When I transitioned from classroom teaching to working in educational technology and professional development, I quickly realized that staying current in this field requires a fundamentally different approach than keeping up with subject area content. The landscape shifts constantly. New tools emerge, research updates our understanding of adult learning, and the communities we serve evolve their needs. Over the past several years working across the Great Plains, I’ve developed a system that keeps me informed without overwhelming my already full schedule.

Building Your Information Ecosystem

The first lesson I learned was that information overload is real, and trying to follow everything leads to following nothing well. Early in my role at Black Hills Special Services Cooperative, I was subscribing to dozens of newsletters, following countless blogs, and feeling perpetually behind. The breakthrough came when I started treating information consumption like curriculum design: backward planning from what I actually needed to know.

I began by setting up Google Alerts for my name and key topics central to my work. This might seem obvious, but the specificity matters. Rather than broad alerts for “educational technology,” I created targeted searches for:

• “Canvas LMS implementation”
• “rural digital learning”
• “microlearning design”

These alerts became my early warning system for conversations I should join and trends affecting my specific work context.

The same principle guided my approach to professional reading. Instead of trying to follow every education publication, I identified two key sources that consistently delivered actionable insights: SmartBrief on EdTech for quick industry updates and EDUCAUSE Review for deeper analysis. For podcasts, I limit myself to one primary show per topic area. This constraint forces me to choose quality over quantity and actually complete episodes rather than accumulating an intimidating backlog.

Documenting and Reflecting on Your Work

Perhaps the most valuable habit I’ve developed is systematic reflection on my projects and interactions. This started accidentally when I began using voice memos during my commute to process challenging workshop sessions or difficult stakeholder conversations. What began as stress relief evolved into a powerful professional development tool.

After coaching sessions with instructors or completing major implementations, I’ll often record a quick voice memo capturing what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently. Later, I run these transcriptions through AI tools to identify patterns and extract key insights. This practice has revealed recurring themes in my work that I might have missed otherwise. For instance, I noticed that my most successful Canvas implementations always included early involvement from ground-level staff, not just administrators.

This reflection practice naturally led to creating case studies of my work. Rather than formal academic case studies, these are practical documentation of real projects with honest assessment of outcomes. I’ve found that writing these cases forces me to think more systematically about my approach and creates valuable reference material for similar future challenges. When other cooperatives ask about our statewide LMS rollout, I can share specific strategies and timelines rather than vague recollections.

Creating Your Professional Voice

The logical next step from documenting your work is sharing your insights with the broader professional community. I resisted this for years, thinking I needed more experience or credentials before my perspective would matter. That was a mistake. Starting my podcast “E-Learning Lane” and writing regularly for my website has accelerated my professional growth in unexpected ways.

Creating content forces you to organize your thinking clearly. When you know you’ll need to explain a concept to others, you naturally develop deeper understanding yourself. The process of preparing podcast episodes has pushed me to research topics more thoroughly and connect ideas across different areas of my practice.

More importantly, creating content opens doors to conversations you wouldn’t have access to otherwise. After publishing articles about atomic design for LMS development, I’ve connected with designers and developers who’ve shared techniques I never would have discovered through traditional professional development channels. The podcast has led to speaking opportunities and consulting projects that expanded my expertise into new areas.

The key is finding formats that align with how you naturally process information. If you think best by talking through ideas, consider podcasting or video content. If you prefer writing to clarify your thoughts, start a blog or contribute to existing publications. The specific medium matters less than consistency and authenticity.

Strategic Networking and Relationship Building

Professional development in our field isn’t just about acquiring knowledge; it’s about building relationships with people doing similar work in different contexts. Some of my most valuable learning has come from informal conversations with colleagues facing parallel challenges.

I’ve made it a practice to regularly reach out to partners and peers without any specific ask. Sometimes I’ll share an article that reminded me of a challenge they mentioned. Other times I’ll send a quick note checking in on a project they were working on. These touchpoints maintain relationships during busy periods and often lead to valuable exchanges of ideas and resources.

LinkedIn has become an essential platform for this kind of professional relationship building, but it requires intentional curation. Rather than connecting with everyone I meet, I focus on following individuals whose work consistently offers insights relevant to my practice. I look for people who share practical solutions, ask thoughtful questions, and demonstrate genuine commitment to improving educational outcomes.

The geographic reality of working in rural areas makes these digital connections especially valuable. While I love the in-person energy of conferences like ISTE, maintaining year-round professional relationships requires online engagement. I’ve found that thoughtful commenting on others’ posts and sharing relevant content builds genuine professional relationships over time.

Making Time for Deep Learning

All of these practices require time, which is always the scarcest resource for busy professionals. The solution I’ve found is integration rather than addition. Instead of trying to carve out separate time for professional development, I’ve woven learning into existing routines and responsibilities:

• My commute became podcast time
• Project debriefs include reflection and documentation
• Writing case studies happens immediately after completing major initiatives when the details are fresh
• Following up with partners includes sharing relevant resources I’ve encountered

This integrated approach works especially well for professionals in smaller organizations or rural contexts where wearing multiple hats is standard. You don’t need extended time blocks for deep professional development if you’re intentional about learning from your daily work.

Staying Grounded in Purpose

With all these information sources and networking opportunities, it’s easy to lose sight of why this professional development matters. The most important lesson I’ve learned is to regularly reconnect with the actual people and communities your work serves. The trends and tools only matter insofar as they help us create better learning experiences for real people in real contexts.

This means saying no to information and opportunities that don’t align with your core mission. It means choosing depth over breadth in your learning focus. And it means regularly asking whether your professional development is making you more effective at serving the learners and educators in your community.

The goal isn’t to become an expert in everything happening in our field. It’s to develop the knowledge, skills, and relationships that enable you to have meaningful impact in your specific context. That kind of focused, intentional professional development takes time to build, but it creates sustainable expertise that serves both your career and your community well.

In a field that changes as rapidly as ours does, staying current isn’t about keeping up with every trend. It’s about building systems and relationships that help you recognize which changes matter for your work and how to implement them effectively. That’s the foundation for a successful career in professional development and school services.