Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Training on Delivery, Access, and Use of Virtual Content BHS Professional Development Supporting Virtual Teaching
The fluid nature of COVID-19 in our community continues to impact our school schedules and learning structures. Over the span of the first semester, the district was able to launch a hybrid model for a short period before returning to full distance learning. Bloomfield Hills Schools has worked diligently and creatively to find ways to support the virtual teaching professional learning needs of our staff. Recognizing that the support needed would have to span beyond the already established District Provided Professional Development (DPPD) dates, the district found ways to combine job-embedded professional learning with district DPPD days. BHS used capacity building models such as train the trainers, embedded building based instructional and technology related coaching, asynchronous learning modules, instructionally focused micro-labs, and invitational district-based Professional Learning Circles (PLCs). The following tables capture the scope of district-based professional development.
Professional District Provided Development
District Professional Learning for Instructional Staff
Grade Title/Type Amount Description Level
K-8 BHS Homegrown Writing 3 days @ Multi-day writing institute focusing on modeling Institute K-8: Teachers College 6.5 hours virtual writing instruction and adapting workshop Reading & Writing Project instructional model into a fully digital context.
1-8 Fastbridge: Train the Trainers: 2 days @ Virtual training for up to 30 district trainers who are Creating District Leads to 7 hours expected to support staff in administering Support Building teams tests/using data in grades 1-8. With hybrid/distance learning context, trainers had to support colleagues in administering in both in person and remote contexts.
1-8 Fastbridge: District Trainers lead 2 hours District Fastbridge trainers working with small colleagues in learning groupings of teachers, introducing the digital Fastbridge assessment system.
K-12 Designing Virtual Professional 3 hours Professional Development tips, designs, and Development coaching for Content Area Teacher leaders (CALs) and teacher leaders planning to lead professional development with a digital focus (train-the-trainers model).
K-12 Virtual Instructional Best 2 hours Teacher leaders who attended the above Designing
Practices Virtual PD designed and facilitated professional learning sessions with peers. Embedded in their sessions were tools and approaches to teaching virtually.
K-12 Teaching Remotely in 2020 Live 2 Introduction to online tools available to support PD sessions different instructional strategies or topics, including: @ 1 hour -assessment each -virtual classroom management -digital student portfolios -meaningful feedback -flipped learning -interactive lessons -special education -professional development -video creation
K-12 Trauma Informed Webinar & 3 hours Synchronous webinar: Alex Shevrin-Venet, Discussion Trauma-Informed Practices. Staff viewed webinar prior to discussion breakout rooms. Staff was placed into small groups with a lead facilitator. Each facilitator used a shared facilitation guide and slide deck.
K-12 Executive Functioning 3 hours Guest speaker Sarah Ward worked with staff in building a shared understanding and approaches to supporting students with executive functioning challenges. The session talked about ways to support students with executive functioning challenges in both in person and remote learning contexts.
K-5, Fundamentals of Teaching 3 Live, webinar-style PD with an overview of 6-8, Online Live sessions eLearning models, suggestions for supporting 9-12 @1 hour online socialization, information on screen time categories and virtual instruction techniques. Introductions to Google Classroom, Canvas, Zoom, and other district-wide virtual instruction tools. (District Tech Integrationist)
K-12 Teaching Remotely in 2020 2 Introduction to online tools available to support (Live PD) sessions different instructional strategies or topics, including: @ 1 hour -assessment each -virtual classroom management -digital student portfolios -meaningful feedback -flipped learning -interactive lessons
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-special education -professional development -video creation
K-12 Using Zoom while Interpreting 1 hour Interactive webinar focused on Zoom settings and Live PD (Interpreters & workflows used to support DHH Interpreters and Interveners) Interveners.
Wing Google Slides Live PD 1 hour Interactive webinar introducing the basics of using Lake Google Slides to create content, edit existing slideshows, and create engaging visual experiences to support virtual learning.
K-12 Choose Your Own Adventure 3 hours Core Content Area Teacher Leaders curated sets of professional learning for their specific core area which offered virtual live conferences focused on virtual teaching, and asynchronous webinars and learning modules.
K-12 Motivating for Learner-Centered 3 hours K-12 Art teachers led by their Content Area Leaders Engagement: A Visual Arts (CALs), engaged in a virtual learning conference Learning Opportunity focused on teaching art in a distance/virtual context.
K-12 SHAPE Michigan Conference 3 hours K-12 Physical Ed. teachers engaged in a live virtual conference focusing on teaching in a virtual context.
K-12 Hybrid/remote assessments in 3 hours World Language teachers collaboratively learned the World Language classroom and designed remote based assessment approaches.
K-12 IT-Link Intranet site unlimited District website for staff supporting educational technology and communication resources.
K-12 IT Lunch & Learn Weekly Digital drop in sessions where Tech Integrationist sessions models digital tools that can enhance instruction @ 1 hours and learning. Designed to focus on small chunks of each information and engage in it with support from IT.
K-12 New Teacher Orientation 3 hours Training new teaching staff on tools, approaches to virtual work, collaboration workflows, and philosophy and practice of tech integration in the classroom.
District Anxiety and Trauma Informed 3 hours Jessica Minahan facilitated a three hour webinar Admin Practices with Jessica Minaham with all district administrators talking about the impact of trauma and anxiety on students and adults. Offering many approaches and practical steps to support students and staff.
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Invitational After-School District Professional Development
District Professional Learning for Instructional Staff
Grade Title/Type Amount Description Level
K-5 Micro-teaching labs: creating 3 After-school 40 min. sessions where a small teacher student centered practices in a sessions group studies a video taped virtual classroom and virtual classroom @ 40 engage in reflective conversation focused on minutes student centered engagement strategies. Follow up lesson design support available from district support staff (i.e. Tech Integrationist, Learning Specialists, Content Area Teacher Leaders).
K-3 Tuesdays Literacy & Learning 6 Led by district LEO (literacy) coach, these sessions Series sessions focus on sharing best practices in the teaching of @ 30 reading in both digital and face to face contexts. minutes
District Provided Asynchronous Professional Learning Resources
Professional Learning Webinars & Modules
Grade Title/Type Amount Description Level
K-5 Introduction to Seesaw Self-Paced Online, modular course designed to introduce Course teachers to Seesaw and instruct them on how to utilize the full functionality of the tool to increase engagement and provide meaningful feedback in a virtual setting.
K-12 Going Further with Zoom Self-Paced Online, modular course designed to take Course teachers beyond the basics of video conferencing. The course goes through setting selections, features, and tools that can be used to increase engagement and interactivity during virtual classes.
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K-8 BHS Google Classroom Self-Paced Online, modular course designed to walk K-8 Course teachers through the features of the Google Classroom LMS. The course instructs teachers on how to create and manage their Google Classrooms, how to upload and curate content, use the LMS for grading and assessments, managing their class stream communications, and more.
K-12 Fundamentals of Teaching Online: Online course developed by BHS Tech Self-Paced Course Integrationist that provides informative and interactive modules designed to support the learning from the Fundamentals of Teaching Online Live PD.
K-12 Executive Functioning Skill Building 1 hour/ Online course with training provided by Kristen month Jacobsen. Each session topic is determined by the individual grade level teams. The training is designed to support the learning of executive functioning fundamentals for students in virtual and hybrid learning.
District Support for Parents/Guardians/Students
District Support for Parents/Guardians/Students on Virtual Access
Grade Title/Type Amount Description Level
K-12 Student/Family HelpDesk 40 hours / On-demand email and phone support available week to students and families learning from home.
K-12 Hotspots/Internet Access As Provide families with either paid internet service needed from Comcast or provided a paid hotspot.
9-12 Canvas LMS Orientation & Training On-going On-demand and by appointment support for for Families families to navigate and utilize the LMS
K-12 Conversations with Children About 2 hours Dr. Jay Marks (Oakland Schools consultant) Race and Margaret Schultz (Director of Instructional Equity and Title IX Coordinator)
K-12 Cultivating Mental Health in the Era 2 hours Dr. Marsh, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and of COVID-19 featured speaker.
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● Topics for the webinar included: Learn the different ways the pandemic is affecting people. ● Learn about the different components of depression and anxiety. ● Learn the tips and tricks on how to persevere through this unpredictable time.
K-12 Restorative Practices for 2 hours Consultant Bill Boyle: supporting parents and Parents/Caregivers offered 2 caregivers from the community to have a times conversation about how Restorative Practices can support their children both in school and out of school.
K-12 Mindfulness for Parents/Caregivers 2 hours Consultant Bill Boyl: supporting parents and caregivers in ways that mindfulness can be used to support their children and themselves through this difficult time of the pandemic. Skills will be transferable to post-pandemic as well.
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