Many of us in the education world know how painful professional development (PD) sessions can be, when they're not done well. They can feel like a massive waste of time, redundant or even condescending. Many times, outside "experts" are called in (and highly compensated) to teach the teachers, rather than drawing on the expertise at our fingertips...our colleagues. This is where, as Carl Harvey suggests in Putting on the Professional Development Hat, library professionals can play a uniquely useful role. Library Media Specialists have the ability to "make connections to school libraries for our staff and administrations" by drawing on their tech training to lead meaningful PD sessions for their colleagues. Harvey suggests that librarians may be especially adept at helping teachers learn and infuse new technology into their practice, and having teachers learn alongside their students, as the class is being taught, and then gradually take over the reigns after several sessions, when they have developed competency. I think Harvey is right in both promoting librarians as PD leaders, and also in this novel approach to guiding or coaching teachers as they work with their students. It allows teachers time to master the material or skill, and also allows students to view their teachers as learners, as imperfect beings with growth mindsets.
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