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21st Century Learning
Prepare students for the 21st century through innovative, real world applications. Begin to bridge the gap by taking a personal look at how you utilize 21st century tools. Then over a course of four weeks explore the latest technological resources that will enhance your lessons plans and stimulate your students. Today’s students are global citizens who need to build workforce skills that will make them competitive adults in a fast paced world. Challenge yourself so that you can challenge your students!
Middle and High School Science
Science is a way of thinking, much more than a body of knowledge."- Carl Sagan
As technology improves, teachers and learners are asked to adapt to the changes as they occur. To excel as teachers, it is essential to stay current with the newest ideas and techniques that are available. Science teachers are called upon to use a variety of teaching techniques with the express purpose of improving both student learning and student performance. Our entire educational system is being stretched in order to stay competitive in today's world.
During this online course experience, science teachers will explore the effective use of discrepant events, the use of inquiry-based instruction in the science classroom and the use of effective online resources.
Understanding by Design
In their book, Understanding by Design, authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe pose this question of educators: "How do we make it more likely --by our design-- that more students really understand what they are asked to learn?" In this course, participants will become familiar with the components of Understanding by Design and create or revise a unit of study through the perspectives of this model.
Participants will understand that...
-Effective curriculum design evolves backward from clear goals and is aligned across all three stages.
-UbD is a way of thinking more carefully about curriculum design; it is not a prescriptive program.
- Using design standards improves quality.
-Teaching and assessing for understanding enhances learning of content standards.
Vocabulary
Research by the National Institute for Literacy shows that vocabulary plays an important role in learning to read, to communicate, and reading comprehension. Most vocabulary is learned indirectly, however some must be taught directly. This course will familiarize participants with research based approaches to teaching vocabulary. It will showcase various technologies that support and enhance vocabulary instruction. As participants work through the sessions they will explore and review various research and resources available to enhance vocabulary instruction.
