Breakout Session Descriptions

Note: All three topics will be offered during both breakout session time slots. See below for a more detailed description of each session.

Breakout Session 1

1:20 pm-2:15 pm

Breakout Session 2

2:20 pm - 3:15 pm

Building Community in the Classroom

Creating a positive environment in the classroom is essential to students' academic success and social/emotional development; however, a culture of trust and safety takes time to develop and commitment to maintain.

Questions to consider:

How does one establish and maintain a climate of safety in the classroom at the beginning of- and throughout the academic year?

What are the roles of teachers and students in creating community in the classroom?

Facilitating Student Ownership

Self-direction and continuous learning are necessary, transferable skills that will follow our students through high school, postsecondary endeavors and, ultimately, career. Like all other skills, ownership of learning is a skill that can be taught and developed, given the appropriate supports.

Questions to consider:

How can we challenge our students to exert ownership over their own learning?

What tools and systems--rubrics, syllabi, learning management systems--can help students become effective planners?

Providing Meaningful Feedback

Though time consuming and challenging, when utilized intentionally, meaningful feedback can have a powerful impact. Feedback can help improve the performance of students and educators and even change classroom dynamics.

Questions to consider:

What is the role of teacher feedback, peer review, and self-reflection in making feedback systems as impactful as possible?

What kinds of feedback inspire authentic reflection and change?

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