Our Philosophy of Professional Learning

The “Comet” Model

TC² offers a wide range of professional learning initiatives to support educators in making critical thinking an integral part of their teaching. Our approach is not to be a service provider, but to work with educational leaders in planning and implementing collaborative programs that support teachers in sustained and transformative change.

We refer to our approach as the “Comet” model. Workshops, like the head of a comet, are intended to create interest and shed some light on a topic. Although they may be exciting, typically their effects are short-lived. The more sustained intensive follow-up is like the tail of a comet. It supports the initial workshop sessions, yet delves deeper to support teachers, as they work to a more substantive understanding of critical thinking, and its applications in the classroom.

Head of the Comet

The “head” of the comet consists of a range of provocative face-to-face workshops and presentations intended to introduce key ideas and to stimulate teachers’ interest in systematically implementing critical thinking in their classrooms. Our face-to-face sessions consist of two varieties:

• core workshops on the key elements of our approach to critical thinking, and

• special topic workshops that extend the principles of critical thinking into an area of particular interest.

Tail of the Comet

The “tail” of the comet is that prolonged period where educational innovations take hold and slowly transform teachers’ practice. We offer a range of “building blocks” to help teacher leaders support teachers in sustained professional growth through conversation with colleagues, creation of learning and assessment activities, and assisted implementation in their classrooms. We have available four kinds of implementation support:

• small group shoulder-to-shoulder sessions,
• computer supported screen-to-screen dialogue,
• supplemental published and electronic resources, and
• TC² and partner-sponsored projects.

I feel pretty lucky to have attended such an amazing conference during my practice teaching! The group exercises really had our group talking and thinking! Thank you very much.

- Student teacher, Toronto

Unlike many of the training I have been subjected to over the years, this one really has made me rethink the way I do everything. I’m looking forward to continuing with it.

-Teacher, Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland

Sustaining Professional Learning
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