Lessons Learned

From Professional Development Sessions
…as a tool for teacher learning
Learn about these and other PD Providers

PD Provider: Digital Journey-Howie DiBlasi
Program Title: 21st Century Skills- What are they and why I should care?

• Future Impact on Student Learning
  "The presenter gave the teachers good ideas. Several teachers have commented on ways they plan to use materials shared."
•  Increase in Educator Learning Yes
  "The sharing of the various Web 2.0 tools was helpful along with ideas on how they are being applied in other schools."
• Recommend? Yes
  "Yes...I would suggest that it be modified slightly. It is a lot of content in a short period of time. Might be wise to share the 18 points with integration examples prior to the IVC and then allow the group to select 3-5 points to cover in more depth."
  – High School Teachers 9-12

PD Provider: Jeff Harker
Program Title: Raising Achievement by Raising Confidence: Help for Struggling Math Students

• Future Impact on Student Learning
• "The strategies shared by Jeff were excellent."
  - After School Teachers for County School K-6
• "I will try to implement this program in my summer school class. When I have worked out the presentation and implementation procedures, I will incorporate this into my regular students during the school year. "
  - Middle School Teachers 5-8
• "I think that attitudes will change, and behaviors in and out of the classroom will change over time."
  - Middle School Teachers 5/6
• "If the students are honest with themselves about their inability to learn or study, then the learning could be greatly impacted. Those who want to learn, or to improve, should see an improvement in grade level work."
  -Middle School Teachers Grade 5
• Increase in Educator Learning yes
• "I believe the teachers have to keep at this strategy shared by Jeff. He was very clear that the educator has to work on it daily, weekly, and to keep hard data."
  - School Teachers for County School K-6
• "Even though I have received training in this particular field, I gained new insight and knowledge from this program."
  - Middle School Teachers 5-8
• "It helped to reinforce what I have been trying with some of my students. I think that if I really use the concepts that were introduced my class behavior will be better."
  - Middle School Teachers 5/6
• "The information presented in the program is new to me, and I believe I learned a new technique to work with my students in the next school year to help them meet their goals."
  -Middle School Teachers Grade 5
• Recommend? Yes
• "We have so many struggling students. Many of my schools are not meeting their AYP or APIs. Passing Algebra is a continuing problem for 8th graders. Research with our UC schools has clearly shown that when students do not pass Algebra, the dropout rate increases especially by their sophomore year."
  - School Teachers for County School K-6
• "Because, as educators, we assume that all students are motivated to do well, but in realty, like everything else, we must teach our students to have confidence in themselves."
  - Middle School Teachers 5-8
• "It was very informative. I think if every teacher used the concepts provided in this training the whole school environment would be different."
  - Middle School Teachers 5/6
• "I believe every teacher could benefit from this new information.
  -Middle School Teachers Grade 5
• Comments
  
• "This program was great. Because to me, it reminded me that confidence is built not inherited."
  - Middle School Teachers 5-8

PD Provider: NORT2H-Northern Ohio Research & Training Technology Hub
Program Title: Digital Story Telling

• Future Impact on Student Learning
  "Teachers were engaged when they were learning to use the tool. They look forward to use it with their students."
• Increase in Educator Learning yes
  "Yes, I knew how to use Movie Maker and have used it with enrichment students. I think Photo story 3 is a more user friendly tool. I learned how to use it, the different options the program has, and other good tips the presenter explained. He gave us additional ideas on how to use other software in combination with photo story 3."
• Recommend? Yes
  "Good software, good presenter, teachers appreciated the invitation to the session."
  -Teachers Grades 1-5

From Student Programs
On gaining new knowledge from the program…

Content Provider: Bronx Zoo/ Wildlife Conservation Society
Program Title: Food Webs

• Impact on Learning
  "Student learning was impacted because they were able to hear about and see things that they normally would not be able to see. Such as different animal, different biomes, noticing aspects of an animals design and how it correlates to the environment that it lives in."
• Increase in Educator Knowledge
  "Yes, I will use the food web demonstration in future classes. It gave the students a great visual"
• Recommend? Yes
  
• Comments
  "It was very informative/engaging"
  - Grade 4 Teacher

Content Provider: Indianapolis Zoo
Program Title: Coral Reef

• Impact on Learning
  "My students were very engaged in the lesson. They loved every bit of the presentation. They had several questions which were all answered by the presenter."
• Increase in Educator Knowledge
  "We studied coral reefs a while ago and as a class learned many important facts but the presenter was able to build on our previous knowledge."
• Recommend? Yes
  "My students loved it and learned from the experience."
  - Grade 3 Teacher

Content Provider: Challenger Learning Center at Paducah
Program Title: Moon, Mars and Beyond!

• Impact on Learning
  "Students were engaged prior to programming through prep materials. Involving technology and the collaboration of the others in the team was an experience reinforced by the presenter and the other teachers monitoring students."
• Increase in Educator Knowledge
  "We are in the right track. Science is the way to saving this planet. Las Yescas Longhorns are not staying behind. Thanks for making this program available to us."
• Recommend? Yes
• Comments
  "Students should be exposed to what is out there so that they can start forming an idea of how through science and their guidance they will establish a better future for themselves; which is just around the corner"
  - Grade 5 teachers

Content Provider: Milwaukee Public Museum
Program Title: American Indians in a Changing World

• Impact on Learning
  "Students were able to take up to four pages of notes. They really enjoyed seeing the artifacts from a museum so far away. Being a rural public school we do not have access to museums. Busing is expensive and not feasible. A DLN session brings the world into our classroom. The technology worked fine."
• Increase in Educator Knowledge
  " I didn't know about the Native Americans of the Great Lakes Region."
• Recommend? Yes
• Comments
  "This program had a good mix of map skills, time line, artifacts, and hands-on activity."
  - Grade 5 teacher

Content Provider: AT&T Park, Home of the San Francisco Giants
Program Title: Giants Geometry: The Shape of the Game

• Impact on Learning
  "My students were very engaged & I was very pleased with participation. In my opinion that is our biggest hurtle, keeping them engaged with their learning."
• Increase in Educator Knowledge
  "I would not have used baseball, I would have used some other hands-on activity to accomplish the goal. Sorry, just not a baseball fan, but I did learn some about baseball that I can now use this lesson."
• Recommend? Yes
  
• Comments
  "I would recommend this program because of the reaction & attention my student's showed during the presentation. They were focused, listening, & most of all participating within their groups, (which they can't seem to do in class), and with presenter."
  - Grade 6 teacher