Sustaining Professional Learning
Project- or inquiry-based professional learning opportunities:
TC² desires to involve teachers in sustained professional learning programs built around communities of teachers working in supported ways to deeply and substantially enhance teaching practice. The unifying thread of such programs is teacher-directed inquiries or projects emerging from teachers’ goals and needs. The general program framework consists of approximately three day-long workshops, several in-between discussion sessions, online and phone access to experts, a regular supply of teaching ideas, and a framework to structure and support a learning community. The program framework is intended to be a powerful and complementary support mechanism for school-based or other education initiatives. Furthermore, educators and schools may identify other themes as the focus of a professional learning program.
In addition to professional learning programs, TC² will continue to offer two levels of
professional learning opportunities. These are:
- one-time sessions to introduce key ideas and practical strategies for teachers to consider;
- multiple sessions to deepen understanding and broaden application in the classroom of an identified topic or innovation.
Extended scope of workshop topics
TC² offers customized programs and individual sessions in the following areas:
- Enhancing literacy competencies, critical literacy
- Planning for differentiated learning and assessment
- Classroom questioning techniques
- Using electronic technologies thoughtfully
- Being thoughtful about social responsibility and character education
- Assessment for learning in an inquiry classroom
- Planning for inquiry using backwards design
- Historical thinking
- Geographic thinking
- Thinking about others
- Using primary resources
- Building a thoughtful classroom community
Increased online support and resources
In response to frequent requests, TC² is introducing Tools for Thought, an online resource of teaching ideas designed to support students in becoming better critical thinkers. Each resource will feature:
- a particular critical thinking concept such as inference, bias, fair mindedness, counter-argument, independent-minded, attention to detail;
- student ready-materials to teach four strategies for applying the feature concept in
- promoting literacy in various areas: text, oral, visual, writing and research;
- a focus on self-regulated mastery so students learn to use the strategies independently in the classroom and beyond.
It’s funny how after 36 years of teaching I finally found a presenter who actually spoke to me and to what I believe about learning. You are a brilliant presenter who makes all participants feel that they have important ideas to share. Your broad use of multiple strategies serves as a reminder for all of us. Most of all you reminded me of how much we can see if we really look.-Bill French, Edmonton Public Schools
