Online Learning Through Mass Focus Academy

1. Online Learning Through Mass Focus Academy Current Research and Practice in Differentiated Instruction and Standards Based Teaching Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

2. Current Research and Practice in Differentiated Instruction and Standards Based Teaching • Instructors: • Cynthia Marchand • Sheryl Wigdor • See biographies at www.ribasassociates.com Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

3. This 13 week course covers the following topics: • Components for Differentiated Instruction • Management in a Differentiated Classroom • Assessment for Learning • Differentiation Strategies based on Brain Research and a Context for Learning • Questioning to Deepen Understanding and Increase Retention Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

4. Through this course educators will: • Overview: Learn new skills and strategies to increase student academic achievement in a differentiated learning environment Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

5. Through this course educators will: • Overview: Learn new skills and strategies to increase student academic achievement in a differentiated learning environment • Assessment: Learn both formative, summative, and self assessment strategies Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

6. Through this course educators will: • Overview: Learn new skills and strategies to increase student academic achievement in a differentiated learning environment • Assessment: Learn both formative, summative, and self assessment strategies • Develop: Develop a differentiated lesson plan and an action research plan to carry out in a classroom. Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

7. Experimentation is Key • Each week, following the assigned reading, participants will choose a strategy to implement in a classroom. • Participants will reflect upon the rsults. • What went well? • What did not go well? • What evidence informed your perceptions? • What would be done differently next time? Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

8. Support and Problem Solving Through Online “Chats” Participants will attend a minimum of 6 of the 9 chat sessions. Through these 45 minutes chats, participants will: • Respond to a prompt through a synchronous chat. • Share the implemented strategies and results. • Share concerns and challenges in order to problem solve with one another during the chat session. • Discuss student achievement and/or challenges related to the identified strategies. Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

9. Forum Posts • Assignments are uploaded onto forum posts which allow participants to express ideas and communicate with one another. Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

10. Office Hours • Instructors hold online office hours twice a week to: • Answer questions participants may have regarding the assignments. • Provide support as needed for course participants. Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

11. Pedagogy vs. Content • This course focuses on pedagogy. Participants will expand and refine their repertoire of teaching strategies with the goal of improving student motivation, learning, and retention. • Content comes into play as teachers integrate the identified strategies into the classroom curricula. Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

12. Reference Texts • Participants are provided with: • Instructional Practices That Maximize Student Achievement: For Teachers, By Teachers • A handout notebook of the same title. Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

13. Who should take this course? • Middle School Classroom Teachers • High School Classroom Teachers • Guidance Counselors • Special Educators • Specialty Teachers Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

14. Prerequisites • Bachelor Degree at a minimum • Access to a classroom or to student cohorts • Internet Access Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

15. Logistics • Expect to spend 7 – 10 hours per week on course work: • Reading • Implementing strategies within a classroom • Attending Online Chat • Posting assignments • The course is held entirely online. • All readings, assignments and discussions will be via the Moodle on the MassOne website. Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

16. All participants must have a MassOne account • You may obtain an account by contacting: • The MassONE administrator in your school district. • The MassONE office. • massonehelp@doe.mass.edu • 781-338-3020. Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

17. What are the professional certification and licensure benefits? • 67.5 PDPs -or- • 3 College Credits Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

18. What about College Credits? • Obtain credits through Fitchburg State University at a reduced rate: $255 for 3 graduate credits Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

19. Additional Benefits • Refinement of Practice leads to Increased student: • Motivation • Engagement • Achievement • Retention Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

20. Hit the essentials by taking this course! Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA

21. A program provided by Massachusetts Focus Academy and Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc. Westwood, MA Ribas Associates and Publications Westwood, MA