Archived Webinars

Tuesday, August 21, 2018
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Ayers Digital Resources
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

"Teaching is a profession in which capacity building should occur at every stage of the career - novices working with accomplished colleagues, skillful teachers sharing their craft, and opportunities for teacher leadership." —Randi Weingarten

Knowledge sharing is exactly the reason why the World Wide Web was invented! You can help maximize the benefit of the Web to educators by participating in a free exchange of ideas and resources. The eduTOOLBOX resource-sharing portal was designed by educators for educators and contains features tailored to the open sharing of academic resources. This webinar will describe the resources available through eduTOOLBOX and will encourage teacher-preparation students and faculty to become active participants in this educator-to-educator platform. That’s right, you can be published worldwide as an eduTOOLBOX contributor! Learn how.

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July 27, 2017
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Ayers Digital Resources
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Whether you are preparing a classroom lesson or a professional learning session, we know you are always looking to keep it fresh, relevant, and focused.  Sometimes you just need the spark of a new idea or more clarity on the learning objectives.  The eduTOOLBOX resource-sharing portal is a great source of inspiration for instructional innovation, providing access to over 4,000 academic items and over 5,000 academic standards.  This webinar will help you make effective use of eduTOOLBOX, a free resource from the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation.  We will highlight some of the newest website features and provide specific suggestions on how to use eduTOOLBOX to spark your creativity and meet your instructional goals.

February 14, 2017
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Ayers Digital Resources
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Every day, educators look for professional learning options that are both relevant and on a schedule that doesn’t encroach on their other responsibilities.  Educators often don’t have large pockets of time to give to professional learning.  What if you could have “just in time” professional learning in bite-sized chunks?  And, what if the professional learning could benefit you individually and spark conversations within your community of practice?

The wait is over! The Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation has a brand-new resource, the “Lunch & Learn” podcast. Learn how you can make the most of this modern, free resource that puts you, the educator, in the driver’s seat of your own professional learning.

June 22, 2016
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Ayers Digital Resources
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Every day, educators craft lessons that are designed to combine student engagement, rigor, and relevance.  Like all creative professionals, teachers often seek resources and inspiration to help them be most successful in their planning efforts.  The new eduTOOLBOX.org website hosts hundreds of high-quality resources including lesson plans, strategies, assessments, and professional learning materials.  Learn how you can make the most of this new, modern, and free resource from the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning and Innovation.  We will explore the different types of materials available, demonstrate how to search and browse to find what you need, and provide examples of how eduTOOLBOX can support the success of your classroom, school, or district goals.

June 3, 2015
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Ayers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Wondering what a MOOC is and what it can do for you? Looking for FREE resources to strengthen teaching practices? Considering how to use data to inform decisions in the classroom? Join the Ayers Institute for an interactive webinar, highlighting FREE online courses.  These courses, modules and activities are aligned to the TEAM General Educator Rubric and the Praxis Exams.  Come away from this webinar with new ideas and practical applications for using these high-quality resources.

May 13, 2015
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CST)
Ayers Leadership Resources
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Planning for your summer and fall professional learning offerings for aspiring leaders?  Fortifying your syllabi for next year’s educational leadership courses?  Organizing a professional learning community for new or aspiring administrators?  Join the Ayers Institute for an interactive webinar, highlighting free leadership resources.  These videos and activities are aligned to the TEAM Administrator Rubric, TILS, and Wallace Foundation research.  Come away from this webinar with new ideas and practical applications for using these high-quality resources.  (This webinar is appropriate for K-12 and higher education professionals who work with current or aspiring leaders.)

March 4, 2015
10:00-11:00 am (CST)
INVEST and MOOC Overview Webinar
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Learn about free video resources and online courses that you can use in educator preparation programs or as professional development.  Ayers Institute faculty will walk you through the login process and will offer examples of how these rich resources can be incorporated into your course or professional learning program.

August 27, 2019
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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The freshness of the new school year allows educators to reset or begin new into instructional practices. By learning from the experience of others in the field you can maximize success and avoid pitfalls on the path to effective instructional coaching.

Join Dr. Karen Marklein of the Ayers Institute as she lays out some tips and advice she would give herself if she were a new coach. This webinar will benefit those new to instructional coaching as well as the veteran who desires to refine his/her practice.

June 18, 2019
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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Summer is a great time to recharge, refresh, and renew with professional reading! Whether you are an experienced coach, a new coach, or a leader with a coach mindset, let the experienced coaches from the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation help you develop your summer reading list.

Hear from Dr. Karen Marklein and Dr. Rachael Milligan in this informative webinar that will highlight powerful resources they have used to develop and deepen their own coaching skills.

June 7, 2017
10:00-11:00 am (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Are you adding coaches to your district but not sure where to begin to recruit and hire the best people for the position? Are you wondering how other districts have succeeded in hiring coaches?  Look no further! Join the Ayers Institute for an informative webinar with author, Carla Cushman. Learn from Dr. Cushman’s experience starting an instructional coaching program from the ground up, with helpful tips on hiring the right people. Learn what pitfalls to avoid and what to do in order to make the right decisions with this important personnel choice.

May 10, 2017
10:00-11:00 am (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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What does it mean to have conversations about learning that are truly student-centered?  How can professional learning communities operate and communicate in effective ways? How can principals find the bright spots of instruction and build upon those?  These questions, and a host of others, often rise to the surface as school and district leaders work to find ways to integrate the roles of administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers within a positive school culture.

Dr. Linda Gilbert, Director of Schools for Murfreesboro City Schools and Don Bartch, Principal at Overall Creek Elementary School share insights, experiences, and practical tips for how to maximize the impact of coaching across a district.

January 18, 2017
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. CST
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Join the Ayers Institute for this free webinar, in which we explore what coaching is and is not. This webinar will define coaching and provide context for its application in teaching, leading, advising, and collaboration. 

November 4, 2015
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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You have heard about coaching and you are intrigued--but what can you really expect to gain from the coaching relationship?  Join the Ayers Institute for this free webinar, in which we explore what coaching is and is not, and how educators can benefit by engaging with a coach.  Learn about how coaching can be your most valuable professional learning experience and how the coaching relationship can help you move from unrealized possibilities to discovering your true potential.

September 23, 2015
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Are you a new or aspiring instructional coach who is wondering what your role should entail? Are you an experienced coach who is hoping to maximize your time and make the most of your coaching conversations?  Are you a school leader who is wondering just what an instructional coach is supposed to do in your building? Are you a higher education faculty member who is looking to prepare educators for the benefits of coaching?Join the Ayers Institute for this replay of Webinar Wednesday: The Role of the Coach. Participants will explore a variety of coaching models and perspectives, while honing in on coaching best practices and essential skills. Don’t miss this free professional learning opportunity!

August 11, 2015
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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The key ingredient in the success of any coaching program is the principal-coach relationship.  Join the Ayers Institute team of coaches to explore the nuances of the principal role and the coach’s role within a successful culture of coaching.  Participants will receive practical tips based on experience and grounded in research.  Don’t miss this professional learning opportunity!

July 15, 2015
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Are you looking for practical, effective ways to launch an instructional coaching program in your school or district? Are you wondering how to equip both coaches and leaders for program success?  Not sure where to begin?

Look no further! Join the Ayers Institute for an informative webinar where experienced coaches will provide research-based, helpful tips on starting and sustaining an instructional coaching program in your school or district. Learn what pitfalls to avoid and what strategies to implement in order to build capacity throughout your entire team.

Tuesday, October 18, 2018
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

It is important for College Access Counselors to build relationships with whole families.  Relationship building is an investment of time that will produce big dividends down the road!  This month’s webinar will feature insights and recommendations from two Ayers Foundation College Access Counselors.  Hear them share strategies for how to partner with parents to encourage a college-going identity within their children.

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Thursday, April 12, 2018
10:00-11:00 am (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

Join us for a discussion on the vision for EPSOs in Tennessee, and the coordination between K-12 and higher education. We will discuss some of the available resources to support schools and districts in offering EPSOs as well as some strategies to overcome some of the challenges to implementation. You’ll also get a chance to hear from districts who are working to expand these opportunities for all students!

This free, online seminar is appropriate for K-12, higher education, and college-access professionals.

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November 8, 2017
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: College Access Webinar

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Once students decide to continue education beyond high school, they often turn their attention toward how to pay for that education. Recent statistics indicate that at least 8 out of 10 first-time, full-time students at 2- and 4-year institutions will receive some sort of financial aid. Join us for a free webinar on Scholarship Search Strategies where we will define key financial aid terms, delve into different sources for scholarships, and consider strategies that students can use to maximize the impact of their time spent applying for scholarships.

This webinar is brought to you by the Ayers Institute in partnership with the Tennessee College Access and Success Network along with guest expert Pat Cole, Scholarship Coordinator for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

August 9, 2017
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: College Access Webinar

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As the school year begins and high school seniors begin transforming their college aspirations into reality, have you ever felt that your students were making short-sighted decisions about where to apply, procrastinating, or not thinking through other crucial steps along the way? Are you looking for strategies that can help build your students’ self-efficacy and motivation as they prepare to transition from high school to postsecondary? Join us as we share behavioral research on how students process information and make decisions, ideas for how to support student decision-making, and strategies to help your students practice how to tackle the complex decisions they’ll need to make in college while they are still in high school.

April 5, 2017
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: College Access Webinar

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Want to help make your students’ transition to higher education seamless and successful? During this free webinar we will discuss strategies for linking your students to campus support services while still in high school, and we will share a checklist of tasks they should complete before they matriculate this fall.

December 7, 2016
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: College Access Webinar

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Your college-bound students have submitted their college applications – now what? This webinar covers some common terms, provides insights on how colleges calculate aid packages, and gives tips for counseling students about student loans. Learn more about how to guide students through the process of comparing aid awards and accepting aid to finance their college education.

October 5, 2016
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: College Access Webinar

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Do you wish you knew more about how admissions practices could benefit your high-achieving students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds? Join us for a session with college admissions recruiters to learn how demonstrated interest and early decision can benefit the students you serve, how recommendation letters fit in to the admissions puzzle, and how to strengthen recommendations you write for your students.

March 30, 2016
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: College Access Webinar

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There is growing focus on helping adult learners begin or return to college in Tennessee as part of Governor Haslam’s Drive to 55; yet, adult learners approach postsecondary education differently than traditional students do. The professionals who help adults begin or return to college cannot simply rely on traditional college and career search methods to best serve the unique needs of adult learners. This free webinar will provide an introduction to best practices for working with adult learners that are based in research on human development, motivation, and research on adults who plan to return to school. Participants will learn strategies that can be used to help adult learners identify and reach their own educational and career goals.

December 2, 2015
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: College Access Webinar

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Are you a school administrator working to increase the college-going rate in your school? Are you a college access professional working to hone your skills? Are you a school counselor working with students and families on paying for college? Then don’t miss this FREE webinar! Learn about strategies that can help you talk to families about the FAFSA as well as important key details all students and families should keep in mind. Hear how an expert in the field provides timely information and opportunities that empower students and families.

July 22, 2015
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: College Access Webinar

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In today’s economy, a post-secondary credential is in greater demand than ever before. By 2020, 65 percent of U.S. jobs will require some form of post-secondary education, but only 39 percent of U.S. working-age adults hold a post-secondary credential as of 2012. Unfortunately, confusion over the college admissions process keeps many qualified students from attending a good-fit college, and the admissions process increasingly requires a savvy strategy to ensure that students have the best options available. Learn about strategies that school counselors and college access practitioners who are assisting students use to demystify college applications and help students stay organized during the process.

April 1, 2015
10:00-11:00 am (CST)
Series: College Access Webinar

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Many students complete the FAFSA but face financial aid delays because they fail to follow through once they submit their FAFSA. School counselors and college access professionals can effectively guide students to take the steps needed. Learn about some ways that practitioners are assisting students once the FAFSA is completed.

November 10, 2020
11:00 a.m. to Noon (CST)
Online Webinar

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Perhaps the most overused term in education is “feedback.” What do we really mean when we provide feedback? What do we hope our students will be able to accomplish as a result of feedback? What are the various channels of feedback? What does the literature say about what makes feedback effective? Attend this interactive webinar to clarify what is meant by feedback and to consider the conditions needed for feedback to result in desired student outcomes.

Join Julia Osteen, Assistant Director for the Center for Teaching and Learning at Lipscomb University, and Dr. Karen Marklein, Program Director at the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning and Innovation and Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Lipscomb University, as they explore feedback in the PK-12 and Higher Education settings.

This FREE online webinar is appropriate for both teachers and school/district leaders.

April 23, 2020
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Central time)
Online Webinar

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"Read it again!" is something kids say almost just as much as "Why?". Learn how to read a book repeatedly, concentrating on a different skill each time.

Susan Frizsell of the Nashville Public Library Foundation's Bringing Books to Life! program shares how to use open-ended questions, character studies, and details from illustrations to encourage critical thinking skills. Participants will learn which books are recommended for repeated read alouds and how to plan for each individual read aloud.

This online webinar is appropriate for both classroom teachers and school/district leaders.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020
2:00-3:00 pm (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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How can you read a book without reading any words? This webinar will introduce teachers to the evidence-based practice of dialogic reading: a technique for sharing books with students that relies on discussing illustrations.  By reversing roles and letting the student be the storyteller, teachers can take advantage of multiple teaching moments to build early literacy skills.  This strategy also provides opportunities for valuable social-emotional learning in the early childhood classroom.

Join Liz Atack, manager of Nashville Public Library’s Bringing Books to Life program, as she shares the basics of dialogic reading and highlights great books for using this technique with students.

DHS Approved for Credit Hours with certificate

Tuesday, February 18, 2020
3:00-4:00 pm (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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What is a scientific model? How do students engage in modeling? What could this look like in a science classroom? With the recent implementation of new practice-focused science standards in Tennessee and across the country, modeling is a high leverage practice that engages students in all of the other NGSS scientific practices and helps students make sense of science in their everyday lives. When students engage in modeling while studying natural phenomena, thinking is made visible and public, ideas are more easily connected, teachers can better see student thinking and conceptual changes in their thinking, and students are allowed to critique one another’s claims and use of evidence. The practice of modeling mirrors how actual scientists find answers through reasoning and inquiry, and is a natural companion to phenomenon-based learning.

Join Dr. Kara Krinks from Lipscomb University and Dr. Andrea Henrie from Vanderbilt University for the next Ayers Institute Webinar: “Using Modeling in K-12 Science Classrooms.” Explore what modeling actually looks like in K-12 science classes and gain practical strategies to implement this approach at varying grade levels.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019
10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. (CST)
Online Webinar

DHS Approved for Credit Hours with certificate.

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Get your Storytime moving! Create the excitement of a book by following along and acting it out. Learn how to run a tooth fairy training camp, travel with Max to Where the Wild Things Are, actually become a dot, and move to the directions given. Susan Frizsell of the Nashville Public Library Foundation’s 'Bringing Books to Life!' shares clever tips and tricks on making and using props, sound effects, and costumes.

As a teacher in preschool, elementary, and middle school classrooms, Susan’s use of this interactive and engaging style of storytelling was popular with her students. This webinar provides practical ideas that can be implemented the next school day.

November 12, 2019
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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Why is the sand hot at the beach? Why are ash trees dying in Tennessee? Why do most adults around the world get a stomachache when they drink milk? With the recent implementation of new practice-focused science standards in Tennessee and across the country, phenomena-based learning has emerged as an effective way of helping students make sense of science in their everyday lives. In this approach, students observe a natural phenomenon and investigate why it occurs— an approach that mirrors how actual scientists find answers through reasoning and inquiry. Using phenomena as an anchor for science learning taps into students' natural desire to understand the world they live in and motivates students to figure out how and why something happens.

Join Dr. Kara Krinks from Lipscomb University for the Ayers Institute Webinar: "Phenomena-based Learning in K-12 Science Classrooms" as she shares various examples and practical strategies to implement this approach in elementary and secondary science classrooms.

September 27, 2019
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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Educators are continually looking for ways to encourage student ownership of learning. However, this is much easier said than done. Tennessee educators grappled with this challenge and identified ways to build student and teacher agency through a Tennessee Department of Education pilot.

Learn how some of these educators intentionally implemented student agency and, along the way, discovered how integral their own agency was to the process. Participants will leave this webinar with a deeper understanding of what true student agency means and tips for implementing agency in schools and classrooms.

Strategies for Understanding and Implementing New Science Standards

April 23, 2019
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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Science education across Tennessee and across the nation has undergone a major shift in recent years. With new science standards in place in many states, there is an emphasis on students doing science in addition to knowing about science.

Join Dr. Kara Krinks from Lipscomb University and Dr. Andrea Henrie from Vanderbilt University as they share tips for understanding the three-dimensional nature of the science standards and practical strategies for designing meaningful science learning experiences in the K-12 classroom.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Ayers Digital Resources
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

"Teaching is a profession in which capacity building should occur at every stage of the career - novices working with accomplished colleagues, skillful teachers sharing their craft, and opportunities for teacher leadership." —Randi Weingarten

Knowledge sharing is exactly the reason why the World Wide Web was invented! You can help maximize the benefit of the Web to educators by participating in a free exchange of ideas and resources. The eduTOOLBOX resource-sharing portal was designed by educators for educators and contains features tailored to the open sharing of academic resources. This webinar will describe the resources available through eduTOOLBOX and will encourage teacher-preparation students and faculty to become active participants in this educator-to-educator platform. That’s right, you can be published worldwide as an eduTOOLBOX contributor! Learn how.

View the Webinar Replay

Wednesday, June 20, 2018
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) requires that Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams consider the use of assistive technology in order to implement a student's IEP. What is assistive technology? How should it be implemented? Who should implement it? This webinar will answer these questions and assist teams in making decisions about assistive technology. Participants will also receive helpful resources to guide them in this process.

View the Webinar Replay

December 6, 2017
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

Looking for tools and approaches to effectively integrate technology? Are you not able to attend the Tennessee Educational Technology Conference but want to hear some of the ideas shared? Join Dr. Terry Sue Fanning from Lipscomb’s College of Education and Julia Osteen from the Ayers Institute for an action-packed webinar as they share the best takeaways from the Tennessee Educational Technology Conference.

View the Webinar Replay

March 28, 2017
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Literacy is a focus of teachers and leaders across the state of Tennessee, and across the nation. But literacy is more than a passing emphasis or an educational buzzword. Strong literacy skills are at the heart of equity and opportunity for all our students. Literacy at the middle and high school levels is the avenue by which students access knowledge. Students must know how to use their literacy skills in every content area in order to learn. Teachers must be equipped with ways to unlock these opportunities for literacy across all subjects.

Join Dr. Ally Hauptman and Dr. Michelle Hasty for the next Ayers Institute Webinar: "Is Every Teacher a Reading Teacher? Secondary Strategies for Literacy Across the Content Areas" as they share practical strategies for literacy across the content areas, with a specific focus on how to incorporate these strategies in grades 6-12.

September 21, 2016
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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The facts about literacy proficiency in Tennessee are staggering. Couple that reality with the goal of 75% of third grade students proficient in reading by 2025, and educators could be left wondering how they will get their students ready to read. Join this webinar to hear from experts in the field about best practices in early literacy instruction, and leave with strategies that could be implemented in the classroom tomorrow.

February 3, 2016
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.(CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Teachers and administrators are sometimes challenged with providing personalized learning for their students. How can you meet the needs of all learners in the classroom? This webinar will explore the term “personalized learning,” why personalized learning, best practices when using technology to personalize learning and tools that can support the instructional goal of personalizing learning. Guest expert, Dr. Hope Nordstrom, will share what she has seen work in schools and ideas for tools that can support this instructional goal. Participants will leave this webinar with resources they can use the next school day.

September 27, 2019
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

View the Webinar Replay

Educators are continually looking for ways to encourage student ownership of learning. However, this is much easier said than done. Tennessee educators grappled with this challenge and identified ways to build student and teacher agency through a Tennessee Department of Education pilot.

Learn how some of these educators intentionally implemented student agency and, along the way, discovered how integral their own agency was to the process. Participants will leave this webinar with a deeper understanding of what true student agency means and tips for implementing agency in schools and classrooms.

June 18, 2019
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

View the Webinar Replay

Summer is a great time to recharge, refresh, and renew with professional reading! Whether you are an experienced coach, a new coach, or a leader with a coach mindset, let the experienced coaches from the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation help you develop your summer reading list.

Hear from Dr. Karen Marklein and Dr. Rachael Milligan in this informative webinar that will highlight powerful resources they have used to develop and deepen their own coaching skills.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) requires that Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams consider the use of assistive technology in order to implement a student's IEP. What is assistive technology? How should it be implemented? Who should implement it? This webinar will answer these questions and assist teams in making decisions about assistive technology. Participants will also receive helpful resources to guide them in this process.

View the Webinar Replay

December 6, 2017
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

Looking for tools and approaches to effectively integrate technology? Are you not able to attend the Tennessee Educational Technology Conference but want to hear some of the ideas shared? Join Dr. Terry Sue Fanning from Lipscomb’s College of Education and Julia Osteen from the Ayers Institute for an action-packed webinar as they share the best takeaways from the Tennessee Educational Technology Conference.

View the Webinar Replay

October 3, 2017
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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There is an emphasis on STEM education in our nation and in Tennessee. What really is STEM education? How do schools approach STEM education in Tennessee? Join Sandy Watkins from the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network and Jim David from the Chattanooga STEM School as they share information all educators can use to approach STEM in their schools. Learn how schools in Tennessee earn the STEM School Designation and how one school approaches their day-to-day business with an emphasis on the STEM areas.

This webinar is offered free of charge and is appropriate for all educators and school leaders who are focused on teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content.

Please Note: Several intermittent audio issues occur during the first six minutes of this webinar. The issue was resolved and the remainder of the webinar recording is unaffected.

June 7, 2017
10:00-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Are you adding coaches to your district but not sure where to begin to recruit and hire the best people for the position? Are you wondering how other districts have succeeded in hiring coaches?  Look no further! Join the Ayers Institute for an informative webinar with author, Carla Cushman. Learn from Dr. Cushman’s experience starting an instructional coaching program from the ground up, with helpful tips on hiring the right people. Learn what pitfalls to avoid and what to do in order to make the right decisions with this important personnel choice.

May 10, 2017
10:00-11:00 am (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

View the Webinar Replay

What does it mean to have conversations about learning that are truly student-centered?  How can professional learning communities operate and communicate in effective ways? How can principals find the bright spots of instruction and build upon those?  These questions, and a host of others, often rise to the surface as school and district leaders work to find ways to integrate the roles of administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers within a positive school culture.

Dr. Linda Gilbert, Director of Schools for Murfreesboro City Schools and Don Bartch, Principal at Overall Creek Elementary School share insights, experiences, and practical tips for how to maximize the impact of coaching across a district.

May 12, 2016
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

View the Webinar Replay

Ever wondered where conflict comes from? What causes conflict in the first place, and how do we handle it once it's there? You don't want to miss the Ayers Institute's next webinar focusing on Difficult Conversations on May 12 at 10:00 am. We will consider the sources of conflict and ways to decide if conflict is productive or not.  We will also discuss Susan Scott's framework for handling the difficult conversation.  You won't want to miss this positive approach to what many consider to be the most negative element in social interaction--conflict.

May 13, 2015
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CST)
Ayers Leadership Resources
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar Wednesday

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Planning for your summer and fall professional learning offerings for aspiring leaders? Fortifying your syllabi for next year’s educational leadership courses? Organizing a professional learning community for new or aspiring administrators? Join the Ayers Institute for an interactive webinar, highlighting free leadership resources. These videos and activities are aligned to the TEAM Administrator Rubric, TILS, and Wallace Foundation research. Come away from this webinar with new ideas and practical applications for using these high-quality resources. (This webinar is appropriate for K-12 and higher education professionals who work with current or aspiring leaders.)

November 12, 2019
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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Why is the sand hot at the beach? Why are ash trees dying in Tennessee? Why do most adults around the world get a stomachache when they drink milk? With the recent implementation of new practice-focused science standards in Tennessee and across the country, phenomena-based learning has emerged as an effective way of helping students make sense of science in their everyday lives. In this approach, students observe a natural phenomenon and investigate why it occurs— an approach that mirrors how actual scientists find answers through reasoning and inquiry. Using phenomena as an anchor for science learning taps into students' natural desire to understand the world they live in and motivates students to figure out how and why something happens.

Join Dr. Kara Krinks from Lipscomb University for the Ayers Institute Webinar: "Phenomena-based Learning in K-12 Science Classrooms" as she shares various examples and practical strategies to implement this approach in elementary and secondary science classrooms.

Strategies for Understanding and Implementing New Science Standards

April 23, 2019
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

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Science education across Tennessee and across the nation has undergone a major shift in recent years. With new science standards in place in many states, there is an emphasis on students doing science in addition to knowing about science.

Join Dr. Kara Krinks from Lipscomb University and Dr. Andrea Henrie from Vanderbilt University as they share tips for understanding the three-dimensional nature of the science standards and practical strategies for designing meaningful science learning experiences in the K-12 classroom.

January 15, 2019
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

As Tennessee transitions to the edTPA process at the beginning of January 2019, it is likely that educator preparation programs are at various stages of the implementation process. Join this free, interactive webinar, featuring three edTPA seminar coordinators from across the state, to hear the lessons they learned as early adopters of this statewide initiative.  Dr. Carla Cushman from Union University, Dr. Sarah Duncan from Lipscomb University, and Ms. Cherie Hook from Tennessee Technological University will share invaluable information and reflections to guide your steps as you support your candidates in the portfolio submission process.

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November 13, 2018
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (CST)
Series: Ayers Institute Webinar

The state of Tennessee is replacing the PRAXIS PLT with edTPA on January 1, 2019. Are you wondering how to support teacher candidates through this transition? Join Dr. Sarah Duncan and Karen Marklein as they outline the important changes this new assessment will bring for student teachers and job-embedded candidates beginning with the new year. If you, your school, or your district will be supporting student-teaching or job-embedded candidates, the information in this webinar will benefit you!

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