Educator Connection

Computer Science: Grants, Incentive Funds, & Endorsement

• Adjustment in the total maximum request from $30,000 to $50,000
  
• Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Funds are now available
  
• Computer Science endorsement details
  

The February PLAEA SEBH News includes training dates, self-management suggestions, and tools for supporting students.

Iowa STEM has launched two new scholarships. One is for in-service STEM teachers to take an update course at a local college or university - on us! The other is for professionals in STEM fields to career-change to teaching - also on us! https://www.iowastem.org/scholarships

Early Childhood News & Early Childhood Teachers PD Survey (Deadline to respond is Thursday.)

Want to immerse your secondary students into careers, but not sure where to start? Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency has a solution for you: Career Exploration Virtual Reality (VR)! Career Exploration VR combines career exploration with the power of virtual reality, so students can experience hands-on careers from the comfort and safety of the classroom. Instead of viewing a computer screen, users are immersed and able to interact in a 3D environment. The student will perform various tasks related to the career field they choose to explore. Students choose from 14 career modules and then will perform various tasks on the virtual job site - like reading a blueprint, cutting a pipe with a grinder, or operating a crane - with the most commonly used tools of their selected trade.

PLAEA would like to offer an opportunity for administrators, teacher leaders, and teachers to consider the benefits of utilizing an instructional framework for strengthening instruction and improving student learning. Some PLAEA districts are already using an instructional framework for this purpose.

An instructional framework is a tool that creates a common language and vision for effective, high-quality teaching across an entire school district. The framework articulates a description of teaching that not only respects the diverse ways teachers pursue excellence in teaching and learning but that can also be used for self-reflection, goal-setting, and integrating inquiry into practice.

Benefits of an Instructional Framework for Teachers and Students:

• Building the capacity of teachers will lead to better instruction and greater learning for students.

• Providing actionable feedback and guidance for teacher professional growth leads to greater learning for students.

• Focusing professional development using common language about teaching and learning to define teacher actions leads to greater learning for students.

• Aligning principal expectations for effective instruction and coaching support leads to greater learning for students.

Coming soon is an opportunity to participate in a facilitated process to review different instructional frameworks and hear from others how they currently use a framework for coaching and evaluation. Following that, there will be an opportunity develop a district plan for selecting, learning about, and implementing an instructional framework as part of a districts overall improvement plan.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact either Sarah Nachazel or Jaymie Randel.