That was my biggest workshop.  I was uncertain how to navigate a professional development workshop with an audience of 80 people situated in a theater.  I had cooperative activities in mind.  I spent most of the night before brainstorming ways to make adaptations to achieve the same goals in a different way.  I loved it.

I do enjoy professional dialogue during professional development.  That’s what it’s all about.  To dialogue is to learn.  Habermas calls this COMMUNICATIVE ACTION, where conversation is used to establish mutual understanding.  I felt that we had achieved this at Enver Creek Secondary.  Well, we were certainly on our way.

Every workshop I have given so far regarding Assessment for Learning has a theme or vibe.  Much like the classroom… every class is different.  This workshop’s theme was to be “professionally provoked.”  I think my mission was accomplished.  Teachers are talking about their practice and may take a bit of a pedagogical shift.  That’s great!

Honestly, my dream has come true.  I am talking to a bunch of people (practicing secondary teachers, in this case) about something (that is, assessment for learning and grading practices) in front of a HUGE screen (it was really big) and loving it (I truly did). 

Thank you Enver Creek Secondary.  I had a blast.