Date(s):
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Time: 3:00pm ET
The crisis-driven shift to distance learning in Spring 2020 was one of the most radical educational shifts in a century. There are many lessons to be learned—including which approaches are effective in a distance learning environment and which are not.
ISM worked with more than 1,000 teachers this spring and summer, asking them about their challenges, successes, and approaches to distance learning. In this webinar, we present major takeaways from our research about Lower School / K-5, providing key ideas for planning and implementing effective strategies for the 2020–2021 school year.
This webinar is part of a three-part series. Watch our findings for middle school and upper school divisions.
- Are your lower school teachers delivering effective distance teaching?
- As an administrator, are you confident about which practices are most effective?
- Are you constantly trying, yet failing, to articulate how teachers should reach lower school learners?
- Do you feel overwhelmed when teachers, students, and families express that they need more support?
Join us to learn about our findings for Lower School / K–5 schools from collaborating with over 1,000 teachers this spring. We’ll present what they said worked and what did not to better inform your school’s approach.
We’ll share:
- which live, video-based teaching practices (Zoom, Hangouts, Teams, etc.) lower school teachers say worked well;
- which asynchronous teaching practices (not live, allowing student flexibility) worked well for young students;
- the assessment strategies that worked specifically for lower school / K-5 students;
- the essential student skills that led to successful learning;
- the most useful and helpful technology tools for student learning; and
- concrete examples of administrator behaviors that teachers felt created predictability and support, and those that did not.
After this webinar, you’ll be:
- confidently armed with research to determine which practices will be most effective for your lower school teachers;
- ready to coach your faculty with ideas for improving distance learning for young students; and
- able to adequately support and encourage your teachers.
This webinar is for:
Academic leaders, including Division Heads, Deans, Assistant Heads, and Department Chairs.
Mike Gwaltney
Director of Online Learning | ISM Consultant
Expertise
Mike is one of the pioneering leaders in online learning within the American private-independent school community. He is a recognized thought leader in developing constructivist learning experiences that connect students to each other online in highly collaborative, "high-touch" projects. Mike shares his expertise in blended, online, and project-based learning, along with faculty development and evaluation, high quality project-based learning, mission-based curriculum development, and transformative school leadership.
Current Role
As a Consultant for ISM, Mike advocates for progressive school approaches that include project-based and inquiry-based learning, equity-focused and evidence-based leadership, and connecting students with online communities and other learners around the world. Mike presents at regional and national conferences, and facilitates on-campus trainings and workshops for private-independent schools.
Prior Experience
Over his many years working in schools, Mike has led a variety of strategic academic initiatives while providing leadership and mentoring to scores of teachers. As a previous Head of Upper School at Rocky Hill School, RI, Mike helped lead school decisions on all issues related to academic and co-curricular programs.
Mike is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including recognition as “Most Inspirational Teacher” by the Mayor of Los Angeles six times. His work has been featured on National Public Radio, the New York Times Learning Network, Edutopia, and in several recent books.
Mike was given the annual Friends of the Muslim Educational Trust Award in 2016 for envisioning and designing project-based blended-online learning opportunities between students at an Episcopal independent school and students from the muslim community in the Pacific Northwest. In February 2017, Mike was given the OESIS “Innovation Leader” award for Digital Citizenship, Project-based Learning, and Interdisciplinary Learning, and in 2020 Mike was named a OESIS Faculty PD Pathways Leader.
Education
Mike received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from California State University at Fullerton.
If several of us at the school want to attend the webinar, do we each have to register and pay?
If two or more people at your school want to attend the webinar in the same location (for example, in a conference room with one monitor), then you only need to register and pay for one person who will receive the email and link. If you have people in remote locations, each person will need to register and pay separately. Essentially, a registration and payment gives you one link to the webinar.
Will I receive a reminder about the webinar I’ve just purchased?
Yes. A message will be sent to the email address you registered one or two days before the run date. You will receive a link to the webinar as well as PDF slides of the presentation you will be attending.
What happens if I miss my webinar? Will the fee be refunded?
If you’ve missed your scheduled webinar, don’t panic—you will automatically receive a link to the recorded webinar, barring any technical difficulties that prevent us from recording the session.
Will I receive a recorded version of the webinar after it concludes?
Yes, a recording of your webinar will be sent 24–48 hours after the recording concludes.
What if I have questions about the presentation? Whom do I contact?
You will be able to type questions, thoughts, and concerns in the communication box throughout the webinar. Each webinar allows 15 minutes for answering questions.
Confirmation and Cancellation Policy
We will correspond with you through email as soon as your workshop is confirmed, no later than two weeks prior to its start date. Occasionally, we may be forced to cancel an unconfirmed, scheduled workshop due to insufficient registration. So we ask that you do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until you receive notice that your workshop is confirmed. (ISM will not be responsible for any change/cancellation charges assessed by your airline or travel agent.)
Tuition Payment and Cancellation Policy for In-Person, Group-based Programs
Tuition must be paid in full 10 business days prior to the start date of the in-person, group-based program. An attendee with a balance due on the start date will be denied entrance to the program until the balance is paid in full.
Cancellation requests must be made in writing by emailing workshops@isminc.com, faxing to 302-656-0647, or mailing to: Professional Development Coordinator, ISM, 2207 Concord Pike, #417 Wilmington, DE 19803.
- Cancellations received more than 15 business days prior to the start date of the program will be fully refunded. Gold Dollars will also be fully refunded.
- There will be no refunds for cancellations made less than 15 business days before the start of the program. For registrations paid for with membership Gold Dollars, the member school will receive a 50% refund of Gold Dollars.
- Non-payment of tuition or no-show to the event does not constitute a cancellation. Full tuition will be due and payable.
The Substitution Option and Wallet Option
Should an attendee need to cancel less than 15 days prior to the start date of the workshop, the school has two options to avoid penalty. Schools may also exercise these options at anytime for cancellations.
- The school may substitute another employee.
- The school may bank the funds for a future ISM registration. These funds must be applied to a professional development event within one year from the start date of the original workshop. After one year, the funds will be forfeited. To use banked funds, please call the Professional Development Coordinator at 302-656-4944 x152.
*We DO NOT accept enrollments from consultants.
Our Guarantee
ISM believes in providing quality and excellence in all of our events and in ensuring the satisfaction of everyone who attends. Nearly 100% of our participants say they would recommend our events to their colleagues. If you are not satisfied with your event for any reason, ISM will credit the fee you paid toward another similarly priced workshop or will refund it.
Upcoming Events
1/15/2025 - 7:00am ET
2/11/2025 — 2/13/2025