I'd been there, and survived. It was my turn to offer encouragement, and I did. Kayaking as a model for Teacher Professional Development Learning something new can be a scary adventure. Teachers care about their students. They want to be doubly sure that an innovative teaching strategy will benefit rather than jeopardize students.
Teachers care about themselves, too.
They want support along the way. And, they want to make sure that there is a picnic lunch at the end of the trip. Like my kayaking companions, teachers' colleagues in a workshop or extended learning experience can provide encouragement along the way. They can share knowledge from their professional experience about the consequences and benefits of implementing new strategies and developing new skills. Dialogue about professional practice not only reassures participants, it also strengthens the learning experience.