Home Site Options
Plan on having a FIIT seminar at your home site. Dr. Jim is available for full day or half day presentations at your home site. Multiple seminar topics are available.
Here are descriptions of a few of the seminars that can be brought to your school district:
Instructional Design for the 21st Century Classroom
It is very important to provide teachers with the skills necessary to meet the needs of the 21st century learner. An awareness of the characteristics and needs of the 21st century learner is essential. It has been documented that we are moving from an information age into a conceptual age. With these facts in mind, educators must reflect upon their practice and consider alternative approaches to instructional design
Participants in this seminar will learn how to avoid the problems of textbook coverage and activity-oriented teaching in which no clear outcomes are established. Creating essential questions, identifying desired results, determining acceptable evidence, and engaging the learners are some of the major areas of focus.
In addition; an introduction to the components and attributes of authentic performance assessment will be discussed and demonstrated. A brief look at how the integration of new technologies can serve to greatly enhance the instructional program will serve to validate and motivate the 21st century educator.
Improving Instruction with Data in Mind:
Ways to Use Data in the Classroom
The effective use of data by teachers on a daily basis in the classroom can have a significant impact on the overall quality of instruction and student achievement.
• How can data improve student achievement?
• What types of data best address the needs of the learner?
• What are the limitations of data?
• What strategies can be used to organize and analyze the data?
These are just a few of the questions that will be answered in this important full day seminar offering.
Seminar Goals:
1. Gain a greater awareness of the importance of using data in the classroom.
2. Gain an awareness of the various data types and how each can be used to support instruction,
3. Develop the skill of using specific strategies to organize and analyze data.
4. Build on the teacher’s ability to work with data in grade level and/or content area teams.
5. Gain an awareness of the critical difference between assessment and evaluation.
6. Become aware of state and national initiatives such as NCLB, NJSMART, NJPAA and other related programs.
7. Increase the teacher’s ability to address the NCLB mandate in the classroom.
8. Gain an awareness of how to use technology to support data driven decision making.
9. Develop a professional growth plan based on data driven decision making in the classroom.
Formative Assessment: Using Classroom-based Assessments to Improve Learning
It is very well documented that effective instructional practices depend on well constructed, aligned assessments. Effective and ongoing assessments serve to promote and improve student learning. Are you doing the best that you can possibly do when it comes to designing effective instruction with appropriate assessments in mind? Let the experts in the field provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills that will lead to a more effective use of student feedback. Designing, implementing, analyzing and using formative assessment data is demonstrated and discussed in detail. All educators need to be aware of the importance of formative assessment and how its effective use will serve to increase student achievement.
Performance Assessment: Define, Design and Implement
Learn how to increase student achievement and provide for more meaningful instruction through performance-based models that greatly increase student motivation and collaboration while uncovering the multiple hidden talents of your students. The major components of an authentic performance assessment model are introduced and experienced in a hands-on manner that will allow for immediate application in your classrooms.
A Brain-based Approach to Improving Reading Skills: K-12
This is information that ALL teachers need to know! Join the author of The Reading Brain's Unnatural Connections™, Dr. Jim Gamble, for a cutting-edge seminar that will help improve the reading comprehension skills and problem-solving capabilities of your students through user-friendly brain-compatible teaching strategies. Through demonstrations, research studies, role playing and focused discussions participants will discover how to use brain-compatible strategies to greatly enhance memory skills, reading comprehension, vocabulary and fluency. Educators in all subject areas have witnessed first-hand how understanding these practices can greatly enhance student performance.
Differentiated Instruction K-12: Practical Strategies that Work
(Recommended for all grade level teachers)
Learn how to better meet the needs of a diverse group of students utilizing differentiated instructional strategies. In order to effectively implement this philosophy of instruction, educators at all levels need to be able to utilize multiple strategies at the appropriate times. This practical “hands on” seminar will specifically serve to guide classroom teachers through a systematic process of designing instructional activities that will serve to engage and motivate all students.
Answers to the following questions are addressed during the seminar:
• How do I plan for differentiation of instruction?
• How do I make time to effectively implement differentiated instructional strategies?
• When and how do I plan and implement tiered instructional activities?
• What are anchor activities and how are they best utilized in the classroom?
• How do I meet the needs of the reluctant learners?
• What are the best ways to manage differentiated instructional approaches in the classroom?
Participants will come away with critical insights and skills that will help to guide their practice in the classroom. Differentiated instruction is not a fad; it is a philosophy of great teaching which truly dispels the notion that “one size fits all.”
Utilizing Technology in the Classroom to Increase Student Achievement
(Recommended for all grade level teachers, supervisors, and administrators)
This seminar serves to increase the individual awareness and competencies of teachers and educational leaders as it relates to the seamless integration of technology in the classroom. The essential characteristics of the 21st century learner and learning environment provide the rationale of the need for effective technology integration strategies.
Participants will receive practical information, ideas, and ready to use activities relating to web quests, collaborative projects, blogs, podcasts, etc. that serve to enhance the instructional program. The effective uses of multi-media in instruction are highlighted.
Dr. Jim draws on his experiences as a classroom teacher, administrator, online mentor, and NJ ELITE (Exemplary Leadership Institutes in Technology Education) instructor to provide participants with the most effective approaches to meeting the needs of today’s learners.
Communicating with Parents: Interpersonal Skills that Work
Communicating effectively with parents is a critical factor in fostering student success. This seminar is designed to help all teachers enhance their skills in a very important area of instructional responsibility. Participants will enhance their conferencing skills through practical demonstrations and role plays. Strategies for dealing with difficult family situations are addressed through actual case studies. Whether you are an experienced or a novice teacher, you will learn multiple ways to communicate and strengthen the parent-school connection.
Administrators as Change Agents
Today’s administrator faces many challenges in preparing the contemporary student for a global, digital age within the context of a standards-based environment. Participants will be provided with a theoretical and practical foundation for effecting change through instructional leadership, with an emphasis placed on a variety of topics including, but not limited to: (1) creating a shared vision (2) building collaborative teams (3) teaching and learning through action-research (4) creating high-achieving learning environments (5) designing instruction with assessments in mind (6) providing for meaningful professional development (7) technology leadership and (8) leading and managing teams through change.
Write to Read Connection
Writing facilitates thinking and reading is thinking. This seminar provides participants with theoretical and practical knowledge that is essential for capitalizing on the write to read connection. Practical activities and strategies related to the write to read connection are presented. Participants will be able to implement theses strategies at all levels of instruction.
Seminars can be customized to meet the specific needs of your school district. We are willing to meet with you to plan a seminar event for your staff that will be informative, engaging, and relevant.
Also, ask about ongoing consulting options.
