Quality, short-term professional development

In this workshop participants will:

– Clarify the differences between mastery and Mastery Learning 
– Discuss how setting expectations for mastery can help with decision-making 
– Analyzing research and samples of mastery statements 
– Draft one for your district or school.

Please note, mastery as discussed in this workshop is not to be confused with Mastery Learning, the method of instruction.

In this workshop participants will:

– Identify the strengths of a district assessment system and how it can be helpful
– Evaluate the usability of assessment data with peers 
– Use a systematic plan to create a District Assessment System that provides usable data
– Create a long range plan for continuous improvement in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Grading practices vary as much as teaching styles within a district. In this workshop participants will:

– Analyze the benefits of unifying grading practices
– Determine how much unification is necessary
– Create a plan to begin the work
– Review samples of grading policies and report cards to get an idea of what it might look like in your district.

Professional development for skills to write high rigor, measurable learning targets to define units of study within a course. In this workshop participants will:

– Identify the characteristics of a teachable curriculum
– Evaluate learning targets for measurability
– Use verbs to indicate rigor
– Define units of study within a course
– Breakdown units into measurable learning targets

In this workshop participants will:

– Analyze assessment literacy in current terms
– Evaluate assessments for validity   
– Identify methods to increase reliability of each type of assessment
– Use assessment principles to create aligned assessments

In this workshop participants will:

– Analyze what rubrics are and what they’re intended to do
– Write qualitative descriptors to evaluate student products
– Use rubric results to determine reportable grades
– Developing proficiency scales and determine how they’re different from rubrics
– Establish inter-rater reliability methods

If you can’t find a topic from our list that fully meets your needs, we’re happy to customize a workshop specifically for your district!