Teaching in Uncertain Times
Overview
This professional learning will be an opportunity for Ohio’s educators to deepen their abilities to apply their knowledge of practices, applications and pedagogy aligned to Ohio’s Learning Standards in various instructional settings.
Essential/Guiding Question
How do we design rigorous, standards-aligned instruction that is nimble, flexible and responsive to changing instructional settings?

Garrison, Anderson, & Archer,
Community of Inquiry Framework [JPEG]. Retrieved July 27, 2020, from
www.thecommunityofinquiry.org/coi. This work is licensed under Creative Commons (
CC BY-SA 4.0).
The one thing that is certain about school this fall is that school this fall is uncertain! We may not know what our return to school will actually be like, but there are steps we can take when planning for uncertainty. In this session, we will explore possible learning scenarios for the upcoming school year and options for success in each scenario, making our instruction more robust and adaptable to changing circumstances.
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The social presence general session focuses on the ability for learners to project themselves and see others as “real” people in the virtual environment. Establishing a sense of community and developing relationships between instructors and learners, as well as amid the learners themselves is an essential part of a productive classroom, either in person or online. This session introduces participants to the part social presence plays in creating a classroom community, as well as ways to facilitate the development and growth of it throughout the year, whether in person, online or a combination of both.
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Cognitive presence is built upon the relationship between personal understanding and meaningful, shared discourse. In this session, consultants from the Office of Learning and Instructional Strategies incorporate ideas for educators to reflect upon as they develop a variety of opportunities for students to engage in discourse and reflection to create content understanding. These experiences can be designed to be flexible for use in traditional, remote, hybrid and blended learning classroom settings. This is the second in a series of four content sessions. The series is intended to be engaged in its entirety for maximum benefit.
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The teaching presence general session focuses on important aspects of planning, instruction, facilitation and classroom management in fluid learning situations. Preparing in advance for a variety of possible instructional situations allows students to remain engaged with content in meaningful ways. This session features ideas to consider as educators plan ways to capitalize on tactics already used in a traditional setting and apply them to remote, hybrid or blended learning situations.
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This session will features discussions by content area.
Mathematics
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Science
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World Languages and Cultures
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This session will focus on best practices for building and sustaining relationships with students, families and staff in a virtual environment. In addition, best practices for ensuring an efficient and effective student-centered learning community is established, maintained and thrives will be addressed.
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Presenter: Ohio Connections Academy Administration
This session will focus on best practices centered on asynchronous and synchronous instructional strategies that promote student engagement in the learning cycle. In addition, this session will discuss the needs in virtual instruction for structured opportunities for student collaboration and discourse, the importance of feedback, expectations and guidelines for students and staff, and more!
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Join staff from Genoa Area Local Schools for a discussion of using choice boards in the virtual environment. Genoa Area Local Schools has had success implementing the use of choice boards and transitioned the use of this tool into the virtual environment. This session is open to all content areas. Participants will explore different options for using and creating choice boards for students at all grade levels.
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Both the English language arts and social studies standards include students using primary sources. This session will provide an overview of primary sources, how to use them in the classroom and where to find them.
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This session will provide teachers with an understanding on how to use the K-5 Gap Analysis tool to record what was learned before and during the ordered school-building closure. Educators will be introduced to the Student Readiness Toolkit and learn how to use the Expository Writing Rubric.
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During these uncertain times in education collaboration is key. A school librarian can be the glue for your teachers, building and district. In this session whether you are an administrator, teacher or librarian come learn about specific ways a school librarian can support you and your students during this crisis.
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Participants will learn about the new 6-12 gap analysis tool and the resource toolkits that can be use to determine where students are at the beginning of the new school year. We will also explore how these tools and resources can be use throughout the year to monitor student progress. Finally, we will look at using the Ohio argumentation writing rubric to help students understand how to use the rubric for the writing portions of the state test.
Session Video
Student Readiness Toolkit Webpage
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Presenter: Michelle Elia
Join Michelle Elia, one of Ohio's literacy leads, for a discussion of tools and ideas that can be applied right away to help teachers with reading interventions that can be used in the virtual environment.
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The Ohio Writing Project works to provide support for teachers of writing throughout the state. In this session, participants will learn more about the Ohio Writing Project as well as receive strategies and resources that will help with the teaching of writing at all levels. Bring paper and a writing instrument for the interactive portions of this session.
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In our digital world, does handwriting still have a place? Research says yes. Participants in this session can expect to learn how learning handwriting can help students achieve in other academic areas. Please bring paper and a writing instrument as we will be putting theory into practice.
Session Video
Session Slide Deck
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This session will provide teachers with a Gap Analysis tool to record what was learned before and during the ordered school-building closure. We will highlight how other Ohio Department of Education resources and documents can be used in conjunction with the Gap Analysis tool to support the standards as districts plan their 2020-2021 instruction. As we look at ahead to the fall, we will review a series of “Preparing for Instruction” guiding questions to trigger teacher reflection on previous teaching practices while considering the likely absence or weakness of previous learning.
Session Video (August 12)
Session Video (August 13)
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Presenter - James Mamer et al.
No need to fret and worry about getting back to the classroom with our young mathematicians. This session will include concrete exemplars of "how" to allow missed learning opportunities to become embedded in your daily work. We will focus on the process of learning through the lens of The Standards for Mathematical Practices. Finally, we will explore the heart and soul of a resource document that believes in all young people doing the thinking in the math classroom.
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No need to fret and worry about getting back to the classroom with our young mathematicians. This session will include concrete exemplars of "how" to allow missed learning opportunities to become embedded in your daily work. We will focus on the process of learning through the lens of The Standards for Mathematical Practices. Finally, we will explore the heart and soul of a resource document that believes in all young people doing the thinking in the math classroom.
Session Video (August 12)
Session Video (August 13)
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In this session, hear from Betty Kern, the 2017 Physical Education Teacher of the Year, who will share her experience with remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic.
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In this session, non-physical education teachers will be introduced to the basics of teaching physical education in both remote settings and brick and mortar schools. First-year physical education teachers are also welcome.
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This session will cover planning for the fall, safety and cleaning, accountability, evaluations and assessments.
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Explore various resources available to aid instructional planning this fall. Experience a no-tech lesson from the At-Home Science Explorations series and discuss ways to keep students safely engaged with active science in a variety of settings. Come share ideas with colleagues.
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Explore various resources available to aid instructional planning this fall. Experience a no-tech lesson from the At-Home Science Explorations series and discuss ways to keep students safely engaged with active science in a variety of settings. Come share ideas with colleagues.
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Presenter: Art Lewandowski, Bowling Green State University
Partner: Ohio Council for the Social Studies
This session introduces educators to the best practice of using inquiry as a tool for teachers and their students, especially in a remote learning classroom. The session includes the benefits of inquiry followed by a simulation of Inquiry vs. Not Inquiry to let participants experience and reflect on approachable examples at three levels of the inquiry continuum.
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Presenter: Ryan Suskey, Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, Director of Professional Development and Programs
Partner: Ohio Council for the Social Studies
Inquiry is a keystone of the C3 Framework that helps students take ownership of their learning and embraces best practices in the social studies classroom. Learn more about how inquiry and the C3 Framework are connected.
Session Video
Presenter: Adam Motter, Akron Public Schools, Social Studies Learning Specialist
Partner: Ohio Council for the Social Studies
This session will provide access to inquiry lessons that already exist and share best practices about integrating inquiry lessons into your instruction, whether it is in-person, a hybrid model or completely online.
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Digging deep into authentic implementation of technology to enhance student engagement and help teachers manage using the "SAMR" Model, which stand for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. Participants should bring an activity to the session to analyze with the SAMR Model.
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This session will cover the basics of project-based learning and provide attendees with ways it allows for flexible, integrated and creative learning experiences in a variety of classroom scenarios. All K-12 content areas are invited.
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How do we create and scaffold remote learning for brand new beginning language students? Let’s share strategies and ideas for our Novice learners.
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Attendees at this session will dissect the Reflexive Learning Cycle originally envisioned by LinguaFolio® to gain ideas about supporting learner goal-setting, metacognition and autonomy.
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This session will provide attendees with the information and resources needed to implement and grow a district-wide seal of biliteracy program.
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Jigsaw Activites for World Languages
Presenter: Elizabeth Thomas, Walnut Hills High School
In this session Elizabeth Thomas will present strategies for using a Learning Management System like Schoology to create jigsaw activities in your target language for in-person, blended or online classes.
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Looking for ways to engage students during remote learning? Explore these ideas and activities shared by Ohio world language teachers, organized by language skills and content.
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Last Modified: 9/2/2020 12:21:31 PM