Modeling Workshop
"Modeling Workshop" is a multi-day professional development opportunity that Communications By Design developed based on research around Lesson Study* and Peer Observation**. There are three distinct parts involved in Modeling Workshop and generally 3-6 teachers involved (grade level teams, content area teams, multi-disciplinary teams, etc.).
- Part 1 is about co-planning a lesson around a learning objective. The team incorporates 21st Century skills using Tony Wagner's list of Seven Survival Skills and infuses technology where helpful and appropriate.
- Part 2 is about showcasing the lesson. The lesson is taught or co-taught in a classroom with students while members of the team observe and collect data.
- Part 3 is about debriefing the lesson. Discussions around strengths, next steps, and efficacy occur. Additionally, the lesson is profiled along the Technology Integration Matrix or the Instructional Transformation Matrix.
* Lesson study minimizes the gap between theory, research, and practice in the classroom (Murata, A.; Takahashi, A., 2002) improves effective teaching in schools (Perry, R.; Lewis, C., 2008).
**Peer observation improves collegiality and teaching practices (Bell, A.; Mlandenovic, R., 2007) and leads to new school norms of experimentation and transfer of training (Joyce, B.; Showers, B., 2002).
**Peer observation improves collegiality and teaching practices (Bell, A.; Mlandenovic, R., 2007) and leads to new school norms of experimentation and transfer of training (Joyce, B.; Showers, B., 2002).