Professional learning provides early childhood professionals with the tools, strategies, and knowledge they need to improve their instructional practices and foster meaningful connections between themselves, young children, and the families they serve.
Consistent professional learning ensures educators stay confident in the classroom. However, the investment and cost of professional learning can vary widely. Understanding the factors that affect the price of professional learning can help you make informed decisions about the options that best align with your program goals, your and your staff’s needs, and your budget.
In this article, you’ll discover six factors that affect the cost of professional learning for early childhood educators and a few tips to help you budget and plan for this beneficial expense.
What factors influence the cost of professional learning?
As you know, everyone has their own way of obtaining and comprehending knowledge. Some people learn best when attending large conferences that incorporate professional learning seminars and sessions, while others learn best by attending virtual webinars from the comfort of their own homes or classrooms. Everything from the type of training to the trainer’s expertise and even the location can affect the cost of professional learning.
Below, you will find some of the factors that are most influential when it comes to the cost of professional learning opportunities:
1. The delivery method.
One of the most significant factors that can affect the cost of professional learning is the delivery method of the training or workshop. A virtual or online webinar will cost less than an in-person training session because there are no additional expenses to cover, like travel expenses and time for the trainer’s travel. Attending large conference events may be more costly than a small half-day local seminar on the same topic due to the cost associated with the venue, travel, and other expenses.
2. The credentials of the trainer.
The trainers hosting professional learning sessions and workshops have a variety of expertise and backgrounds. Training sessions that use more experienced and qualified trainers may charge a higher fee for their sessions than a new trainer or someone who lacks specialization. Hiring a local trainer may be more cost-effective than hiring a trainer who is an author in the field, considered a celebrity, or affiliated with a nationally recognized organization.
3. The duration and depth of training.
The topics covered during a professional learning session may require several hours or days to discuss thoroughly. You can expect a multi-day session to cost more than a half-day or full-day event. If a professional learning session includes follow-up resources or additional coaching, you can expect a higher cost. If you need to bring in a coach or trainer after a professional learning session, it’s more cost effective and lowers trainer travel expenses if you schedule their time over consecutive days instead of multiple one day sessions throughout the year.
4. The number of participants.
The number of professional learning attendees can significantly affect the cost. Typically, professional learning training requires a minimum number of participants per booking. Even if you only have five participants that need to attend, you may still be charged for the minimum booking number, which in most circumstances is around 15 people. You can lower your per-participant fee by working with neighboring programs or districts who may also want to attend the same training.
If you are an educator who misses curriculum implementation training or only have one or two staff members who need to attend a training session, by-seat registration for professional learning is a more cost-effective solution. These sessions are held on predetermined days and times and include participants from multiple programs to lessen the cost.
5. The location of the training or workshop.
Professional learning opportunities that involve hiring on-site trainers to come to your facility may be more costly for early childhood professionals due to the cost of trainer travel and other expenses. If you or your staff need to travel to another location for a training, workshop, or conference, the price could vary significantly based on location, length of stay, hotel accommodations, and meals. Any professional learning or training sessions that occur locally or virtually will be less expensive.
6. Additional materials or resources.
Sometimes, a professional learning training or workshop requires participants to purchase a workbook, guide, or access to a digital platform that can increase the price per session. Professional learning opportunities that provide certification or accreditation may also be more expensive than those that do not. While these resources may be an additional expense, it is worth it if these materials help with knowledge comprehension, implementation, and an expansion of learning.
How can you plan and budget for professional learning?
When planning professional learning opportunities for yourself and your staff, you first need to assess the learning preferences of each participant and the topics of interest. You may find that most of your staff find online webinars more impactful than full-day sessions, or vice versa. You might also find that most of your staff need support in one specific area of education, which means you can secure a group discount by booking a large group professional learning session. By choosing training methods and topics that interest you and your staff, you will have a better chance of securing professional learning opportunities that everyone is excited about.
If you need help getting your staff excited about professional learning, read this article.
When budgeting for professional learning opportunities, start with local or virtual sessions that may be free or less expensive than those that require in-person travel. You can also leverage grant funding opportunities to cover professional learning costs for you and your staff so that no one pays out of pocket to improve their instructional practices.
What professional learning opportunities are available through Kaplan?
Professional learning is an investment in yourself and the children and families you serve. By staying consistent, you ensure the quality of your program, staff, and facility.
While Kaplan does not host multi-day conferences, we offer various professional learning opportunities, including free webinars, in-person training, virtual training, by seat training, coaching, curriculum implementation, and more. To learn about specific sessions and opportunities we provide early childhood educators, visit the professional learning section of our website.
