What is the Real Definition of Professional Development?

There are many definitions floating around that claim to be the real definition, but what is the real definition? For our source here in Union County, we have turned to the National Staff Development Council (NSDC) to determine the real definition. The NSCD defines it with the following terms and ideas:

• fosters collective responsibility
• aligned with state standards
• conducted in learning teams
• facilitated by well prepared, principals, coaches, mentors, teachers and other leaders
• occurs multiple times per week
• continuous cycle of improvement through analysis, goals, evidence-based learning strategies, provides transfer to the classroom, regularly assesses the effectiveness of the pd
• may be supported and strengthened by courses, workshops, institutes and conferences

In evaluating your staff development, are you incorporating these ideas. If not, then reflect on ways that you might easily implement these thoughts into your everyday professional learning.