So they’ve cancelled that expensive conference you were supposed to attend this summer. Now what?! You were counting on those three days to cover your next year’s worth of re-certification credits!

Well never fear, my dear, I have compiled a list of stay-at-home-in-your-comfiest-clothes options so you can still get your PD on without catching the plague. Let’s dive in!

WATCH

There are a plethora of learning opportunities online available to you. Some are free, but most are paid, so be prepared for that (but hey, you’re saving on travel, right?!?). Here are some things to look for:

• Live webinars- simply decide what topic you’d like to learn and do a little Googling. Many of your favorite bloggers and podcasters will also offer the occasional webinar for free, including a PD certificate. Even some music stores, like Nottelmann Music have some options for you.

• Pre-recorded webinars- whether it’s the NAfME Academy, the International Music Education Summit Archives, or even a VIMEO webinar, there’s something available for nearly any topic you want to explore for your PD. Simply add ‘webinar’ to your search terms. You’ll also find some of my pre-recorded workshops here. If you can’t find a webinar on a topic you want, email me, and I’ll create one!

• Online courses- you can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 30 hours learning about a variety of topics to enhance your teaching. Check out the options at LinkedIn Learning and Udemy. Plenty of free/affordable options there.

• Online conferences- hands down, your best bet is the International Music Education Summit. This 3-day conference is streamed live in June, then all those workshops, clinics, and motivational talks are recorded and made available to attendees for on-demand viewing year-round. There’s also a great networking component so you can connect with the presenters and network with your fellow attendees. All of that for less than a single day registration at most conferences…and you pay exactly $0 in travel.

READ

That’s right, you should read a blog post or book or something. Perhaps check out some of the other options available to you on this particular website.

There are so many options out there, the more important thing to consider is what to read. Here are some ideas for how to curate your reading list. Consider:

• Areas where you feel like you have been struggling

• Areas where you feel like your students have been struggling

• Topics you’ve heard about but haven’t explored yet

• Repertoire that you saw online or in a group and want to experience

• Personal development, like improving your time management, self-care, or work-life balance

Once you have your list of topics, get to Googling.

LISTEN

The wonderful thing about podcasts and audio books is that you can multi-task so effectively. I’ve probably listened to 1,000 hours of podcasts and 25 Nora Roberts novels while cycling, mountain biking, trail running, cleaning house…you name it! It’s a wonderful way to consume information.

Of course, I recommend you start with the Music Ed Mentor Podcast! Each episode is lovingly crafted, and the content curated specifically to have for every K-12 music educator, and often private teachers as well.

Once you’ve exhausted the current available episodes, check out this outstanding list of podcasts. Once again, have the best experience by using a list of topics you’re most excited to learn about.

What are some other ways you’ve accessed PD opportunities online? Do you consider Facebook Groups a Community of Practice? Are you in a mentorship program? Are you a member of a membership site that gives you awesome PD? Share in the comments below, and keep staying healthy, my friends!