Learn from Kids, Peers, and the World to Transform Professional Learning
One-size-fits-all professional development is no longer effective. PD is evolving into professional learning (PL) by moving away from a factory model approach and tailoring experiences to unique learner needs. The authors present strategies for accomplishing successful PL through
Lainie Rowell is a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and award-winning educator who helps individuals and organizations thrive by optimizing happiness, relationships, and performance.
Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google to school districts, nonprofits, and independent organizations around the world. Whether speaking on a big stage or facilitating professional learning, Lainie shares evidence-based strategies to cultivate gratitude, enhance resilience, and drive innovation.
Her work is grounded in Bold Gratitude and her Notice, Evolve, & Thrive framework, which blend psychology, behavioral science, the neuroscience of well-being, and practical tools to help people notice what matters, evolve with intention, and thrive through meaningful connections.
Lainie is the author of Evolving with Gratitude, the lead author of Evolving Learner, and the creator of Bold Gratitude: The Journal Designed for You & By You. Her work has been featured in Greater Good Magazine, Thrive Global, Edutopia, and PBS NewsHour.
We are all evolving in our role as a learner! This book is such a “must-read” for all, and especially those who need assistance in guiding others, from professional development to professional learning. The Twitter chat, #BookCampPD, spent the month of June in an in-depth book study and had an ongoing collaboration with the authors. Teachers were so motivated by strategies, ideas, and discussing the content that some of them began expressing these thoughts in creative sketch notes. As educators, we want to be sure teacher voice and choice are being used when launching off into a professional learning initiative or book study. #EvolvingLearner was the #1 selected book (choice) when almost 3,000 voted during our survey. The three authors have crafted a helpful web site. It has a wealth of resources for you to use when reading, including a free discussion guide. The chapters are organized into the areas of learning with kids, peers, and from the world which can be approached in any order for ease of learning. I highly recommend this book! I hope you will reach out and grab a copy of it for your own professional learning journey!
Highly recommend for educators and those responsible for professional development of educators. The authors detail why the “one size fits all” workshop approach to PD should be replaced by a culture that instead fosters ongoing professional learning (PL) in a variety of ways and from multiple sources—from our students, each other, and the world. As a long-time proponent of collaboration through social media and online communication tools, I’m heartened to see an emphasis on the benefits of having a global network of peers and mentors. Forever grateful to mine!