{"id":50701,"date":"2021-08-05T08:19:17","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T12:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=50701"},"modified":"2026-05-26T07:19:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T11:19:15","slug":"8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/","title":{"rendered":"8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you’re little, roles seem clear: There are teachers and then there are students. It\u2019s fun to tell an elementary student that their favorite teachers are students, too, thanks to professional development requirements. Then spring it on them that many mothers and fathers are students as well and see what they say.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\"k12<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

K-12 teachers are earnest and avid learners because they need to stay innovative in their classrooms. They know what works best in a particular environment or situation. In fact, corporate professional development (PD) designers and instructors might want to adopt some of the teachers\u2019 best practices listed below to provide outstanding PD to employees.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The U.S. Department of Education identified nine best practices<\/a> for evidence-based education as guidance for teachers. The following tips comprise a few of the Department of Education\u2019s and some others worth noting.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Give students a clear and common focus<\/h2>\n

You want to make sure everyone is on the same page and understands the goals and what to expect. All students can learn and improve their performance when presented with clear objectives and appropriate expectations. Regardless of whether students are in the classroom, a virtual environment<\/a>, or both, a clear focus will help students understand what is expected academically, behaviorally, and socially.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Hold everyone to higher standards and expectations<\/h2>\n

When you set the bar high, students aim higher. High-performing classes have a teacher who intrinsically believes “all my students can learn and I can teach them.” So, challenge your learners to shoot for your high standards and expectations. Make sure all are appropriately ambitious and offer them clear, consistent learning conditions.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Provide everything needed for learning<\/h2>\n

Part of the tools needed to learn are your clear expectations and procedures for both the class and assignments. The other part is making sure they have the actual materials they need to accomplish the task or goals you set. In a classroom setting, it\u2019s easy to ensure they have everything needed. In a virtual classroom, you can use an online space to store and share materials.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Offer supportive, personalized, and relevant learning<\/h2>\n

A supportive learning environment personalized to each student’s\u00a0needs, offering relevant and interesting information, is key. Engage your students in rigorous coursework that gets and keeps their attention. Encourage them and provide plenty of positive feedback early and often. Reinforce positive results quickly and consistently offer timely, honest feedback and encouragement.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Empower students to track their learning progress<\/h2>\n

When students take ownership of their own learning, it boosts their level of achievement. You can help them thrive academically by helping them feel invested in their progress. They should be able to see their grades and means of tracking their progress. Boost self-confidence when your students can see they\u2019re keeping up or excelling. Motivate and inspire them to kick it into gear to avoid falling behind.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Be flexible with time and structure<\/h2>\n

A flexible structure is one that maximizes everyone\u2019s use of time. Accommodate your students\u2019 varied lives beyond the classroom by being cognizant of both in-person learning and virtual challenges. Foster student achievement by extending the structure of your classroom beyond the school building or the computer screen. Draw on the entire community\u2019s resources to educate your students.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Monitor and assess students\u2019 work<\/h2>\n

An accurate view of students\u2019 progress is key to making good decisions for your classroom. Another key is continually adjusting your program to address student needs or progress issues. When you monitor and assess your students based on data you\u2019ve collected, your flexible structure will adapt to what students need and what works best.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Embrace professional development<\/h2>\n

Ongoing PD should align with the school\u2019s larger goal or aim. Part of that focus includes the high expectations the school puts on teachers to improve student performance. Research and assessments<\/a> should focus and inform your school\u2019s PD offerings. You should also get appropriate instructional support and resources to help your approaches and techniques succeed.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\"k12<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Final thoughts<\/h2>\n

Teachers understand what works best for their classroom based on age, content, individual needs, and access to technology. In fact, when creating a learning environment, less is more. The number of assignments and level of instruction should focus less on distinct content and more on your school\u2019s bigger ideas.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Ready to better understand your learners’ needs and strengths? Start with a training needs assessment template<\/a> and customize your questions, get answers, and keep learning!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you’re little, roles seem clear: There are teachers and then there are students. It\u2019s fun to tell an elementary student that their favorite teachers are students, too, thanks to professional development requirements. Then spring it on them that many mothers and fathers are students as well and see what they say. K-12 teachers are earnest and avid learners because they need to stay innovative in their classrooms. They know what works best in a particular environment or situation. In fact, corporate professional development (PD) designers and instructors might want to adopt some of the teachers\u2019 best practices listed below to provide outstanding PD to employees. The U.S. Department of Education identified nine best practices for evidence-based education as guidance for teachers. The following tips comprise a few of the Department of Education\u2019s and some others worth noting. Give students a clear and common focus You want to make sure everyone is on the same page and understands the goals and what to expect. All students can learn and improve their performance when presented with clear objectives and appropriate expectations. Regardless of whether students are in the classroom, a virtual environment, or both, a clear focus will help students understand what is expected academically, behaviorally, and socially. Hold everyone to higher standards and expectations When you set the bar high, students aim higher. High-performing classes have a teacher who intrinsically believes “all my students can learn and I can teach them.” So, challenge your learners to shoot for your high […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":5087,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156,800,186],"tags":[512,208],"yoast_head":"\n8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development - Sogolytics Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"K-12 teachers are avid learners because they need to stay innovative. Here are some best practices from teachers to help you build an effective PD program.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development - Sogolytics Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"K-12 teachers are avid learners because they need to stay innovative. Here are some best practices from teachers to help you build an effective PD program.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sogolytics Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-05T12:19:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-26T11:19:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/k12-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"487\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"714\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kathy Edens\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@sogosurvey\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@sogosurvey\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/\",\"name\":\"8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development - Sogolytics Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-05T12:19:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-26T11:19:15+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8c1bd6009f414ebed9f5d54e258bb581\"},\"description\":\"K-12 teachers are avid learners because they need to stay innovative. Here are some best practices from teachers to help you build an effective PD program.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Sogolytics Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8c1bd6009f414ebed9f5d54e258bb581\",\"name\":\"Kathy Edens\",\"description\":\"A stereotypical introvert, Kathy is a writer who isn\u2019t sure what she thinks until she writes about it. She believes collaborating with a variety of individuals from all walks of life and different experiences makes content come alive.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/author\/kedens\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development - Sogolytics Blog","description":"K-12 teachers are avid learners because they need to stay innovative. Here are some best practices from teachers to help you build an effective PD program.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development - Sogolytics Blog","og_description":"K-12 teachers are avid learners because they need to stay innovative. Here are some best practices from teachers to help you build an effective PD program.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/","og_site_name":"Sogolytics Blog","article_published_time":"2021-08-05T12:19:17+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-26T11:19:15+00:00","og_image":[{"width":487,"height":714,"url":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/k12-2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kathy Edens","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@sogosurvey","twitter_site":"@sogosurvey","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/","url":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/","name":"8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development - Sogolytics Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2021-08-05T12:19:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-26T11:19:15+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8c1bd6009f414ebed9f5d54e258bb581"},"description":"K-12 teachers are avid learners because they need to stay innovative. Here are some best practices from teachers to help you build an effective PD program.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/8-professional-development-lessons-from-k12\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"8 K12 Lessons to Improve Corporate Professional Development"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/","name":"Sogolytics Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8c1bd6009f414ebed9f5d54e258bb581","name":"Kathy Edens","description":"A stereotypical introvert, Kathy is a writer who isn\u2019t sure what she thinks until she writes about it. She believes collaborating with a variety of individuals from all walks of life and different experiences makes content come alive.","url":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/author\/kedens\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50701"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50701"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67154,"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50701\/revisions\/67154"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}