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2009 Learning Communities

Facilitating the Future is an opportunity for:
~ renewing DPI teaching licenses (using the PI-34 Professional Development Plan Model),
~ obtaining a WTCS certification course, or
 ~ earning  graduate credits needed for degree or 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.

CISCO I.T. ESSENTIALS
CISCO I.T. Essentials is an industry recognized curriculum that covers the fundamentals of computer hardware and
software, as well as advanced concepts. Teachers who participate in this learning community will have the
opportunity to become CISCO certified (certification testing will be held final day of FTF – see testing fee below).
Certified teachers will then be able to develop a transcripted credit course at their high school in partnership with WITC.
High school students who successfully complete the IT Essentials transcripted credit course will receive three
college credits.

Course duration: 7 days
Certification testing: final day of FTF
Testing fee: $135.00

*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.
 

FROM WALL STREET TO MAIN STREET: TEACHING ABOUT MAKING GOOD CHOICES IN BAD TIMES
Is it a global recession or a global depression? How did it begin? When will it end? What are the best financial choices for your students and their families in uncertain times?  Any K-14 teacher will find this workshop helpful and fun, whether you know anything about econ or not. Earn up to 6 graduate credits and a $500 stipend.
As the most significant events to hit the world economy for many many years, the collapse and rescue of the U.S. financial system and the world-wide recession present unique opportunities for teaching personal financial literacy and economics in K-14 classrooms.  This learning community is appropriate for elementary, middle, and high school teachers in a variety of subject areas including social studies, math, reading, business, and family and consumer education. Participants will explore and use a wide variety of resources for developing lessons and units that address financial and economic choices at the individual and national levels. By the end of the workshop, participants will have created classroom-ready unit plans that meet WI Academic Content Standards for Personal Financial Literacy and Economics. Read comments by past participants about this learning community.

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.)
 

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. Facilitating Online Learning will explore your questions, look at best practices of online learning and take a glimpse at some cutting-edge online teaching strategies. You will develop projects and can implement them 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.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION
Ours is a world rich in diversity. We have diversity of cultures; diversity of races and religions; and diversity of abilities, experiences and styles. How do we study and maximize the potential of a diverse population in our society, in our schools, and in our personal experiences? This learning community will share a model for incorporating diversity into our curricula in a meaningful, reflective and systematic manner. Various races in the region will be studied including Native American, Hmong and others. Participants will have an opportunity to build an action plan for incorporating diversity into their curricula. (Successful completion of this learning community will satisfy the requirements for WTCS Certification Course #69.)

PODCASTING AND VODCASTING USING WINDOWS MEDIA AND AUDACITY
This course will give participants the tools and training needed to create a podcast and a vodcast to enrich online class content. Whether participants use Blackboard, Moodle, or are teaching in the face-to-face classroom, podcasting and vodcasting provide alternative methods of delivering instructions, content, and/or presentations. Participants will be hands-on in a computer lab setting during the entire training.