Standard 27: Professional Development

Instructional quality is paramount to improving outcomes for all students. Providing professional development relevant to the needs of students for the personnel will enhance the quality services for the students. Depending on the needs of the program and the staff, program planners should provide opportunities for a variety of training activities.

Examples of staff development topics may include:

• The educational impact of hearing loss
• Audiometry and hearing loss simulation
• The use of technology to enhance student learning
• The use of technology to enhance networking among students who are deaf and hard of hearing throughout the state
• Behavior intervention skills
• Services for students who are D/HH with additional needs
• Communication skills (e.g., sign language, listening and spoken language)
• Differentiated instruction
• Curricular adaptations and teaching strategies known to benefit students who are D/HH (e.g., use of visual aids, multi-sensory teaching)
• Use and maintenance of equipment
• Facilities requirements/acoustical accommodations
• Accommodations and modifications
• Deaf Culture

Administrators can facilitate networking by supporting collaborative professional development activities, video conferencing, and connections using technology.