According to a Harvard Business Review article, "curiosity helps employees engage more deeply in their work, generate new ideas, and share those ideas with others." Certainly, these are all benefits we would want for staff in our schools. The questions that leaders and coaches use can support tapping into curiosity.  Find out why "what" is a good start for your questions.

Listen to the podcast with Tanya Sheckly and Tom Willis here. 

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes! 

When we are engaged in growing and learning as educators to reach a student success goal, reflecting on evidence gathered along the way is key both to the goal’s success and to educator learning. Evidence that shows changes in teacher actions and in student learning production behaviors should appear before changes in learning outcomes. With school leadership team goals, changes in leaders’ behaviors should be some of the first evidence that’s observed. Coaching is a great tool for gathering and reflecting upon evidence. 

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes! 

When coaches are conscious of the purposes of the questions they ask in coaching sessions, their questions are clearer and they can better focus on listening. That listening allows the coach to follow the teacher because the next questions emerge from that listening. Finding out questions provide the coach with an understanding behind the teacher’s planning and actions. Reflection questions generate teachers’ exploration of learning that arises from their experiences. Exploring Future Action questions guide teachers’ implementation of insights and learning to increase student success.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes! 

School leaders' own engagement and modeling of AI is important to support teachers in successfully initiating AI opportunities for teaching and learning. How can instructional coaches introduce and model AI use in their coaching activities with teachers? What might a school or district position statement on AI contain? Technology and design leaders from the Chester County Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania, Josh Ecker and Kylie Hand, share the ways they support school leaders at various stages of AI implementation in their schools.

Resources: 

• Future of Work Report - LinkedIn 

AI in Education News & Guidance 

• AI for Education 

AI Curriculum Resources 

• AI4K12 

Individuals  

• Rebecca Bultsma 

Our Contact Info: 

Kylie Hand, Director of Learning Design & EdTech, Chester County Intermediate Unit: [email protected] 

Personal Social Media: 

• X: @mrskyliehand 

Josh Ecker, Learning Design Coordinator, [email protected]

Personal Social Media: 

• X: @JoshEcker

Thinkers are characterized by their curiosity, willingness to explore different approaches, and the ability to think critically about a task. Thinking generates learning. The question for us as teachers is "How much thinking are our students doing?” Students who succeed in school by mimicking may get acceptable grades but are often set up for future, often unexpected, failure.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Kim Cofino, the author of, "Finding Your Path As a Woman in School Leadership: A Guide for Educators, Allies, and Advocates," shares insights from interviews she conducted with over 70 successful female school leaders. Her discoveries are important to female educators at different stages in their leadership development and roles. Equally important, Kim provides reflection for school leaders, regardless of gender, who need to be addressing their role in identifying and supporting more females to be engaged in school leadership. Our students deserve a diverse and representative educator community. We all have a responsibility.

Allie Rodman, the founder of The Learning Loop and author of "Still Learning: Strengthening Professional and Organizational Capacity," explores critical elements for teacher, team, and organizational learning. Consider the roles of stillness, pause and reflection in generating educator learning. Explore learning as an individual educator, team member, and as an organization.

Professional Learning—Let’s Not Go Back to Normal!

My Professional Learning – How Do I Make the Most Of What I’ve Learned During Virtual and Hybrid Teaching

Connect with Allie & visit The Learning loop website here.