Professional Learning Reality Test

Review a professional learning plan against the five questions below.

The reality test

1. Can participants name what this learning will help them do?
2. Will they work with an example that resembles their students or setting?
3. Is there time to try, discuss, or create—not only listen?
4. Is the next use of the learning visible and near?
5. Will an existing meeting, tool, or routine support follow-through?

Strengthen one weak point

Do not redesign the entire session at once. Choose the question with the least convincing answer and make one improvement.

For example, replace a second explanation with ten minutes to adapt the idea to an upcoming lesson, then invite participants to name the first context where they will use it.