DR. DESHEILA RUMPH
Professional Learning
Building capacity through learning that connects understanding, application, implementation, and continued support.
From Learning to Practice
Professional Learning Should Help People Use What They Learn.
Professional learning is most meaningful when it helps people understand the work they are being asked to do and gives them a clear path for putting that learning into practice.
I approach professional learning as more than the delivery of information. The learning experience should connect new knowledge to the responsibilities, decisions, routines, and challenges people encounter in their actual work.
That often means creating opportunities to examine examples, apply ideas, practice using tools or processes, discuss evidence, ask questions, and receive feedback before people are expected to implement the learning independently.
I also consider what happens after the initial learning experience. Follow up, coaching, reflection, additional resources, and opportunities to revisit the work can help move learning from understanding into more consistent practice.
The goal is not simply to complete professional learning. The goal is to build the understanding and capacity needed to use the learning well.
Designing for Application
How I Design Professional Learning
The design begins with understanding the need and the people who will use the learning. From there, I consider what participants need to understand, what they need to be able to do, and what support may be needed as the learning moves into practice.
01
Identify the Need
Examine the challenge, available evidence, expectations, context, and current practice to determine where learning or support is needed.
02
Clarify the Learning
Define what participants need to understand, what they should be able to do, and what successful application should look like.
03
Connect to Practice
Connect the learning to authentic responsibilities, decisions, examples, tools, and situations participants encounter in their work.
04
Apply and Practice
Create opportunities to analyze, discuss, practice, plan, problem solve, and use the learning before independent implementation.
05
Support Implementation
Provide tools, resources, coaching, feedback, or follow up support that helps participants carry the learning into practice.
06
Reflect and Refine
Examine implementation, participant feedback, evidence, and emerging needs to determine what should be reinforced, adjusted, or extended.
Professional learning is part of the implementation process, not separate from it.
Selected Learning Experiences
Professional Learning in Practice
These examples illustrate how I translate leadership priorities, data, research, and implementation needs into learning experiences designed to strengthen understanding and practical application.
Leadership & Data
Admin Navigator Training
Professional learning designed to help school leaders navigate performance information, examine available evidence, and use data more intentionally within leadership conversations and decisions.
Explore Learning Resource →Data & Leadership
Turning Insight Into Impact
A leadership learning experience focused on helping participants move from seeing data to interpreting patterns, asking stronger questions, and connecting what they learn to timely action.
Explore Learning Resource →Data Analysis & Decision Making
What Summary and Interim Data Can Tell You
Professional learning that helps leaders distinguish what different data sources can reveal, examine growth and performance patterns, identify instructional gaps, and consider what evidence suggests about future outcomes and next steps.
Explore Learning Resource →Selected examples are provided to illustrate the focus and structure of the professional learning. Supporting materials may include original work, collaborative contributions, and external resources identified according to their source.
Learning Through Application
What Participants Do During the Learning
Professional learning becomes more meaningful when participants have opportunities to engage with the content, connect it to their work, and practice using what they are learning.
Examine
Review data, examples, resources, current practice, or other evidence connected to the learning.
Discuss
Engage in professional dialogue that surfaces questions, perspectives, assumptions, and connections to the work.
Apply
Use protocols, tools, frameworks, examples, or practice scenarios to apply the learning to authentic situations.
Plan
Identify next steps, responsibilities, supports, or changes participants can carry back into their own work.
Reflect
Consider what has changed in their understanding, what remains unclear, and what may require further learning or support.
Decide
Use the learning to make informed decisions about priorities, implementation, support, and what should happen next.
Participants should leave with more than information. They should leave with greater clarity about what they can do with the learning.
Supporting Implementation
Learning Needs Support After the Session.
Initial professional learning can create understanding, but implementation often raises new questions. People may need additional examples, coaching, feedback, practice, clarification, or opportunities to revisit the learning once they begin using it within their actual work.
I think about follow up as part of the learning process. The support should respond to what people are experiencing during implementation and help them strengthen their ability to use the learning with greater confidence and consistency.
Follow up can also provide valuable information about the professional learning itself. Questions, implementation evidence, and feedback can reveal where the original learning was clear, where additional support is needed, and what should be strengthened in future learning experiences.
Coaching
Provide targeted support as people begin applying the learning within their work.
Feedback
Use observation, evidence, discussion, or work products to strengthen practice.
Resources
Provide tools, examples, protocols, visuals, or references that support continued application.
Revisit and Refine
Return to the learning as new questions, needs, and implementation challenges emerge.
Follow up is where learning begins to become part of practice.
Explore the Resources
Professional Learning Resources
Explore selected presentations, tools, learning resources, and supporting materials developed or used to strengthen professional learning and support application in practice.
Explore Professional Learning ResourcesContinue the Conversation
Learning Should Lead Somewhere.
Strong professional learning creates greater understanding, builds capacity, and helps people move toward stronger practice. I welcome opportunities to exchange ideas about professional learning, implementation, leadership development, and the support people need to carry learning into their work.