Engaging Themed Professional Development | PD | Instructional Coaching | Admin

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Higher Education–Adult Education, Staff

Engaging Themed Professional Development | PD | Instructional Coaching | Admin

Professional Development - Top Chef Challenge!

Are you looking for an exciting, interactive way to engage your teachers during professional development? We often expect our teachers to deliver engaging lessons to their students, but rarely do we provide equally engaging learning experiences for them. This Top Chef-themed professional development session is designed to change that by combining fun with practical pedagogy.

Overview:

In this Top Chef Challenge, teachers will participate in a teach-off where they compete to present the best teaching strategy or classroom practice related to the focus of the professional development. This format encourages creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking, while also promoting a deeper understanding of the best practices being discussed. Teachers will research a topic within a set time frame, collaborate with colleagues, and create a presentation to impress a panel of "judges," just like contestants on the popular TV show Top Chef.

By turning professional development into a fun, competitive challenge, teachers will learn from one another and be inspired by a variety of strategies they can use in their classrooms.

How It Works:

Introduction & Group Formation: Teachers will be divided into small teams. Each team will be assigned a specific teaching strategy, best practice, or educational concept that is the focus of the PD session (e.g., differentiated instruction, student engagement techniques, or formative assessment strategies).
Research & Preparation: Teams will have a limited amount of time to research their assigned topic. They’ll use that time to create a brief, dynamic presentation, incorporating creative elements to “wow” the judges. The presentations can include visuals, interactive activities, or demonstrations.
Teach-Off & Presentations: Once time is up, each team will present their teaching strategy to the panel of judges. The judges—who could be administrators, instructional coaches, or selected teachers—will evaluate each presentation based on specific criteria, such as clarity, creativity, and relevance to classroom practice.
Judging & Feedback: Judges will use a rubric (included with the template) to score each presentation. Feedback will be given on the strengths of the presentation and how the strategies can be adapted to different classrooms. Teams will also have the opportunity to reflect on their learning and how they might use the ideas they’ve seen from other teams.
Award Ceremony: At the end of the challenge, the team with the highest score will be crowned the Top Chef of teaching strategies! Small prizes, certificates, or fun badges can be awarded to the winning team to add a celebratory element to the day.

Why It Works:

This PD session allows teachers to engage with content in a hands-on, collaborative way, fostering creativity and professional growth. Teachers can draw on their expertise while also learning new strategies from their peers. The competitive aspect adds excitement and motivation, ensuring active participation and deeper learning.

What’s Included in the Canva Template:

7 Editable Canva Slides: Customizable to fit your school's focus or specific teaching strategies. You can add your own branding, adjust the content, and tailor the slides to suit your audience.
Judging Rubric: A detailed rubric to guide judges in evaluating presentations based on criteria such as creativity, practical application, engagement, and depth of research.

What You’ll Need:

Basic supplies such as chart paper, markers, and digital devices for teams to research and create their presentations.
Small prizes or certificates for the winning team to foster a fun, competitive spirit.

Outcome: By the end of the session, teachers will leave with fresh ideas, practical strategies, and an increased sense of collaboration. This professional development experience ensures that the learning is both engaging and directly transferable to the classroom, enhancing teaching practices and boosting student engagement.

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