Professional Development FAQ
Please look through the list of frequently asked questions down below for more information on our professional development opportunities. If you have any further questions, please contact our VP of Professional Development, Laura, at [email protected].
What are Professional Development (PD) sessions?
PD sessions are a series of two-hour-long workshops aimed at enhancing the professional learning of pre-service teachers. Their wide variety of topics makes them a great opportunity to acquire significant and applicable knowledge in a reduced amount of time.
Where are PD sessions held?
PD sessions are either held online through Zoom or in-person in EDT 202. The Zoom information will be sent to each participant through email on the same day of the session.
How do I know which PD sessions are being held this month?
You can view our list of sessions in several places:
How can I register for PD sessions?
I have registered for a PD and did not receive a confirmation email. Why?
Registration for PD sessions is hosted through Eventbrite. They should send a confirmation email once you have registered. If you haven’t received a confirmation email please sign into Eventbrite with the email you used to confirm you completed your registration.
The PD I want to register for is closed. Why?
This may be for one of two reasons:
1) The session registration is closed: Our registration closes 48 hours before the session begins in order for our instructors to prepare adequate materials for the number of attendees.
2) The session is at full capacity: In this case please email [email protected] if you would like to be placed on a waitlist.
I am on the waitlist for a session. What does that mean?
Being on our waitlist means that you are not registered in the session until you get an email inviting you to the session. You will be invited to attend if there is a cancellation from one of the registered attendees. This invitation may come on the day of the session. You will NOT receive a strike if you decline to attend a session while on the waitlist.
What is the “ESA Professional Development Strike Policy”?
The ESA PD Strike Policy is a policy set in place to ensure our instructors are prepared for their sessions adequately. We close registration 48 hours before the session begins in order to send expected attendance numbers to our instructors.
Should you need to cancel attendance of a PD session, you must do it two days before that session (ie: outside of 48 hours before the session begins). For example, if an attendee needs to cancel their registration for a session on September 17th at 5:00pm, they must do so before 5:00pm on September 15th in order to avoid a strike.
The strike list is only valid for one academic term. For the following term, all strike records are dismissed and a new strike list is created.
How can I get a strike?
I cannot attend my PD session and it is within the 48 hour cancellation window. What should I do?
Email [email protected] with your regrets. You will be placed on the strike list, as per ESA policy, PD cancellations must be received 48 hours before the session begins.
I have a special circumstance that prohibits me from attending PD sessions. Do I still get a Strike for my cancellation within the 48-hour mark?
If cancellation within the 48-hour mark is due to illness (including mental health), personal emergency or family emergency, please notify the ESA at [email protected] or [email protected]. You will receive the PD Absence form which you should fill and send back during the next 24 hours.
Will I be notified if I receive a strike?
You will be notified via email.
What happens if I get two strikes?
Upon receiving two strikes, you will no longer be permitted to attend PD sessions hosted by the ESA during the academic term. Note that the Strike records are only valid for one academic term and a new Strike list is created for the following term.
I am a community based student. Can I attend PD sessions?
Yes. Our online modality enables us to extend our learning opportunities to Community- Based Students. For any in-person events the ESA has purchased a video camera that will stream the session for you over zoom.
I am an on-campus student. Can I join the community based zoom link for any in-person events?
If you are an on-campus student, we assume that you are able to attend in-person events. Presenters were offered the choice on how they would like to present. Therefore if they are in-person events, the presenter feels like this is the best modality for their PD session. We want to ensure that attendance levels remain high for their session so we ask that you register for the in-person events and commit to being on campus. If you have extenuating circumstances please email [email protected] to discuss how we can support you in your learning journey.
Since we will not receive a certificate of participation for each session, how can I prove my attendance to PD's?
The ESA will keep the records of the sessions attended by each member in order to issue a Record of Professional Learning, available upon request by emailing [email protected]
In what format will I get my Record of Professional Learning?
You will receive it in a PDF format via the email address you provide during registration.
PD sessions are a series of two-hour-long workshops aimed at enhancing the professional learning of pre-service teachers. Their wide variety of topics makes them a great opportunity to acquire significant and applicable knowledge in a reduced amount of time.
Where are PD sessions held?
PD sessions are either held online through Zoom or in-person in EDT 202. The Zoom information will be sent to each participant through email on the same day of the session.
How do I know which PD sessions are being held this month?
You can view our list of sessions in several places:
- Our monthly PD email sent to your ucalgary.ca email address. You will receive a complete list of sessions and descriptions as well as the links to register. This email is typically sent out at least a week before the beginning of each month.
- Our website, http://ucalgaryesa.weebly.com/, under the “Professional Development” tab. Registration links also available here
- On your UPE Shell through D2L under the "Education Students' Association" Tab. (No registration links available here)
- Our Instagram account @esaucalgary, which highlights our PD sessions on a weekly basis
How can I register for PD sessions?
- Click on the Registration Link for the session you want to attend. These are available on our website or in our monthly email
- Fill in the form
- Read carefully the PD guidelines and ensure you receive a confirmation email.
I have registered for a PD and did not receive a confirmation email. Why?
Registration for PD sessions is hosted through Eventbrite. They should send a confirmation email once you have registered. If you haven’t received a confirmation email please sign into Eventbrite with the email you used to confirm you completed your registration.
The PD I want to register for is closed. Why?
This may be for one of two reasons:
1) The session registration is closed: Our registration closes 48 hours before the session begins in order for our instructors to prepare adequate materials for the number of attendees.
2) The session is at full capacity: In this case please email [email protected] if you would like to be placed on a waitlist.
I am on the waitlist for a session. What does that mean?
Being on our waitlist means that you are not registered in the session until you get an email inviting you to the session. You will be invited to attend if there is a cancellation from one of the registered attendees. This invitation may come on the day of the session. You will NOT receive a strike if you decline to attend a session while on the waitlist.
What is the “ESA Professional Development Strike Policy”?
The ESA PD Strike Policy is a policy set in place to ensure our instructors are prepared for their sessions adequately. We close registration 48 hours before the session begins in order to send expected attendance numbers to our instructors.
Should you need to cancel attendance of a PD session, you must do it two days before that session (ie: outside of 48 hours before the session begins). For example, if an attendee needs to cancel their registration for a session on September 17th at 5:00pm, they must do so before 5:00pm on September 15th in order to avoid a strike.
The strike list is only valid for one academic term. For the following term, all strike records are dismissed and a new strike list is created.
How can I get a strike?
- Missing a PD
- Showing up more than 15 minutes late to a PD
- Cancelling your attendance at a PD within the 48-hour cancellation window.
I cannot attend my PD session and it is within the 48 hour cancellation window. What should I do?
Email [email protected] with your regrets. You will be placed on the strike list, as per ESA policy, PD cancellations must be received 48 hours before the session begins.
I have a special circumstance that prohibits me from attending PD sessions. Do I still get a Strike for my cancellation within the 48-hour mark?
If cancellation within the 48-hour mark is due to illness (including mental health), personal emergency or family emergency, please notify the ESA at [email protected] or [email protected]. You will receive the PD Absence form which you should fill and send back during the next 24 hours.
Will I be notified if I receive a strike?
You will be notified via email.
What happens if I get two strikes?
Upon receiving two strikes, you will no longer be permitted to attend PD sessions hosted by the ESA during the academic term. Note that the Strike records are only valid for one academic term and a new Strike list is created for the following term.
I am a community based student. Can I attend PD sessions?
Yes. Our online modality enables us to extend our learning opportunities to Community- Based Students. For any in-person events the ESA has purchased a video camera that will stream the session for you over zoom.
I am an on-campus student. Can I join the community based zoom link for any in-person events?
If you are an on-campus student, we assume that you are able to attend in-person events. Presenters were offered the choice on how they would like to present. Therefore if they are in-person events, the presenter feels like this is the best modality for their PD session. We want to ensure that attendance levels remain high for their session so we ask that you register for the in-person events and commit to being on campus. If you have extenuating circumstances please email [email protected] to discuss how we can support you in your learning journey.
Since we will not receive a certificate of participation for each session, how can I prove my attendance to PD's?
The ESA will keep the records of the sessions attended by each member in order to issue a Record of Professional Learning, available upon request by emailing [email protected]
In what format will I get my Record of Professional Learning?
You will receive it in a PDF format via the email address you provide during registration.