We just came across a fascinating editorial piece in Education Week that addresses the need for professional development as part of the new shift toward the common core standards. The commentary, entitled Common-Core Work Must Include Teacher Development and written by Stephanie Hirsh, cleverly asserts that "the dramatic shift in teaching prompted by the common core will require practical, intensive, and ongoing professional learning—not one-off "spray and pray" training that exposes everyone to the same material and hopes that some of it sticks." In addition, she reminds us that new technology resources make professional learning all the more accessible via shared learning platforms and...