Union-Sponsored Professional Development
The AFT has long recognized that the union's responsibilities go beyond the traditional "bread and butter" issues of salary and benefits. The AFT Professional Development Program represents one of the union's major efforts to improve student achievement by making a difference in practitioners' performance and professional growth. By addressing the professional needs of our educator members, we are able to help them be even more successful in their careers; the union; the institutions in which they work; and in serving the students, families and communities they serve.
The AFT Professional Development Program
AFT Professional Development is a program for educators that offers 45-hour graduate level courses, 3-hour Strategies for Student Success modules, webinars, lesson-sharing tools, online communities, technology tools and more to appeal to all educators. The program also provides solid research-based content that validates existing practice while encouraging professional growth. Professional learning opportunities based on the content of the courses are offered throughout the year and the AFT national office works with state federations and local affiliates to deliver coursework locally and assist in developing the capacity to provide the offerings directly to affiliate members.
Course offerings: http://www.aft.org/education/well-prepared-and-supported-school-staff/aft-professional-development-program
If you are interested in developing a program in your local, please contact Lisa Dickinson at edickinson@aft.org.
AFT Professional Development Online
AFT’s Professional Development Online is a powerful tool that can boost engagement from that critical first day of work, and provides a real value add to members as they advance through the profession.
This online platform—a FREE benefit for all AFT members—provides a myriad of options depending on individual comfort level and available time. Members can:
- Create or access self-paced or facilitated courses
- Use our interactive webinar platform to conduct trainings
- Explore collaborative learning communities
- Create and control your own local-branded affiliate page for your membership
- Search for resources to enhance lesson plans
- Engage in conversation and share ideas by topic in our forums
- Research educational news or blogs
- Browse our extensive resource library
An introductory video: http://tinyurl.com/aboutPDO
View the site: http://elearning.aft.org
For more information on how to get started, contact Lisa Dickinson at edickinson@aft.org.