Infuse Joy into PD with Buzzword Bingo
Professional development [PD] can be a bore for teachers so infusing joy with Buzzword Bingo will keep them asking for more. Since educators have to attend a certain amount of learning hours to keep their licenses active, PD can not be avoided. However, PD can be enhanced and upgraded so that it is not only impactful but enjoyable. So long to boring PD!
What is Buzzword Bingo?
It is a staff engagement resource intended to be used during professional development sessions, faculty meetings, PLC meetings and more. Use this morale boosting tool to your advantage to engage your staff, solidify new learning and keep their attention when you are speaking.
Staff enter the learning experience and receive a bingo card. Important terms related to the learning topic are placed on Buzzword Bingo cards. The cards are then used throughout the learning experience to solidify the main idea while also having a little fun!
Educators are listening and learning, tracking the buzz words and gathering new information in relation to those buzzword. The goal is this repetitive (and competitive) exercise will help educators implement their new learning when they return to their classrooms (or related roles). The best aspect of this process is that it can be re-used as often as necessary by simply swapping out the buzz words with each new PD topic presented.
Implementing Buzzword Bingo
Below are steps to follow when implementing Buzzword Bingo:
- When attendees arrive, they are given the card as well as directives for how to use it
- Conduct the learning experience as normal
- As learners hear those buzzwords throughout the PD session, they will mark their card
- When an entire row is full (across, down or diagonal), that staff member can receive a prize (ie. jeans pass, early dismissal, duty free lunch, dollar store items, etc.)
- Multiple winners can occur to keep engagement high throughout the entire learning experience
Buzzword Bingo Options
Below are various options for how to use the bingo card templates:
- Print off the ready-to-use cards and design a PD around those buzz words
- Use the editable cards to make your own specific buzzword cards and print off for staff to use
- Print a blank slate card and have teachers think of their own buzzwords that may be used throughout the session for BINGO
- Coaches could also pass out these cards in secret and have the staff play and use silent signals for BINGO during their meetings for a fun admin surprise!
Grab your Buzzword Bingo cards here and watch your PD sessions come alive with engagement!
If you need more resources to help you become an even stronger teacher or coach, browse these printable and digital options. Check out other helpful blog posts here. Be sure to also check out my latest book, Always A Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success.
GO BE GREAT!
About the author, Gretchen
I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.