Exploring TEKS Topics in Middle Grades Mathematics with TI-Nspire™ Technology

o   Designed for middle grades educators who need support transitioning to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this workshop focuses on key content standards in sixth, seventh and eighth grades, with a focus on algebra in eighth grade. By exploring interactive, TEKS-aligned activities, you will learn essential technology skills for the TI-Nspire™ handheld and TI-Nspire™ Navigator Software.  This PD will focus on student success in pre-algebra and Algebra 1 (student success measures in the GEAR UP grant)

Getting Started in Middle School Science with TI-Nspire CX technology

o   6th, 7th and/or 8th grade science teachers would attend training focused on rigorous content to teach science in middle school.  The focus of the training will be rigorous content focused on strengthening science skills for students.  PD will prepare teachers to teach content and connect math and science skills to better prepare students to take advanced level science in high school.  

Learning to Code with the TI-Nspire™ Technology

o   This workshop is designed for educators interested in introducing coding to their students using TI-Nspire™ technology. Building upon the lessons from TI’s 10 Minutes of Code, the workshop introduces the basics of coding principles including logic, selection statements and loops.  A focus will be on coding topics which will reinforce student understanding of math and science curriculum concepts. Participants should be comfortable with using TI-Basic and transferrable skills to move to the next stage in coding.

TI provides an Implementation Supervisor(s) to oversee all aspects of the program. The Supervisor(s) works directly with the campus administrator and designated point of contact to schedule training, coaching, webinars, and support. This model includes:

• Professional Development addressing technology and content needs for Grades 6‐12, math or science (up to 25 teachers per workshop)

• Professional Coaching (in classroom, up to 4 teachers per day)

• Services will be customized based on teacher knowledge and needs

• Teacher Training Materials (one set per teacher)

• Curriculum Integration ‐ Assistance in selecting technology‐enhanced lessons to supplement district curriculum

• Implementation Supervisor oversight and Monthly Status Reports

NOTE: Each "trip" will consist of 3 or more consecutive days.

(Optional) Mathematician Training includes six 3‐hour sessions delivered by a college professor to enhance teachers' mathematical content knowledge. The six sessions can be individual days and scheduled throughout the year.

Each campus will receive the following:

1.    TI-Nspire CX Navigator Classroom Learning System (30 user)

2.    3 TI-Nspire CX EZ Spot Teacher Packs (10 handhelds each = 30 handhelds)

The teachers receiving this technology  will need be eligible for  TI  Professional Development.   

Districts may opt to buy more TI technology. Bids for TI Technology can be obtained from one of the instructional dealers.  Please visit the following site to obtain a bid:  https://education.ti.com/en/purchase/purchase_dealers 

Designed for UT Gear UP, the Pre-Calc Success Initiative combines customized PreCalc Readiness Assessments and aligned resources to ensure all students can be prepared to succeed in their Pre-Calculus course work. The Platform then offers synchronous and asynchronous just in time PD for teachers to strengthen their content and pedagogical knowledge. Finally, the platform will include Agile Minds full state approved Pre-Calculus Curriculum to be used as a supplemental or a core resource during the school year. 

To support advanced math teachers, specific to Pre-Calc instructors, the Agile Mind Professional Services team will build two asynchronous modules to support teachers with just-in-time professional development to ensure teachers stay one step ahead of the curriculum and build their pedagogical knowledge.

In preparation for the Texas Success Initiative Assessment, the Dana Center and Agile Mind have developed and distributed customized assessment, support content and professional development to greatly increase the success rate of students on the TSI Assessment. 

Blended teaching and learning system available to all leaders, teachers and students, encompassing curriculum, automatically graded and other assessments, and real-time progress reports. Online, job-embedded professional development, including complete, embedded, day to day guides to teaching every course topic. 

One six-hour (3 hours per day) launch symposium for all participating districts. Timing will be co-planned by UT Gear Up and Agile Mind Partnerships Team.

Academic Youth Development provides knowledge emerging from the psychological and other learning sciences about how students’ mind-sets, motivation, and engagement can be changed to transform the effort they put into school, and, ultimately, their ability to be successful. The family of Agile Mind Academic Youth Development programs shares these common foundations, and each program aims to increase the number of students who succeed in STEM courses and in school. Each of the Academic Youth Development programs is tailored to meet the specific needs of its intended audience. As an educational intervention, AYD has been informed by decades of research into the psychological dimensions of teaching and learning--particularly groundbreaking studies on the malleability of intelligence-- and by ongoing evaluations of thousands of participating educators and students. With research partners at the Dana Center, Agile Mind continuously improves the AYD model, using empirical data on student and teacher experience, and adapts it to better meet school districts’ needs and challenges. To date, the evidence makes clear that participation in AYD programs can not only reshape students’ academic identities and Improve classroom culture but can clearly increase academic achievement.