On 28 August 2024, Resolute Education hosted a highly successful professional development webinar. The event brought together educators and experts to explore the critical aspects of 21st-century teaching. With over 150 participants tuning in, it provided valuable insights into the evolving educational landscape and emphasised the importance of continuous professional growth.

Webinar Highlights

We had amazing guest speakers, each offering unique perspectives on integrating coding, robotics, and essential soft skills into the classroom:

Brad Keller, CEO of Keller Education, delved into the importance of creating an EdTech environment that balances academic integrity with the development of essential soft skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.  Brad also focused on 7 C's of classroom success and how to incorporate it into your classroom.

Dr. Kayla Willemse, an expert in early childhood education, focused on the specific needs of teachers when integrating unplugged coding and computational thinking into their lessons, providing actionable strategies for overcoming common challenges. Dr. Kayla elaborates on the importance of professional development for teachers and its potential benefits.

Susan Cronje, who holds a BEd Honours in Computer-Integrated Education, had an insightful conversation with Nadine Smith, an experienced educator with over two years of expertise in coding and robotics. Together, they shared practical tips for seamlessly integrating these technologies into everyday classroom activities.

Why Professional Development Matters

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, continuous professional development (PD) is crucial for educators to stay current with new pedagogies and technologies. PD spans formal workshops and informal peer learning, aiming to enhance teaching skills and classroom effectiveness. Therefore, professional development provides the necessary tools for career growth and adaptation to new challenges, keeping teaching methods relevant and effective. 

Incorporating 21st-century skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and digital literacy, into PD programmes is vital. Professional development in coding and robotics equips teachers with the latest instructional methods, catering to diverse learning styles and improving student outcomes. It fosters a culture of innovation, encouraging teachers to integrate new ideas into their lessons.

• Establishing professional learning communities (PLCs) allows for the sharing of best practices and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Engaging in unplugged coding activities develops foundational skills in computational thinking and problem-solving without relying on digital devices.
• Tailoring PD to individual teacher needs ensures relevance and effectiveness, making PD directly applicable to classroom challenges.
• Continuous assessment of PD effectiveness helps tailor ongoing training to meet educators' needs, ensuring that professional growth translates into classroom success.

Professional development is vital for a knowledgeable, innovative, and adaptable teaching workforce. 

This webinar not only highlighted the importance of professional development in fostering future-ready educators but also reinforced the need for ongoing training that is both relevant and impactful.

For those who missed the live session or wish to revisit the discussions, the full recording is available on our Code the Nation platform: Watch the Webinar.