Free online PDs (graduate credits available for $$)

 The IEFA Best Practices Conference is scheduled for May 15-16. This is always one of my favorite conferences. There isn't much posted yet about the actual session topics, but OPI always does a bang-up job with this conference, and I always learn tons. Register (and find more information) here. 

I also just found out that National Geographic is offering free online courses (with the opportunity to pay for graduate credits). Learn more and register here. 

Six of them run from April 7-May 11, including "Integrating Service with Learning Goals," Collecting Data to Explore Plastic Pollution in Our Communities," "Connecting the Geo-Inquiry Process to Your Teaching Practice," "Mapping as a Visualization and Communication Tool in Your Classroom," and "Teaching Global Climate Change in Your Classroom."   

But the one I'm most excited about is "Teaching Students to ASK Their Own Geo-Inquiry Questions." This course was developed in partnership with Harvard's Right Question Institute (RQI) and integrates RTI's Question Formulation Technique with the "ASK phase of the National Geographic Geo-Inquiry Process."  

As longtime readers know, I've written about the Question Formulation Technique before, because I'm adamant about the importance of teaching students to ask good questions, which is harder than it looks. I was surprised to learn when a teacher invited me to come into her 11th grade American history class to help her students develop research papers, that many, many students struggle with asking good questions--but pleased to discover (from the RQI) that it is a learned skill. 

Developing questions is also one of the six social studies skills highlighted in the new social studies content standards that go into effect July 1. (The others are planning inquiries, comparing and evaluating sources, gathering evidence to develop and refine claims, communicating conclusions, and taking informed action.) 

Speaking of which, I hope you can join us for our final online PD on April 20, from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., to learn more about "The New Montana Content Standards for Social Studies." Register here.