It’s not enough to bring new edtech resources into the classroom. There’s a secret weapon that takes those programs from simply another tool to a difference maker. That’s professional development (PD). Without it, teachers can’t utilize the full range of materials and support available.
ExploreLearning Gizmos provides professional development for teachers that goes beyond product feature training. For the most effective PD strategies, teachers complete surveys about what they would like to see or take away from sessions, allowing teachers to determine PD's goals. From beginning steps to classroom pedagogy tools and systematic support, Gizmos PD offers a wide range of topics.
Some workshops are built around complex concepts to support educators. These are just a few examples:
- Troublesome Topics in Math (Elementary, Middle School, and High School)
- Using Crosscutting Concepts to Explain Phenomenon
- Applying Sense-Making Scientific Practices with Gizmos
There’s even a session designed to harness the power of instructional coaches and specialists to build a strong Gizmos and STEM Cases implementation.
What should professional development look like?
Everyone in a classroom should be a lifelong learner, including the teacher. Think of professional development as advanced teacher training. What should these workshops look like for educators? Teachers love to walk away from professional development sessions with something they can use immediately with students. But it takes more than that.
Top qualities of effective professional development
There are a few critical parts of a winning recipe.
- Provides the “why” with a clear purpose and outcome
- Supports collaboration
- Interactive and engaging
- Demonstrations and modeling
- Time for reflections
- Open discussions
- Relating information back to the standards
- Follow-up for teachers to discuss challenges and share implementation ideas
- On-going PD and support
The PD difference: Tools that make Gizmos professional development stand out
While many PD training sessions discuss product features and functions or teaching strategies, Gizmos professional development doesn’t stop there. Our team wants teachers to feel comfortable working with the whole class, in small groups, or individually as they integrate best teaching practices with Gizmos and STEM Cases into their curriculum. Gizmos provides customized PD for educators.
“The interface is easy to use and provides the support I need as a teacher and for the students. It is able to show trends in many areas of science that a hands-on lab would not be able to do.”
Teacher, Our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy, Ontario, Canada
There’s a focus on upcoming content so information can be used immediately. Workshops are interactive – teachers can complete a Gizmo! That’s not all. Take a closer look at the tailored approach that sets Gizmos PD apart.
- On-demand professional development
- Personalized support for educators
- Elevating instructional strategies through customized training
- Modeling with specific pedagogy strategies
Maximize classroom impact with Gizmos PD resources
There’s more? Yes! Gizmos offers PD with daily posts all year long -- for free -- through Virtual Learning Communities.
What else? The Gizmos Educator Resource Hub and Professional Development Catalog have what you need to get started and dig deeper into challenging math and science concepts. Within each Gizmo, you’ll find lesson materials, vocabulary, learning objectives, teacher guides with ideas for lesson planning, and more!
“My teachers love how Gizmos are ready to use. But they especially love how the lessons and activities are adaptable for students at all learning levels. Through training and collaboration, I have shared how the teachers can take the lessons and modify them for lower-level students and create more challenging tasks for higher-level students.”
High School Instructional Technology Facilitator, Tangipahoa Parish School District, LA
Our Virtual Learning Communities provide professional growth and community for teachers. Have you joined yet?
Gizmos Adventurer Basecamp
Where you go, share, and energize before another day with Gizmos.
Elementary Explorers
Where you go to learn, share, and energize before another day with Gizmos and Science4Us.
There's so much more to explore. Take a moment to choose your next PD steps.