Comments on: Spray and pray PD, action research, and educational change http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/ Weblog of Wesley Fryer Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Laura B. Fogle http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-29840 Laura B. Fogle Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:15:46 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/#comment-29840 We should consider options to combine our traditional PD with new technologies. For example, continue an in person conference session in a virtual conference. I participated in the K12 Online conference and LOVED it. The best part for me was the "spray and play" option. As the presenters sprayed out their new ideas I would pause the presentation and "play" with the new technology immediately. I didn't have to take notes and try it later or even try to keep up with the presenter like I would in a live hands-on presentation. What if we had short in-the-seat presentations that were followed up with virtual sessions? Students could choose when it was most convenient for them to learn more. This is similar to Wesley's idea of having on-going sessions in the summer, but more flexible. I don't have a lot of free time in the summer. My kids are home out of school. I would rather learn at night all through the year when they are in bed. Laura B. Fogle http://www.tech4teaching.blogspot.com We should consider options to combine our traditional PD with new technologies. For example, continue an in person conference session in a virtual conference. I participated in the K12 Online conference and LOVED it. The best part for me was the “spray and play” option. As the presenters sprayed out their new ideas I would pause the presentation and “play” with the new technology immediately. I didn’t have to take notes and try it later or even try to keep up with the presenter like I would in a live hands-on presentation.

What if we had short in-the-seat presentations that were followed up with virtual sessions? Students could choose when it was most convenient for them to learn more. This is similar to Wesley’s idea of having on-going sessions in the summer, but more flexible. I don’t have a lot of free time in the summer. My kids are home out of school. I would rather learn at night all through the year when they are in bed.

Laura B. Fogle
http://www.tech4teaching.blogspot.com

]]> By: Swimming In The River » What a Coincidence! http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-29835 Swimming In The River » What a Coincidence! Fri, 17 Nov 2006 02:22:04 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/#comment-29835 [...] I was reading one of my favorite blogs tonight, “Moving at the Speed of Creativity” by Wesley Fryer.  One of his most recent posts refers to the “spray and pray” format of staff development.  At one point he even refers to himself as ”a ‘professional sprayer and prayer’“.  The exact type of staff development that we’ve been doing the past few months.  Fryer goes on to say that, although he is not ready to abandon the “spray and pray” method, he also, is looking into transforming the way staff development is conducted.  In her comment to Mr. Fryer’s post, Candace Hackett Shively says, “Spray and Pray does work for the teachers who are absolutely driven to seek out new things. The vast majority would LOVE to do so, but real life and health force them to choose survival, even if it means remaining in isolation at their outposts. Those of us who do PD, in whatever format, must truly meet them at these outposts and live amid their gear and their compatriots to provide the support and credibility they demand in helping them adopt new ways.” [...] [...] I was reading one of my favorite blogs tonight, “Moving at the Speed of Creativity” by Wesley Fryer.  One of his most recent posts refers to the “spray and pray” format of staff development.  At one point he even refers to himself as ”a ‘professional sprayer and prayer’“.  The exact type of staff development that we’ve been doing the past few months.  Fryer goes on to say that, although he is not ready to abandon the “spray and pray” method, he also, is looking into transforming the way staff development is conducted.  In her comment to Mr. Fryer’s post, Candace Hackett Shively says, “Spray and Pray does work for the teachers who are absolutely driven to seek out new things. The vast majority would LOVE to do so, but real life and health force them to choose survival, even if it means remaining in isolation at their outposts. Those of us who do PD, in whatever format, must truly meet them at these outposts and live amid their gear and their compatriots to provide the support and credibility they demand in helping them adopt new ways.” [...]

]]> By: Candace Hackett Shively http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-29833 Candace Hackett Shively Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:34:10 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/#comment-29833 I, too, love the "Spray and Pray" term! Until reformers, do-gooders, politicians, and professional development specialists reach the same conclusion as you have about teacher TIME, meaningful use of it, and the benefits of successful, unrushed experience in a supportive, collaborative environment WITH teaching colleagues, most PD will be a skunk spray. We need to meet teachers on their ground, since they have no time to hike to the base camp from the realities of their outposts. You have it right. Spray and Pray does work for the teachers who are absolutely driven to seek out new things. The vast majority would LOVE to do so, but real life and health force them to choose survival, even if it means remaining in isolation at their outposts. Those of us who do PD, in whatever format, must truly meet them at these outposts and live amid their gear and their compatriots to provide the support and credibility they demand in helping them adopt new ways. There are creative ways to deliver this in a "montage" of experiences, as long as we remember that their outpost should be OUR base, not vice versa. Our presence there may be physical or virtual, but it is in THEIR camp. Want teachers to learn something new? Let them see it, taste it, try it, do it...they will seize the experience and continue with it in their "mess kit" on the trail of teaching. That is true ACTION research. I, too, love the “Spray and Pray” term!

Until reformers, do-gooders, politicians, and professional development specialists reach the same conclusion as you have about teacher TIME, meaningful use of it, and the benefits of successful, unrushed experience in a supportive, collaborative environment WITH teaching colleagues, most PD will be a skunk spray.

We need to meet teachers on their ground, since they have no time to hike to the base camp from the realities of their outposts. You have it right. Spray and Pray does work for the teachers who are absolutely driven to seek out new things. The vast majority would LOVE to do so, but real life and health force them to choose survival, even if it means remaining in isolation at their outposts. Those of us who do PD, in whatever format, must truly meet them at these outposts and live amid their gear and their compatriots to provide the support and credibility they demand in helping them adopt new ways. There are creative ways to deliver this in a “montage” of experiences, as long as we remember that their outpost should be OUR base, not vice versa. Our presence there may be physical or virtual, but it is in THEIR camp. Want teachers to learn something new? Let them see it, taste it, try it, do it…they will seize the experience and continue with it in their “mess kit” on the trail of teaching. That is true ACTION research.

]]> By: Ajit http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-29827 Ajit Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:39:36 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/11/14/spray-and-pray-pd-action-research-and-educational-change/#comment-29827 Hi Wesley, I work for Springdoo and came across your blog mentioning Springdoo. Just thought I'd let you know that we've just released a new version of Springdoo (still in beta) which we think will be even more useful to the education sector. It now has everything from Video widgets you can stick on your blog, video RSS support, recording and publishing from your video phone, and publishing to mobile phones. So do check it out and we would be happy to receive any feedback from you - good or bad. Cheers, Ajit Hi Wesley,

I work for Springdoo and came across your blog mentioning Springdoo. Just thought I’d let you know that we’ve just released a new version of Springdoo (still in beta) which we think will be even more useful to the education sector. It now has everything from Video widgets you can stick on your blog, video RSS support, recording and publishing from your video phone, and publishing to mobile phones. So do check it out and we would be happy to receive any feedback from you – good or bad.

Cheers,
Ajit

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