Create Effective Learning with Proven Strategies
The empowerED program was designed by TCEA to help leaders and teachers solve the main problems in education today: not enough time to master the latest research on best teaching practices and ineffective use of technology for learning.
What Does It Do?
The program provides a proven methodology and process by which districts and campuses can create purposeful and much-needed change in teaching and learning based on the latest research and the effective use of technology. To affect change at the classroom level, we work with district and school leaders to help them understand the need for change and how technology fits in with student learning.
Why Is It Needed?
We realize school districts, our members, and education professionals in general, are struggling to implement the many technology tools being provided to them. In addition, the structure in which we are providing these tools currently is not working for them either. Therefore, we are creating a new structure, the empowerED program, to revolutionize how TCEA is effecting classroom change.
Once enrolled, TCEA will work with district/campus leaders to assess the district’s ability to create change and tailor the program to work with where the district/campus currently is. We meet them where they are and then work with them through the course of the program as a go-to resource for any questions or problems.
Empowering Your Team to Solve Education’s Toughest Problems
THE PROBLEMS
American students aren’t keeping up with their peers. Global test results released in late 2019 evaluating 15-year-olds’ academic performance in reading, math, and science again showed American students lagging behind their counterparts in Europe and East Asia.
Educators struggle to keep up with the latest research-driven practices. Educators prefer research that they can act on and that is presented in a way that applies to the context in which they work, but most teachers find current research hard to find, understand, or implement.
THE SOLUTIONS
Educators must be trained in the latest research on best practices for their specific subject area.
Technology use must be linked to specific learning goals.
Technology use must match the best practices for teaching and learning.
How the empowerED Program Provides the Solution
The empowerED program is based on more than 25 years of educational research done by Dr. John Hattie and focuses on his top research-based strategies for accelerating learning in the classroom, both with and without the use of technology.
Through pre-assessment, full-day, onsite PD, and post-assessment and planning, first- and second-year participants can learn the latest on effective teaching strategies and technology integration. This allows leadership and classroom teachers alike the ability to understand and act on the latest research using effective tools. What’s more, it gives your entire team a unified set of instructional techniques, as well as a school or district-wide game plan for future success.
Keeping up with research is one thing; putting it into practice takes a concerted, well-planned effort. That’s why empowerED works to build effective teaching across districts and campuses
“The overall information related to Hattie’s work as well as the presentation and practice related to reciprocal teaching was incredible! Many of our teachers are “practicing” what you “preached” and the current culture reflects the excitement that quite a few are experiencing in their classrooms! Our principals are working their plans in keeping reciprocal teaching at the forefront of our faculty thinking and our goal is to keep highlighting, discussing and sharing experiences using the strategy. In fact, I would say that over all the “experiment” to focus solely on reciprocal teaching until our February divisional meetings is going well. At the culmination of this time, each teacher will be bringing one product that evidences student understanding/mastery. Our hope and prayer is that through our teacher’s experiences they will come to more fully realize that they fundamentally make a difference in student learning and lives when they see the evidence through reciprocal teaching that they do!”
-Dana E., empowerED Participant
Program Research
The program will be based upon the Grant Lichtman’s graphical representation of the eight components needed for successful change in education. This will be the focus of the leadership professional development.
The Benefits
The premise is simple: Provide districts/campuses a multi-year, low-cost program that:
Provides a view of technology’s role in implementing long-lasting educational changeAssesses a district’s/campus’s status regarding change based on the eight steps for successful change and a blended model of technology and overall student learningProvides an organization-backed professional development strategy to ensure administrator, educator, and student success upon program completionWorks with leadership, including the CTO/Technology Director, to determine how best to implement a year-long, step-by-step program based on the assessmentRe-assesses a school district’s status regarding technology use/implementation and student learning after each completed yearAssist the district leadership in revising the district-wide improvement plan to make changes moving forwardEnrolling in the empowerED Program
First-year participants in the program will experience the following:
- Pre-assessment with leadership
- One full day of professional learning for leaders onsite
- One full day of professional learning for educators onsite
- Post-assessment by the leadership to determine next steps in campus/district growth
Second-year participants in the program will experience the following:
- Pre-assessment by the leadership on lasting educational change
- One full day of professional learning for leaders onsite, focused on continued growth and Diane Sweeney’s student-centered coaching approach for the classroom
- One full day of professional learning for educators onsite, including the jigsaw method, providing appropriate feedback, and technology integration
- Post-assessment by the leadership to determine next steps in campus/district growth
An optional third day of onsite professional learning is also available this year for those campuses/districts who want to further investigate effective teaching and learning. The day is designed to help educators adapt their own lesson plans for use with the high-impact strategies. They will also practice sample coaching activities to use with students and will work in content area groups to successfully integrate meaningful technology use. This third day of learning may be added on for just $1,200.
Program Costs
School districts/campuses must enroll a minimum of 75% of the educational staff in their location in the program. This is to ensure that change is not happening in isolation and that a strong onsite support network is in place. A flat fee per participating educator will be assessed each year based on the following:
Level One
- Up to 50 Educators
Level Two
- Up to 100 Educators
Level Three
- Up to 150 Educators
Level Four
- 151+ Educators
- Base price plus $30 per educator over 151.
Getting the Most from empowerED
In addition to our intensive, engaging training, participants benefit from a range of discounts and access to TCEA’s year-round ed tech events, professional development, and resources.
Participants receive:
- Complimentary registration to the TCEA 2021 Convention & Exposition for the district superintendent or campus principal
- One year of TCEA membership for all participating educators within the district/campus
- Access to a cohort group of participants
- Access to a library of pre-recorded webinars and online resources
- A 20% discount on all TCEA events and additional professional development
- Complimentary registration for 10 individuals per enrolled campus/district for the TCEA Innovative Learning Strategies Conference, September 26, 2020 in Austin.
If you need more information or answers to your questions, please contact Executive Director Lori Gracey. If you are ready to be empowerED, sign up below. Enrollment begins March 1.