Tag: Professional Development & Learning

Understanding By Design (UbD) Framework

The Understanding By Design (UbD) framework is a planning resource that supports the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. UbD leads teachers through three stages when designing learning experiences:

  1. Identify desired results (understanding and application of learning),

  2. Determine assessment evidence (evaluation), and

  3. Plan learning experiences and instruction (i.e., backward-planning)

By utilizing UbD, teachers can effectively engage learners in developing their understanding and application of key topics and content.

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The ADDIE Model for Instructional Design

The ADDIE Model for instructional design helps educators to create meaningful learning experiences and training programs through five steps:

  • Analyze

  • Design

  • Develop

  • Implement

  • Evaluate

These steps can be used – sometimes in a nonlinear fashion – to ideate, create, and refine effective learning experiences.

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Asynchronous Learning Module

Cambridge Public Schools created a series of asynchronous learning modules that provided their teaching staff the option to select which edtech tools they wanted to learn more about, when/where they wanted to engage in training, and how fast they wanted to complete the module based on their skill and comfort level. Each learning module included teacher shares, a reflection journal, tutorials, how-to guides, and tasks to practice specific features or demonstrate mastery. Upon completion of a learning module, participants execute a final task and turn in a module submission form.

The asynchronous learning modules were built in Google Slides. This particular example is a learning module for Desmos, a popular math edtech tool.

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Videos Demonstrating Teachers’ Use of Edtech Tools

Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) created asynchronous learning modules for their staff to receive training around specific edtech tools at their own pace and time. Instrumental to these learning modules were “teacher shares,” or videos created by CPS teachers explaining how they used an edtech tool in their classroom or context. The CPS technology team encouraged teachers from different content areas and grade levels to share their practice of the tool in order to demonstrate various use cases for each tool.

In this example, a high school physics teacher explains how she uses Desmos with her students.

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Asynchronous Learning Module Submission Form

Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) created asynchronous learning modules for their staff to receive training around specific edtech tools that they could complete at their own pace and in their own preferred time. At the end of each learning module, educators complete a final task that demonstrates their mastery and application of the edtech tool in order to receive professional learning credit. The CPS team created a universal module submission form that participants completed by either uploading a screenshot or file of their final task, as well as providing feedback on the learning experience.

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Educator Asynchronous Learning Module Journal

Cambridge Public Schools created asynchronous learning modules for their staff to receive training around specific edtech tools that they could complete at their own pace and in their own preferred time. Each module included a “learning journal,” a document in which participants could jot down their ideas and takeaways as they worked through the module. This journal also included module-specific prompts that encouraged participants to explore and reflect further as they learned more about implementing the tool.

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Beyond Brick and Mortar Podcast: ASU Prep Digital on Building Relationships and Human Connections in Virtual Learning

In this episode of TLA’s “Beyond Brick and Mortar” podcast series, which features leaders of established virtual and hybrid learning programs from across the U.S. as they discuss what makes their programs a success – and what they had to learn along the way, we chat with Jill Rogier, Head of Schools, Digital, and Betsy Fowler, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at ASU Prep Digital. Learn about their approach to student-centered supports, flexibility for educators, and ensuring all of their students have a path to post-secondary education.

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