6 Talent Development Tools for EdLeaders

Bloomboard recently launched Collections of educator resources. Collections are bite-sized resources that help educators learn how to put theory into practice.
This collection of Getting Smart resources includes several white papers, podcasts and blogs on the future of professional learning–where educators will benefit from tailored experiences, just-in-time support and portable credentials. Like students, educators deserve blended, personalized and competency-based learning experiences.
Check out the Collection on Bloomboard and see a summary below.
Next Generation Talent Development
1. Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning. This paper sponsored by Hewlett Foundation makes the case for personalized and competency-based teacher development. The paper is summarized in this cool infographic.
2. Preparing Leaders for Deeper Learning. This sequel to #1 outlines a vision for personalized and competency-based leadership development where teachers gain valuable work experiences supported by learning opportunities. The paper is not only colorful, it includes 50 expert contributions. Here’s a slideshare version.
3. Rethinking Educator Professional Development with Micro-credentials. This podcast is a lively conversation with Bloomboard’s Jason Lange and Jennifer Kabaker from Digital Promise. It outlines how learning modules (like Collections) can support development and demonstrations of knowledge and skill resulting in a micro-credential.

4. Getting Smart on Transformative Professional Development. Schools, districts and organizations are using blended learning strategies to accelerate professional growth and provide real-time learning. Teachers now have the opportunity to learn what they need, when and how they want, and have options for showing what they know and can do. This paper describes a transformative vision for professional development.
5. Podcast on Why Talent Matters. Listen to my discussion with Megan Mead on how districts should be developing educator talent (a summary of chapter 6 in Smart Cities That Work for Everyone). While you’re at it, sign up for the great Getting Smart Podcast.  
6. Professional Development: Technology’s Key to Success. This blog by Lucy Kosturko outlines how teachers can use free resources from SAS Curriculum Pathways. It’s part of a great collection summarizing free resources from SAS.
Throughout the month of February, over 20 education bloggers will be sharing Collections of learning resources on their blog and writing about how that Collection powers their practice. The Collections will either be ones the bloggers have curated themselves around a topic of interest or expertise, or just a favorite of theirs from the new BloomBoard. Readers can check back into the BloomBoard Blog every Monday in February for the week’s schedule of bloggers and follow along daily on BloomBoard’s Facebook and Twitter.
For more, see:


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Tom Vander Ark

Tom Vander Ark is the CEO of Getting Smart. He has written or co-authored more than 50 books and papers including Getting Smart, Smart Cities, Smart Parents, Better Together, The Power of Place and Difference Making. He served as a public school superintendent and the first Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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