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             2008 Learning Communities

Facilitating the Future is an opportunity for renewing DPI teaching licenses using the PI-34 Professional
Development Plan Model. Educators may use the work of the learning communities at Facilitating the Future to
develop and meet their own professional development goals in line with goals of the school district. Explore this
opportunity for goal setting and professional development or earning credits needed for salary advancement.

*WISCONSIN COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING MODEL
Model Level I, II, & III Training:
Learn the steps for implementing a Comprehensive School Counseling Program. Prepare a plan of action and create
the tools necessary to implement the career, academic and social/emotional curriculum domains recommended by
the American School Counselors Association. Develop an assessment system for your school’s program.
All three levels of training, recommended by the WI DPI, will be available at Facilitating the Future. Level I and II
training will be available during week 1 and Level II and III training will be available during week 2.
Level I – Builds the foundation for transitioning to a comprehensive school counseling program.
Level II – Integrates curriculum plans for program activities into the comprehensive program formulated
during Level I training.
Level III – Develop an assessment system for program evaluation and accountability.
Levels should be completed in order – Unsure about which level of training to register for?
Please call Jim Lee at CESA #12 or Barb Landstrom at WITC to determine appropriate training levels.



*CAREER CLUSTERS PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Career Clusters is a national movement whose focus is to help students investigate more about potential careers and
related postsecondary schools. Facilitating the Future continues the work of helping teachers, guidance counselors
and principals understand the Career Cluster movement. Within the eight days of this workshop, participants will
learn about career clusters, career pathways, and develop a complete Program of Study. Much time will be spent
investigating websites related to workforce development, salary and the future of jobs. They will also develop a plan
to implement Programs of Study in their school so that all students will understand the concept and be developing their
own POS in the future. The design team for this learning community will link the fl ow of the career cluster movement
from the K-12 systems, through the technical colleges, and the university systems in Wisconsin. Models will be used
that have been sanctioned by the WI Technical College System, and the WI Department of Public Instruction.
 

*BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN SCHOOL AND WORK
Abundant resources are available for educators to make connections between what they do in their classrooms
and the world of work that awaits their students. In this learning community, you will visit business and industry
sites, hear from community partners, participate in round table discussions, explore career requirements and
prospects, and create learning experiences students need to be successful. Time will be devoted to compiling a
community resource manual which you can use in your classroom. Participants who have been a part of this
community in the past are encouraged to attend as several new businesses and industries will be incorporated.
 

ZEN AND THE ART OF LEARNING ECONOMICS
Zen and the Art of Learning Economics - Integrating Economics into K-12 Topics: Don’t know much (or
anything at all) about economics? Good! Would you like to earn two free graduate credits for learning how to
integrate economics into existing curricula? Then this is the learning community for you. Join us and you will receive
a CD Rom with over 1200 lessons, allowing you to search by concepts, standards and grade level. Participants will
work to choose and develop lessons appropriate for their practice. Elementary, social studies, math and a variety
of other educators have found this learning community valuable. Participants will have access to all the chocolate
and play dough they want. This work is made possible by the National Council on Economic Education through
funding from the U. S. Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement.

FACILITATING EFFECTIVE ONLINE LEARNING
Online coursework is a popular and powerful learning option for students. The number of students learning online increases
exponentially every year. What is it that draws students to online learning? What are the benefi ts for students? For the
online instructor? What makes a rich and robust learning environment for online learners? How can you be sure the
students are learning as well as in a face-to-face class? How do you create a classroom atmosphere rather than a group of
independent learners? What can you do to facilitate learners’ success?
Facilitating Effective Online Learning will explore these questions, look at best practices of online learning and take a
glimpse at some cutting-edge online teaching strategies. We’ll look at the components needed to create a quality learning
experience for both students and the instructor. Projects you create will be able to be implemented into whatever online
learning platform you use. Whether you are an experienced online instructor or wondering if online teaching is an option
for you, this could be just what you are looking for! You will come away with tips, ideas, and perspectives that you can use
online or take back to your face-to-face classes to enhance student learning and participation.


ON COURSE
Learn how to facilitate classroom activities and introduce strategies to your students that will empower them to become
active, responsible partners in their own education. This hands-on approach to learning is essential to the student’s
success in their education, employment and life. (Successful completion of this learning community will satisfy the
requirements for WTCS Certification Course #52.)

DESIGNING AND ASSESSING LEARNING
What would you do to never again hear the question, “Will this be on the test?”
Designing and Assessing Learning will focus on designing learning experiences and developing performance assessment
strategies that incorporate a variety of assessment tools so assessment becomes a means to enhance and improve
teaching and learning rather than an end to receive a grade. We will look at developing learning experiences that require
students to apply and demonstrate knowledge and skills, how and when we assess students, different assessment strategies
for different learning experiences, testing and grading. (Successful completion of this learning community will satisfy
the requirements for WTCS Certification Course #54.)
 

TECHNOLOGY FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS
Paraprofessionals in the region are welcome to join their peers for this one week session. Paraprofessionals are
being asked to use more technology and in many different ways in the classrooms that they support. The time in this
learning community will be spent working with some of the basic computer applications. Participants will have
practical experience in labs to practice what they learn. The design team consists of staff with much experience
in working with educators on making the best use of the instructional technology in today’s classrooms. (Week 1 only)
 

DATA DRIVEN COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA PROGRAMS
This four day session will focus on redesigning school library media programs that are anchored in improving student
achievement. We will review strategies for collaboration between library media programs and classroom teachers
and work to analyze essential skills within districts curriculum. Participants will look at student achievement
data and align Information Technology Literacy Standards, 21st Century Skills and other content standards in order to
develop an action plan for implementation in the 2008-09 school year. (Week 1 only)
 

LEARNING AND COMMUNICATING IN THE WEB 2.0 CULTURE
Technology is changing at an incredible rate and this session is designed to have participants explore various
new communication and research tools on the internet. In addition to wikis and blogs, we will work with fun
tools like Twitter and Skype and share ideas on how to incorporate these technologies into our curriculum with
our 21st century learners. (Week 2 only)
 

PDP GOAL SETTING, WRITING AND VALIDATION: June 17 & 18
If you are an Initial Educator licensed after August 31, 2004 and need to complete a PDP for licensure OR if you are a
Professional Educator looking to write a PDP for your next license renewal cycle, THIS IS FOR YOU!
During these two days you will:
-develop your PDP using the on-line tool
-work on your PDP following a plan for meeting your professional goals using the Wisconsin Educator Standards.
-have your PDP validated through the appropriate process.