Many educators are counting the days until they get a break from working 14 hour days, spending weekends grading papers, or putting off using the restroom for hours. Summer vacation is about three months off from those duties, but there is no rest from the profession altogether. Most educators use their summers to recharge mentally and physically. Many also recharge their teaching practice by participating in summer professional learning.
In preparation for our summer professional learning outreach, INFOhio asked ICoaches to let us know the important topics in their buildings and districts. We used their feedback to create the hot topics list for summer professional learning:
- Science of Reading
- STEM/STEAM
- Information Literacy (includes media and digital literacy)
- Artificial Intelligence
ICoaches from around the state identified these initiatives as the focus for their building or district. To make summer professional learning seem more like summer, INFOhio offers content to help educators stay current on hot topics, while maintaining the more relaxed atmosphere of vacation. Take time now to discover blogs, online classes, eBooks, and webinars that are available 24/7, at no cost, and anywhere there is an internet connection for your summer learning.
Science of Reading
Since Governor Mike DeWine signed the science of reading into law in the state budget in 2023, Ohio schools have adopted curricula that are supported by this research and educators have completed professional learning on its studies and methods. This shift in reading instruction and our understanding of literacy development is complex and requires ongoing support for learning and practice.
To focus on this hot topic this summer, check out:
- Quality Grade-Level Text from INFOhio, INFOhio Learning Pathway class
- Complete this four and a half hour self-paced online class to:
- Learn more about quality text from INFOhio and how to use it to scaffold students when reading complex text.
- Understand the importance of quality text to the Science of Reading and the Simple View of Reading.
- Explore text sets as a strategy for building background knowledge and vocabulary, key components of language comprehension.
- Find text from INFOhio to build your own text set.
- Earn a certificate for four and a half contact hours.
STEM/STEAM
Science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts combine in STEM and STEAM. Ohio supports programming that develops connections to real-world problems and solutions. Find support for STEM and STEAM initiatives from the Ohio STEM Learning Network, a partnership between Battelle and the Department of Education and Workforce Development. Schools interested in earning STEM and STEAM designation use a rubric and a process guide from the Ohio STEM Learning Network to establish programming for students.
To learn more about this topic, check out the following INFOhio resources:
- Banish Boredom with Engaging STEM Units from ScienceFlix, Learn With INFOhio webinar
- In this 30 minute webinar, find out how to:
- Find and use Scholastic's ScienceFlix from INFOhio.
- Use multimedia units to engage students.
- Challenge students with hands-on learning aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
- Full STEAM Ahead!, Teach With INFOhio Blog post
- Read this blog post to:
- Learn more about STEAM in education.
- Identify the benefits of integrating STEAM in classrooms.
- Explore ways to include STEAM in lessons and at-home learning.
- Fostering Computational Thinking among Underrepresented Students in STEM: Strategies for Supporting Racially Equitable Computing, professional learning eBook found in Educator Tools
- Read this eBook to:
- Learn current research on computational algorithmic thinking (CAT) and underrepresented K-12 students.
- Discover project-based learning experiences, pedagogy, and evaluation that contribute to computational thinking.
- Find examples of how coding, computer modeling, robotics, and drones can be used to promote CAT and computational thinking.
- Shaping the Future with STEM Instruction: Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, professional learning eBook found in Educator Tools
- Read this eBook to:
- Understand the importance of STEM subjects and find ways to make them relevant in lessons.
- Harness the social nature of learning with practical suggestions to reach every student.
- Discover ways to provide more opportunities for students to construct knowledge.
- Technology Integration and Transformation in STEM Classrooms, professional learning eBook found in Educator Tools
- Read this eBook to:
- Discover comprehensive examples of how to implement technology to enhance the learning environment.
- Find support on how to select the best learning tools for classrooms.
- Explore student engagement and active learning as a result of technology integration in STEM classrooms.
Information Literacy
In a world where information can be accessed anytime, and anywhere, teaching students how to find, use, evaluate, and create it is essential to education. Ohio's schools can provide instruction in information literacy—and subtopics including media, digital, and AI literacy—using cross-curricular approaches and minilessons. Ohio recently adopted the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) Standards for Students which align with skills necessary for students to be knowledgeable in technology, including AI and digital literacy. As Ohio's Learning Standards for Technology, these standards will help balance knowledge, understanding, and skills.
Familiarize yourself with these standards and get ready for a new year with these professional learning options:
- Points of View Reference Source, INFOhio Learning Pathways class
- Complete the two hour, self-paced, online class to:
- Find and navigate the Points of View Reference Source database.
- Learn how to use the content to facilitate student learning, broaden perspectives, and evaluate topics.
- News Literacy Project: Making Informed Choices, Learn With INFOhio webinar
- Watch this hour-long recording to:
- Empower students while navigating the information landscape.
- Gain insight on how to strengthen students' inquiry skills.
- Discover strategies for teaching news literacy with free, high-quality resources.
- Facing History and Ourselves, Learn With INFOhio webinar
- Watch this 30 minute webinar to:
- Access resources for students that foster belonging, empathy, and confidence.
- Find professional learning that develops educators while strengthening school culture and morale.
- Four Ways to Teach Media Literacy Every Day, Teach With INFOhio Blog post
- Read this blog post to:
- Discover strategies to integrate media literacy into all disciplines.
- Find helpful resources from INFOhio and Open Space to integrate in regular classrooms and lessons.
- Explore resources that build real-world experiences for students as creators and consumers.
- Empower Students to Make Informed Information Choices, Teach With INFOhio Blog post
- Read this blog post to:
- Better understand how students get information.
- Explore resources with reliable and credible sources.
- Support students of all ages in research and inquiry by discovering professional learning options.
- Developing Digital Detectives: Essential Lessons for Discerning Fact from Fiction in the 'Fake News' Era, professional learning eBook in Educator Tools
- Read this eBook to:
- Provide learners of all ages with the skills to be fact checkers.
- Arm yourself and students with a variety of tools, including infographics and minilessons, for dissecting news stories and information in a "post-truth world."
- Unpack the connection between social-emotional learning and information literacy.
- Digital and Media Literacy in the Age of the Internet: Practical Classroom Applications, professional learning eBook in Educator Tools
- Read this eBook to:
- Find a comprehensive guide for engaging students with informed decision-making skills in digital spaces.
- Explore how companies track us, how algorithms work, and how privacy can be compromised.
- Discover lesson plans for all grade levels to help implement media and digital literacy into the classroom.
- Friend or Foe: Tackling the Issue of Social Media in Schools, professional learning eBook in Educator Tools
- Read this eBook to:
- Find answers to questions about social media from experts.
- Explore the positive and negative effects of social media in education.
- Discover guidance and best practices for educators in the realm of social media.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence, or AI, may be the hottest topic in schools, for both good and bad reasons. As with any new technology tool, research, knowledge, and an open mind are important. After all, when the internet first became available for all users, many wondered what it was and why we needed it.
To help educators better prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow, InnovateOhio collaborated with the AI in Education Coalition to launch Ohio's AI in Education Strategy. The Strategy is a companion to the AI Toolkit and supports educators as they prepare students with the skills necessary to thrive in an AI-enhanced world. Take time this summer to study the document to identify the steps districts should take in implementing AI.
In addition, consider these resources from INFOhio:
- INFOhio Resources to Provide Students with Responsible AI Experiences, Teach With INFOhio Blog post
- Read this blog post to:
- Explore the first of five guiding principles in Ohio's AI in Education Strategy.
- Find professional learning options to support the principle of providing students with responsible AI experiences.
- Consider instructional materials to help provide students with responsible AI experiences.
- Artificial Intelligence 101, Teach With INFOhio Blog post
- Read this blog post to:
- Learn more about the types of AI and build your AI vocabulary.
- Explore best practices when prompting generative AI tools.
- Review lessons and approaches to help students cite AI-generated content.
These options from INFOhio will help you learn more about hot topics during the hot summer days. With easy to access professional learning choices available at no cost, you can recharge during your time off while getting ready to restart learning in the fall.
INFOhio is here to help. Reach out to us at support.infohio.org.
