Professional_Development_Opportunities


 * Professional Development Opportunities in Uniondale **

How can I learn more, improve my craft, stay current with trends and information in the teaching field? These are questions we all ask ourselves throughout our busy careers. Staying on top of new developments or simply trying to be the best educator we can be is a challenge. Uniondale is committed to helping teachers identify and pursue staff development opportunities, both traditionally offered as in courses, workshops, and conferences, as well as through other avenues that allow us to work at our own pace, according to our individual demanding schedules.

Below please find a selection of these opportunities, organized by category, gathered together for your convenience. Whether you choose to learn in person, online, or through additional resources, the opportunities for ongoing learning abound.
 * __ In-Person __**
 * 1) An array of **staff development workshops and inservice courses** are scheduled during the school year and summer. Examples include a variety of courses targeting all levels of interactive whiteboard users, Study Island, School Island, Web 2.0, My Access!, Thinkfinity, Google Earth, Digital Storytelling, Integrating Math, Literature and Technology into the Elementary School Curriculum, Microsoft Office Tools for Productivity, Web 2.0., Achieve 3000, and much more!
 * 2) The district’s **technology staff developer** is available to provide just-in-time training, to meet with you during your prep periods, to push into your classrooms, to help you plan lessons that integrate technology in meaningful ways.
 * 3) ** InterCounty Teacher Resource Center ** **(ITRC)** has made it possible for teachers to be trained as Intel turnkey trainers and to learn about the latest technologies that help students of all ability levels achieve established learning goals.
 * 4) ** Workshops ** are conducted at building faculty, department and team meetings to promote and support district initiatives.
 * 5) ** Model ** **Schools** and participation in the **NASTECH consortium** contribute to the rich offerings and support provided to district staff in the technology arena.
 * 6) ** District staff development days ** are structured to enhance teacher skills and professional learning. On days when no students are in attendance, staff development is provided.
 * 7) ** Nassau BOCES ** offers after-school inservice classes. You can locate these on their website or on My Learning Plan ([|http://www.mylearningplan.com]) by clicking on the Nassau BOCES catalog.


 * __ ONLINE __**
 * 1) ** The Workbench wiki ** — http://workbench.wikispaces.com provides visitors with extensive staff development resources and information. The links are selected to assist teachers in their teaching and educational practices.
 * 2) ** PowerSchool ** is the district's student management system that includes a module called PowerTeacher for grades and attendance. **Mastery in Minutes** ([|http://powersource.pearsonschoolsystems.com]) provides video tutorials on various tasks in PowerSchool and PowerTeacher. Contact the PowerSchool office for an account.
 * 3) ** LITE Bytes ** is a newsletter, published on a wiki, produced by the Library and Instructional Technology Departments to showcase technology applications, resources, and best practices. Visit http://litebytes.wikispaces.com/.
 * 4) ** Streaming video ** is offered through PowerMedia Plus, United Streaming and BrainPOP (animated clips available in English and Spanish) to provide additional professional development support. A subscription to Discovery Education Science provides streaming video science resources for teachers and students in grades K-8. Check out [].
 * 5) ** Atomic Learning ** [|http://www.atomiclearning.com] is an online subscription that provides tutorials to help with the use of a wide variety of software and online programs. (username: uniondale password: schools)
 * 6) ** Videoconferencing ** allows teachers from both elementary and secondary schools to take advantage of varied videoconferencing opportunities made possible by our subscription to a BOCES service.
 * 7) ** InterCounty Teacher Resource Center ** (**ITRC**) membership provides staff development opportunities in the technology arena, including online courses that teachers can take from the comfort of their own home.
 * 8) The **Pearson** ** edPerformance Scantron ** series supports the efforts of our instructional and administrative staff as they take steps to create and implement instructional strategies based on a thorough analysis of student strengths and weaknesses. Tutorials are available on the website: [|http://edperformance.com;] use your logon to view.
 * 9) ** Tech Talk ** ([]), a technology-focused blog, serves as a medium to highlight strategies and resources recommended to teachers to use in their classrooms.
 * 10) ** Online tutorials ** are available on many different websites that guide you to effective use. For example, the website from Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado features an extremely helpful section to point users in the direction of the right software or application for specific tasks. After you determine the purpose of your project and the audience to whom it's directed, you can decide what tool would be best. Visit [].
 * 11) ** ActivInspire ** users log onto the Promethean Planet and Promethean Learning websites for tutorials: [|http://www.prometheanplanet.com]; [|http://www.prometheanlearning.com]. Set up an individual account and you’re set to go.
 * 12) ** SchoolsMovingUp ** webinars ([]) bring experts to the web to share lessons learned, new ideas, and related resources. Webinars combine an online interactive presentation and phone conference.
 * 13) ** Curriculum Associates ** [|http://www.ca101.com] offers free, self-paced online professional development and product training. Click on Professional Development and the Topics tab.
 * 14) **New York State Virtual Learning System** [] uses the Internet as a tool for learning.
 * 15) **Nassau BOCES Self-Paced Lesson Modules** []
 * 16) **ISTE Learning** Professional Development [] grew out of ISTE's national conference.

The **Professional Development Library (Teachers' Collection)** is housed in the high school library. These titles, which include many videos, can be borrowed by any Uniondale staff member simply by accessing the online catalog and making a request. Search the online catalog [|http://follett.uniondaleschools.org] to locate titles of interest.
 * __ Resources __**
 * 1) ** The district library website ** ([]) features tools and techniques that teachers can adopt and resources they can use in their classrooms.
 * 2) ** Just-in-time training materials and staff development resources ** are available on the district website for teacher use. Log onto your eChalk account, pull-down the center menu (My Files) and select district files.
 * 3) ** Technology mentors ** are available in each building. These mentors are trained in specific programs such as eChalk and PowerSchool. Contact them for personalized attention!