Our Professional Development Sessions:
If you would like more information about arranging a session, please click here
Below is a full list of available sessions:
| The Importance and Philosophy of PBL and Critical Thinking |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will review Problem-Based Learning, including its origins, goals, implementation, and key elements. This will include a close look as to why this teaching strategy is so important in today`s world. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| This session is part of our "The Basics - PBL & Critical Thinking" program |
| 10 Critical Thinking Exercises and Why They Work |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will explore the term "critical thinking" and review several classroom exercises that promote this type of thinking. Sample exercises include "Abstract Questions", "Forced Choice" items, and "What If?" Scenarios. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| This session is part of our "The Basics - PBL & Critical Thinking" program |
| "Creativity" - What it is and why it`s so important |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will explore the term "creativity" and why it is so important to education and everyday life. This will include a review of several classroom exercises that promote creativity, including . Sample exercises include "SCAMPER" Activities, "RAFT" prompts, and "Create a Riddle". |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| This session is part of our "The Basics - PBL & Critical Thinking" program |
| Information Overload! - Helping students navigate the world of too-much-information |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will learn to help students absorb, process, and respond to information in a variety of mediums. The focus is for students to recognize what information they need in a given situation and to find and use it… and not be fooled by irrelevant details. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| This session is part of our "The Basics - PBL & Critical Thinking" program |
| The PBL Project - Navigation and Implementation |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will review the PBL Project website (http://www.pblproject.com/). During the presentation, we will examine the fundamentals of Problem-Based Learning and Critical/Creative Thinking, as well as the layout and navigation of the PBL Project site so that teachers can find and implement the exercises successfully. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| This session is part of our "The Basics - PBL & Critical Thinking" program |
| Problem-Based Learning in the 1st Person |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will participate in a PBL Scenario from the student`s point-of-view. This includes all of the major steps such as "stimulus review", classroom discussion, thought-gathering, and collaboration during the "product option". This experience will highlight both the philosophy and the classroom implementation of Problem-Based Learning. |
| Session Length: Half Day |
| This session is part of our "Insider`s Take " program |
| Critical Thinking Exercises in the 1st Person |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will participate in a number of Critical Thinking exercises from the student`s point-of-view. This includes exercises such as "Abstract Questions", "Forced Choice" items, and "What If?" Scenarios. This experience will highlight both the philosophy and the classroom implementation of Critical Thinking exercises. |
| Session Length: Half Day |
| This session is part of our "Insider`s Take " program |
| Creativity Drills in the 1st Person |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will participate in a number of Critical Thinking exercises from the student`s point-of-view. This includes exercises such as "SCAMPER" Activities, "RAFT" prompts, and "Create a Riddle". This experience will highlight both the philosophy and the classroom implementation of Creativity Drills. |
| Session Length: Half Day |
| This session is part of our "Insider`s Take " program |
| "Half Information" Scenarios in the 1st Person |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will participate in a number of "Half Information" exercises from the student`s point-of-view. This includes exercises such as "SCAMPER" Activities, "RAFT" prompts, and "Create a Riddle". This experience will highlight both the philosophy and the classroom implementation of Creativity Drills. |
| Session Length: Half Day |
| This session is part of our "Insider`s Take " program |
| The Gameplan - Preparing a PBL Scenario for your students |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| The focus of this session is to empower teachers to select, plan, customize, and execute a PBL scenario with their students. They will be guided through each step to make sure it`s a memorable success! In this first meeting, teachers will choose the scenario and create a schedule of milestones for its implementation. |
| Session Length: Full Day |
GAMEDAY - creating a "big reveal" for a PBL Scenario
|
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| The focus of this session is to support teachers during the "big reveal" of a PBL Scenario. This is the important moment when students get to show the PBL they`ve been working on to parents and other guests. The guests may also play a role, transforming into the town council, or business investors, or whatever scenario the PBL has outlined (guests will be given cards with sample questions and all other details will be provided). |
| Session Length: Full Day |
| Problem-Based Learning and the Academic Standards |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will review problem-based learning and the academic standards. This includes the content standards, but also the "behind-the-scenes" standards such the mathematical concepts, science and engineering practices, and the 21st century skills. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| STEM in Everday Instruction |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will learn about STEM in everday instruction. The goal is to distinguish between quick activities that mirror science experiments and the broader picture of understanding how science, technology, math, and engineering are incorporated into every subject and our everyday lives. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| STEM - Beyond Science and Math |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will explore STEM as it relates to ALL courses, including social studies, language arts, related arts, and in everyday life. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Implementing PBL Culture from the Classroom to the District Office |
| Audience: District Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will dive into implementing a culture that embraces PBL and critical thinking, both at the school level and across the district. The goal is to stress how the benefits of this teaching strategy benefits everyone in the short and long term. |
| Session Length: Half Day |
| Bringing Science and Social Studies into the Common Core |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will review why ELA and Math are not the only subject areas influenced by new standards, and why--and how--science and social studies play an important role in a student`s education… regardless of the testing schedule at the end of the year. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Establishing Districtwide “Common Formative Assessments” |
| Audience: District Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will learn about establishing districtwide “common formative assessments”, thus raising the bar and value of formative assessment, and saving a tremendous amount of needless work on teachers who otherwise feel isolated in their classrooms. |
| Session Length: Half Day |
| Launching an Online Benchmarking Program |
| Audience: District Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will explore the benefits, challenges, and solutions to launching an online benchmarking program. Benchmarking software will be provided for the school year with the training. |
| Session Length: Full Day |
| Gathering Assessment Data and Using it to Shape Instruction |
| Audience: District Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will dive into a variety of assessment types, and examine how the resulting and data can can shape instruction. This includes formal assessments (benchmarks, cumulative exams, etc.) and informal (formative) assessments. Testing software with instant analysis and prescription tools will be provided for the school year with this assessment. |
| Session Length: Full Day |
| Preparing for 21st Century Assessments (including Technology Enhanced and Performance Task) |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will examine how assessments are changing and how to prepare students for 21st century assessments. This includes technology-enhanced items, performance tasks, and other new types of assessments. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Embracing Technology in the Classroom |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will learn about embracing technology in the classroom. The focus is NOT on new devices and gadgets, but rather how to use common technology (computers, smartphones, etc.) in a way that helps students learn the value of technology and incorporate it into school and career. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Response to Intervention |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will explore Response to Intervention, both in the traditional format, but also (equally as important) in an informal setting that involves making correct decisions for students based on formative assessments. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Understanding the "Next Generation" in the “Next Generation Science Standards” |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will investigate the "next generation" aspects of the “Next Generation Science Standards”. These standards go far beyond content and into science and engineering concepts that will be relevant throughout school and career. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Infusing Inquiry into Science Classes |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will evaluate the term "inquiry" and understand why it is so important to integrate into science class at all levels. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Literacy by Content Area |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will learn techniques to make literacy and vocabulary central to each subject area, and why this is so important. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Finding, Utilizing, and Having Success with Informational Texts & Resources |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will dive into the world of informational resources across multiple mediums. This includes the process of finding, processing, using, and responding to this ever growing array of information. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Differentiated Instruction |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will review the basics of differentiated instruction, its overall importance to a successful classroom, and a wide variety of ideas and exercise for seemless implementation. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Best Practices in the Classroom (Foldables, Notebooking, and more) |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will learn about a vareity of best practices and "teacher favorites" in the classroom, including foldables, notebooking, critical and creative thinking exercises… and more. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| Rigor and Relevance |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will explore the association of rigor and relevance, and how to incorporate those critical elements into classroom instruction in all subject areas and at all levels. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
| The Writing Process Timeline |
| Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders |
| Attendees to this session will explore writing strategies within our education system over time, and see how the concept of a "writing prompt" has changed… and why. |
| Session Length: Half Day (session time can be adjusted based on schedule) |
If you would like more information about arranging a session, please click here