Professional Development:
Self-Directed Professional Development
How are you spending your time in Japan?Are you growing on the job? Are you polishing skills or expanding on what you learned in university or your last job?
From the perspective of being a public school teacher in the USA, PD was a very important and regular part of teaching life. On average, I had at least 1 hour of PD a school week. It could be tiring at times, but it’s part of self-improvement for professionals and an educators. So, I was a little surprised to learn that ALTs in Japan only had a few hours of it annually, most of which is crammed into 1-2 days a year. Everyone has a different agenda when they join the JET Program. Mine was to broaden my teaching experiences, so the suggestions on this page come from that perspective. If you are not receiving regular PD but would like to, consider starting your own projects. Here are some suggestions. I’ve tried most of these, and was successful and unsuccessful at jumpstarting some, but it’s worth the try! Start a Blog or Website
I'm not talking about the type where you write about your mundane activities, but one where you can seriously reflect on your work and experiences in Japan. It could also be a public archive where you share ideas with the public. A blog or a website can transform into a eportfolio that you could share with others or use to communicate your professional experiences. How to Start a Blog in 5 Easy Steps How to Start a Blog - Beginner's Guide Hold Meetings or Involve other ALTs
Are you out of ideas? Consider exchanging ideas with nearby ALTs in lesson planning or writing curriculum. Write Curriculum If you’ve visited my page on Lesson Planning, you may remember that ALTs are not provided with curriculum to follow. Think about how you can organize clear goals and plans that other ALTs can use. Collaborate Online Expand yours and other's resources by collaborating online. You can use apps such as Google apps to collaborate on cloud-stored documents and share ideas easily. Many teachers also collaborate on wikis by building on information for the public. You can reach a lot more people by collaborating online. I recommend using Google Drive:
Assist at Tokyo Orientation
You don't have to present at Tokyo Orientation, you can assist! Present a PD Workshop Tokyo Orientation, prefectural orientation, and mid-year seminars are always looking for presenters. Volunteer Teach in community centers or other places where you can gain different experiences. |