Professional Learning
Carousel
Scope and Sequencing
Our scope and sequencing process with schools is collaborative with teachers and instructional leaders, resulting in a curriculum map that provides a visual representation of the scope and sequence of learning across various timelines. We guide educators in detailing the horizontal and vertical flow of curriculum within and beyond each grade level, ensuring alignment with standards and a focus on skill progression.
Our scope and sequencing process with schools is collaborative with teachers and instructional leaders, resulting in a curriculum map that provides a visual representation of the scope and sequence of learning across various timelines. We guide educators in detailing the horizontal and vertical flow of curriculum within and beyond each grade level, ensuring alignment with standards and a focus on skill progression.
Our scope and sequencing process with schools is collaborative with teachers and instructional leaders, resulting in a curriculum map that provides a visual representation of the scope and sequence of learning across various timelines. We guide educators in detailing the horizontal and vertical flow of curriculum within and beyond each grade level, ensuring alignment with standards and a focus on skill progression.
Our process allows teachers and leaders to see how the curriculum fits together, what patterns emerge, and where learning can be reinforced at the beginning and end of each grade level and year. Themes and big ideas emerge, informing the design of project-based learning projects and units, highlighting opportunities for interdisciplinary connections. Electives, Arts, STEAM, and After School programs gain insight into core content areas, creating opportunities to establish meaningful connections and enrich the student learning experience. This process culminates in both a physical and digital curriculum map, providing schools with adaptable tools for ongoing analysis and refinement.
Technology Integration
CTSC provides professional learning that empowers teachers to integrate technology purposefully, transforming classrooms into dynamic, student-centered learning spaces. Our approach builds teacher confidence in using technology to support differentiated instruction, as well as providing opportunities for students to become creators and build skills to communicate in the rapidly changing world they live in.
CTSC provides professional learning that empowers teachers to integrate technology purposefully, transforming classrooms into dynamic, student-centered learning spaces. Our approach builds teacher confidence in using technology to support differentiated instruction, as well as providing opportunities for students to become creators and build skills to communicate in the rapidly changing world they live in.
CTSC provides professional learning that empowers teachers to integrate technology purposefully, transforming classrooms into dynamic, student-centered learning spaces. Our approach builds teacher confidence in using technology to support differentiated instruction, as well as providing opportunities for students to become creators and build skills to communicate in the rapidly changing world they live in.
We emphasize multimodal pathways for students to demonstrate understanding and foster critical reflection. By embracing personalized learning and guiding teachers in leveraging AI and other technology tools, we help teachers create a learning environment where students are active agents in their own learning. In the design process, in addition to content standards we integrate both national standards such as ISTE and state-specific guidelines such as the New York State Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards, promoting comprehensive digital literacy for all.
Inquiry-Based and Project Based Learning
Our professional learning experiences for inquiry-based and project-based learning empower teachers to foster a holistic learning environment where students become self-directed, take responsibility for their learning, make real-world connections through exploration and high-level questioning, and engage in problem-solving as they tackle complex challenges through active hands-on learning.
Our professional learning experiences for inquiry-based and project-based learning empower teachers to foster a holistic learning environment where students become self-directed, take responsibility for their learning, make real-world connections through exploration and high-level questioning, and engage in problem-solving as they tackle complex challenges through active hands-on learning.
Our professional learning experiences for inquiry-based and project-based learning empower teachers to foster a holistic learning environment where students become self-directed, take responsibility for their learning, make real-world connections through exploration and high-level questioning, and engage in problem-solving as they tackle complex challenges through active hands-on learning.
Teachers integrate curriculum, standards, and meaningful technology in transdisciplinary project work that deeply engages students and is anchored in their community and their world. Teachers are guided in design practices that honor the lived experiences of their students, provide opportunities for creative and empowered voice, and prioritize social-emotional well-being alongside academic goals. Using the Backward Design framework from Wiggins and McTighe, teachers develop a clear vision for student outcomes, design assessments that measure authentic learning, and create project experiences that celebrate curiosity, diversity of perspectives, and the ability to discover knowledge and skills that are new.
Digital Portfolios
One component we offer schools is the creation of a digital portfolio process that will authentically represent student work and foster continuous reflection. We facilitate the piloting and eventual school-wide launch of digital portfolio-based assessment systems, providing educators with a platform for students to showcase their understanding through multimodal expressions.
One component we offer schools is the creation of a digital portfolio process that will authentically represent student work and foster continuous reflection. We facilitate the piloting and eventual school-wide launch of digital portfolio-based assessment systems, providing educators with a platform for students to showcase their understanding through multimodal expressions.
One component we offer schools is the creation of a digital portfolio process that will authentically represent student work and foster continuous reflection. We facilitate the piloting and eventual school-wide launch of digital portfolio-based assessment systems, providing educators with a platform for students to showcase their understanding through multimodal expressions.
Through careful analysis of available digital portfolio options, we tailor our guidance to each school's unique context, ensuring alignment with educational goals. Our team introduces teachers to the rationale behind digital portfolios and supports the development of a robust model for implementation. By assisting educators in designing systems that seamlessly integrate digital portfolios into everyday instruction, we guide teachers to empower their students in ongoing reflection and the sharing of growth throughout the school year. Through the digital portfolio process, we see schools cultivate deeper student-centered learning and build creative and differentiated assessment practices.
AI in Education
When asked to guide education entities in the potential of AI for teaching and learning, we work to proactively prepare educators to navigate the exciting and complex landscape of AI in education. Aligned with the goals of school, district, and educational best practices, we work to equip teachers with foundational AI literacy.
When asked to guide education entities in the potential of AI for teaching and learning, we work to proactively prepare educators to navigate the exciting and complex landscape of AI in education. Aligned with the goals of school, district, and educational best practices, we work to equip teachers with foundational AI literacy.
When asked to guide education entities in the potential of AI for teaching and learning, we work to proactively prepare educators to navigate the exciting and complex landscape of AI in education. Aligned with the goals of school, district, and educational best practices, we work to equip teachers with foundational AI literacy.
We enable them through scaffolded support to confidently integrate AI tools into their instructional toolkit, lesson design practices, and in empowering students to interact with AI tools in meaningful ways. We help educators to see the potential benefits AI offers for personalized learning, assessment, and administrative efficiency. Crucially, we believe teachers must also be helped to recognize the limitations of current AI systems, including potential biases and ethical concerns, to ensure the responsible and equitable use of these technologies in the classroom.
Leadership- Leading the Change
Leadership is an important component of our model, Innovating Instruction©, and a key aspect of achieving transformational change in schools. Leaders need support to see the changes they envision materialize, and navigate the complexities of implementation.
Leadership is an important component of our model, Innovating Instruction©, and a key aspect of achieving transformational change in schools. Leaders need support to see the changes they envision materialize, and navigate the complexities of implementation.
Leadership is an important component of our model, Innovating Instruction©, and a key aspect of achieving transformational change in schools. Leaders need support to see the changes they envision materialize, and navigate the complexities of implementation.
Professional support working with leadership can empower effective engagement with stakeholders and build a culture of continuous improvement, modeling learning from the top down. We can assist in topics ranging from school-wide digital organization to the supports needed for rigorous project-based learning unit integration, from learning about AI for education to understanding the role of robotics and coding to develop literacy and math skills. We support leaders in building strategic plans for their schools and teachers to move towards more experiential, real-world, culturally-responsive, and innovative instructional practices informed by research and anchored in the learning sciences.
The Center for Technology and School Change (CTSC) designs custom professional development programs to engage teachers and leaders in rethinking education for the digital age. Our Center collaborates with schools and educators throughout New York City, across the U.S. and beyond international boundaries to create learning experiences for teachers, leaders, schools, and systems of education. Utilizing CTSC’s research-based design model for Innovating Instruction©, our programs engage teachers as designers of rigorous learning experiences, transforming classrooms and schools beyond the boundaries of traditional instruction, fostering collaboration, meaningful technology integration, and real-world complex problem-solving preparing students for the future.
We leverage research and the learning sciences to create programs that engage teachers as designers of inquiry learning environments, where curiosity is celebrated and asking big questions leads to student research, perspective sharing, and the powerful and creative communication of ideas and knowledge. We guide teachers and leaders to build dynamic learning environments that spark connections to the wider world, fostering empathy, global awareness, and a desire to make a positive impact in their community and beyond.
Our focus on inquiry-based learning extends beyond the classroom walls. We guide educators in fostering a culture of continuous reflection and questioning, where students are encouraged to investigate, explore, and grapple with complex challenges. By integrating technology purposefully, we equip educators with tools to personalize learning experiences, promote student voice, and provide opportunities for diverse learning pathways.
Building on a foundation of strong leadership is paramount for creating and sustaining transformative school environments. We partner with education leaders to support the development of strategic plans for school-wide, district, and national digital transformation, including initiatives that integrate pedagogies such as project-based learning and innovative teaching for student empowerment and self-directed learning. We provide support in navigating the complexities of curriculum design and implementation, ensuring alignment with standards and a focus on building transferable skills. This holistic approach is ultimately customized in each program so that context, goals, and educator readiness are considered, creating a sustainable path for implementation and ongoing growth.
CTSC’s research-based model for Innovating Instruction©