Back to School: Keep on Growing During COVID 19

By. Craig Perrier

Earlier this summer I was happy to be able to return to live concerts.  One band I love to see is the Tedeschi Trucks Band, a 10 person plus ensemble headed by the married duo Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. 

Their cover version of the Derek and the Dominoes song “Keep On Growing” is an homage to and reminder of the importance of the growth mindset (checkout this live version from 2017 performed in Oakland). Indeed, the chorus is an exquisite meeting of education jargon and rock and roll, “you’re gonna be all right boy, oh just as long as you keep on growing, keep on growing, keep on growing.”

As we prepare for the start of the school year, I find myself asking myself “How can we continue to grow as educators during COVID 19?” Schools and districts, in response to new variants, may cancel or limit professional learning opportunities.  Thankfully, there are alternatives to school sponsored growth.

Some of our colleagues, for example, are enrolled in formal university programs or engage with social media to expand their practices. But there is another pathway that allows you to explore thousands of topics on your timeframe.  I call this practice “Self-Designed Professional Development.”   Luckily, our Educator Market Place has multiple options for you to select from.

1. Udemy – Choose from over 100,000 online video courses with new additions published every month.
2. edX – an online learning destination offering high-quality courses from the world’s best universities and institutions to learners everywhere.
3. The Great Courses Plus – Pursue your passion. Quench your curiosity. Embark on an educational endeavor. Watch thousands of streaming videos on hundreds of subjects.
4. Skillshare – Explore thousands of classes on topics including illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, and more.
5. Linkedin Learning – Learn in-demand skills with over 16,000+ online courses taught by real-world professionals.

So, as we start the 21-22 school year under the cloud of COVID variants, remember to take time for your own learning.  I guarantee that if you keep on growing, your students’ learning will benefit.