Professional development (PD) workshops are supposed to inspire educators, sharpen their skills, and ultimately improve student learning. But ask any teacher how they feel about PD, and you’ll likely get a collective groan. Too often, these sessions feel like tedious obligations rather than meaningful opportunities for growth. Why? Because the way Educator PDs are traditionally structured just doesn’t work for the people it’s supposed to benefit the most: teachers.
One of the biggest complaints teachers have about PD is the reliance on forced collaboration and awkward icebreakers. You know the ones—where you’re asked to introduce yourself with a fun fact, build a tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows, or engage in group discussions about generic teaching strategies. While these activities are meant to encourage engagement, they often come across as patronizing and disconnected from the reality of teaching. At least, that’s what a lot of teachers feel.
As one exasperated educator put it, “These awful professional development workshops are almost always a torturous mixture of reiterating the same things we’ve heard dozens of times, embarrassing us, treating us like morons, and making us do mindless activities until we get so angry we feel like we are going to explode” (Teacher Misery, n.d.). That’s a pretty strong indictment of the current PD landscape.
Another major issue is that PD often feels completely detached from what actually happens in a classroom. Many workshops focus on broad, theoretical concepts rather than practical strategies teachers can immediately implement. A study by Education Week (Sawchuk, 2022) emphasizes that the most effective PD focuses on improving daily teaching practices and provides built-in accountability to encourage real change. Unfortunately, many PD sessions miss the mark by either rehashing outdated ideas or offering strategies that don’t align with teachers’ actual challenges.
So, how can we fix this? First, PD needs to be engaging—not in a gimmicky “let’s all play a game” way, but in a way that truly respects teachers as professionals. Research suggests that effective PD involves active participation, reflection, and real-world application (Faculty Focus, 2023). Instead of passive PowerPoint presentations, PD should incorporate meaningful discussions, case studies, and hands-on experiences that make the content relevant and practical.
Here’s a novel idea: What if PD felt more like an event rather than an obligation? Imagine workshops that include interactive elements, dynamic speakers, and even entertainment—because let’s be real, a little fun never hurt anyone. Movement-based activities, TED Talk-style presentations, and small-group problem-solving sessions can make PD more enjoyable and, more importantly, more effective (Smekens Education, 2023). Wouldn’t it be very interesting if they booked an act to play some cool covers during our lunch break out in the courtyard or patio area? Of course, the people in charge, those who organize these PDs, probably think doubling down on the sterile, boring, same old routine is just the sort of jolt teachers need to head back into their classrooms filled with enthusiasm and ready to carry on the corporate torch. That isn’t a typo, schools often are run like a business.
Teachers are natural lifelong learners, but they’re also quirky and funny and appreciate the offbeat, along with being busy professionals with limited time and energy. If we want them to buy into professional development, we need to give them something worth engaging with. That means ditching the ineffective, cookie-cutter sessions and embracing innovative approaches that make PD a valuable, energizing experience. Throw some color on that bland, white canvas.
References
Faculty Focus. (2023). Engagement: The secret sauce to effective faculty professional development. Retrieved from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/academic-leadership/engagement-the-secret-sauce-to-effective-faculty-professional-development/
Sawchuk, S. (2022). What works—and what doesn’t—in teacher professional development. Education Week. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-works-and-what-doesnt-in-teacher-pd/2022/10
Smekens Education. (2023). Fun professional development activities for teachers. Retrieved from https://www.smekenseducation.com/fun-professional-development-activities-for-teachers/
Teacher Misery. (n.d.). Teacher professional development: Wasting our time since forever. Retrieved from https://teachermisery.com/teacher-professional-development/
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