The stakes in getting it right in our schools have never been higher; not just for the individual teachers but for the entire educational community. Todays teachers are at the heart of shaping our future, guiding the minds that will lead, innovate, and inspire. Yet, they often grapple with a system that can be constraining and unyielding. The weight of expectations and the ever-shifting educational landscape call for a responsive, adaptable approach. It's more than a professional necessity it's a moral imperative to equip teachers with the strategies, tools, and confidence they need to excel.
Effectively Designed Instruction is a dynamic approach to teaching and learning that pulls together key components from all the major educational frameworks in use today, and organizes them into four easy-to-understand themes: Building Interactions, Designing Experiences, Presenting Content, and Accessibility and Inclusion. Each theme provides teachers with actionable strategies that can be implemented in any learning environment, from traditional face-to-face to online learning and everything in between. With the knowledge gained from this six-part Workshop Series and Book Study, you can unlock the full potential of your classroom and create a positive and engaging learning environment that benefits all of your students.
● Session 1: Book Introduction and Building Connections with Book Study Participants (Tuesday, May 7, 2024) 1:00pm - 2:00pm
This opening session provides an overview of the book's main themes and objectives, acquainting participants with the content and context. It will begin with a succinct summary of the book, touching upon the author’s background, the circumstances under which the book was written, and setting the stage for what lies ahead.
● Session 2: Building Interactions Workshop (Thursday, May 9, 2024) 1:00pm - 2:00pm
This theme offers teachers the opportunity to learn strategies for effectively engaging students through the use of feedback, asynchronous and synchronous activities, and collaborative learning experiences. By implementing these approaches, teachers can create an environment that fosters meaningful interactions and encourages student participation in the learning process.
● Session 3: Designing Experiences Workshop (Thursday, May 16, 2024) 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Designing experiences is an intricate blend of art and science, involving research, experimentation, ideation, and even prototyping. No matter the grade level or content area, our goal is to create learning experiences that are learner-centered and authentic. By focusing on our learners and their unique journeys, we can begin to unlock their intrinsic motivation and facilitate truly transformative learning experiences.
● Session 4: Presenting Content Workshop (Thursday, May 23, 2024) 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Presenting Content explores the importance of course navigation, the benefits of providing clear instructions, and the critical nature of how you design and layout your course in your school’s Learning Management System. By viewing your LMS course through the eyes of your students, it will force you to clarify your objectives, make better, more concise instructional videos, and perhaps, think about visual imagery a bit differently than you may have in the past.
● Session 5: Accessibility & Inclusion Workshop (Tuesday, May 28, 2024) 1:00pm - 2:00pm
In this session we provide an overview of the important role Accessibility and Inclusion plays in Effectively Designed Instruction. This theme is NOT about special education and it’s NOT about providing accommodations or modifications to your classroom lessons. While implementing these strategies will certainly help students with special education needs, the focus on this session is ALL students. Because what is needed for some, is good for all. So, this session will focus on reducing the barriers to learning and providing students with the services and resources they need to meet their unique learning needs.
● Session 6: Book Wrap Up (Thursday, May 30, 2024) 1:00pm - 2:00pm
This session will begin with a summary of the book's core themes and discussions that took place throughout the study. This recap will help in cementing the knowledge gained and offers a chance for participants to revisit any significant moments or insights they encountered. It's an opportunity to tie together all the threads of discussion and see the book in its entirety.
The book can be purchased through Amazon by clicking on the following link: Effectively Designed Instruction: Amplifying Student Agency and Inclusivity
