UCI Teacher Academy offers summer workshop series to support K-12 community in improving online learning and instruction

The UCI Teacher Academy held a 6-week professional development summer series featuring a variety of workshops hosted by leading educational experts, including UCI School of Education faculty and staff.

“We are committed to placing teachers and school leaders in leadership roles to improve and transform educational opportunities for youth,” said Elizabeth van Es, professor, faculty director of the Teacher Education Program, and faculty director of the Teacher Academy. ​“Most of our programs were led by practicing teachers who have expertise on creating quality learning experiences for youth in a remote platform. What they needed was a platform to share that expertise. The UCI Teacher Academy provided that platform so they could reach hundreds of teachers as they navigate remote instruction.”
​
Workshop topics included: 

• Building and Maintaining Community and Communication with Students and Parents During Distance Learning in an Elementary Classroom
• Supporting Dual Immersion Instruction during Distance Learning in a Kindergarten Classroom​
• Providing Differentiated Instruction in a Distance-Learning Environment in an Elementary Classroom
• Supporting Students Receiving Special Education Services During Distance Learning in an Elementary Classroom
• Equitable Teaching during COVID-19: Strategies and Tools for Teaching Students with Learning Differences in the Secondary Classroom
• Assessing for Student Learning
• Cultivating In-Depth Discussions Using Kialo

Each session included both the presentation and a follow-up Q&A session. The workshops can be viewed in their entirety here.

​The UCI Teacher Academy plans to develop additional programs to support teachers and school leaders as they continue to offer remote instruction.
​
About the Teacher Academy
Founded in 2018 with a gift from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the UCI Teacher Academy provides a home for teachers and school leaders to develop and enhance their professional practice by offering programs in teacher preparation, professional development, teacher leadership, and administrator leadership. Professional development programs are offered through five California Subject Matter Partnerships - the Irvine Math Project, UCI California Reading & Literature Project, UCI History Project, UCI Science Project, and UCI Writing Project. By providing a context in which educators can collaborate, inspire and lead one another in transforming their instruction, the Teacher Academy is improving the learning outcomes for students of all backgrounds across Southern California.