How to Make Professional Development Engaging Again

How to Make Professional Development Engaging Again

By Derek Skaggs · Sep 15, 2025 · 1 min read

Ask teachers about PD, and you’ll likely hear words like boring or irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Why Engagement Matters

When teachers are engaged in PD, they:

  • Retain strategies longer
  • Apply them more consistently
  • Feel valued as professionals

Three Keys to Engaging PD

  1. Choice: Give teachers control over what and how they learn.
  2. Collaboration: Build in peer interaction and shared problem-solving.
  3. Coaching: Provide follow-up, not just a single session.

The Role of Technology

Digital platforms can turn passive PD into interactive learning experiences—through discussion forums, personalized modules, and AI coaching that feels like a 24/7 mentor.

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