature. Be selective about what you choose to take. Ask yourself--am I going to use this in the next six months? If the answer is no, save a tree and your shoulders and just say "no thanks!" Also, look for web links and other online resources you can access from home that can provide you with the same information. If you have trouble saying no, try to drop off your supplies in your hotel periodically and sort through them at the end of the day. Again, be sure to discard anything you know you are not going to use soon. Consider bringing mailing envelopes and stamps to have the materials sent home if you know you will be bringing back some heavier supplies or it is an especially long conference. Also, if groups are doing door prize drawings, enter using business cards instead of filling out their forms. Make sure you plan several mental breaks as well. Resist the urge to plan workshop after workshop to "get your money's worth."

3. Never Underestimate the Informal
You are ready for some serious learning--you have the day's agenda, you're at the workshop (early), you got a good seat, you have out your pen and a small tablet, and you are ready for the presenter--but did you say "hi" to the person sitting next to you? Do you even know his/her name? It seems so trivial, but this simple gesture could change your entire conference experience. In all of my professional development experiences, the informal connections I make with other people seem to be the most valuable ones I bring back to my classroom. More often than not, the people I bounce ideas off of are the people that I carpooled to a conference with, met in an elevator, or shared a hotel room with, not the workshop presenters. Why? Because presenters present. More often than not, you don't get the opporutnity to interact with them. It's a one way conversation, so you don't get a chance to share your experiences. You don't talk about your successes and failures. You don't tell travel stories. You follow a presentation outline, so you can't just talk. Let's face it, in today's day and age, you don't even have to be at the conference to get their presentation. Meeting new people and networking is one piece of the conference experience that you really can't get any other way, so don't get so caught up in your schedule and  that you fail to make these invaluable personal connections.