Professional Learning Opportunities
Welcome to the IU13’s professional learning offerings from the Educational Technology and Teaching and Learning Collaborative teams!
Discover tailored professional learning opportunities, easily filtered by category below or explore our calendar on Frontline for a wide variety of sessions designed to elevate your skills.
For more information or to initiate collaboration, please contact our Educational Technology team or our Teaching and Learning Collaborative team.
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Beyond Recall: Unveiling 3-Dimensional Understanding
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)/ IS
December 5, 2024
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Welcome to the future of STEELS education, where traditional multiple-choice tests give way to 3-Dimensional assessments, spotlighting science and engineering practices (SEPs) and cross-cutting concepts (CCCs) alongside disciplinary core ideas (DCIs). In this transformative workshop, we'll explore innovative strategies for assessing students' conceptual understanding through real-world, authentic scenarios. Empower your...
Welcome to the future of STEELS education, where traditional multiple-choice tests give way to 3-Dimensional assessments, spotlighting science and engineering practices (SEPs) and cross-cutting concepts (CCCs) alongside disciplinary core ideas (DCIs). In this transformative workshop, we'll explore innovative strategies for assessing students' conceptual understanding through real-world, authentic scenarios. Empower your students to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways, preparing them for the complexities of the real world. Lunch on your own
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Tech Media Integrators Collaborative
Instructional Technology/ IS
January 6, 2026
8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Monthly meetings will provide school district technology and media staff with a forum for training and sharing in the uses of technology and media in curriculum and instruction. These collaborative meetings will focus on participant needs and initiatives.
Librarians’ Collaborative
These POC collaborative meetings are for Lancaster and Lebanon County library stakeholders, including AccessPA member libraries, for the purpose of providing pertinent information concerning technology tools, ethical and legal issues, and professional development opportunities. In addition, time will be devoted for new learning and exploration for the integration of IMS...
These POC collaborative meetings are for Lancaster and Lebanon County library stakeholders, including AccessPA member libraries, for the purpose of providing pertinent information concerning technology tools, ethical and legal issues, and professional development opportunities. In addition, time will be devoted for new learning and exploration for the integration of IMS and other tools/strategies supporting all content area curricula.
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IU13 Enriched Virtual Forum
Instructional Technology/ IS
January 8, 2026
9:00 am to 11:30 am
Monthly meetings of the Enriched Virtual Forum (EVF) will discuss topics to support district virtual academies and develop high quality course content to enrich current district virtual programs. These collaborative meetings will focus on participant needs and professional development supporting K-12 virtual learning and online course development.
LLVS Advisors’ Collaborative
Instructional Technology/ IS
January 8, 2026
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
As a member of Lancaster-Lebanon Virtual Solutions, it is important that those participating in the role of Advisor/Mentor to students meet on a regular basis to share ideas, challenges, updates, etc. *Please note this meeting is not eligible for ACT 48 credit.
Adopt-a-Middle School: Coaching for Sustainability – *Invite Only*
Social Studies/ IS
January 23, 2026 Series
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Our goal of these two meetings is to work with New Tech Network to develop sustainability plans for PBL in our schools and design collaborative approaches to building our capacity for Project Based Learning.
Collaboration: Practical Teamwork Strategies for Student-Centered Learning
Instructional Technology/ IS
January 27, 2026
8:00 am to 3:00 pm
In a student-centered learning classroom, collaboration is essential for promoting critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. However, fostering effective teamwork can be challenging, especially when learners have different learning styles, strengths, and communication styles. In this workshop, educators will explore practical strategies for promoting collaboration in the student-centered learning classroom....
In a student-centered learning classroom, collaboration is essential for promoting critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. However, fostering effective teamwork can be challenging, especially when learners have different learning styles, strengths, and communication styles. In this workshop, educators will explore practical strategies for promoting collaboration in the student-centered learning classroom. *Participants invited to attend by their district under an established contract are welcome to register at no additional cost (costs are already included in the established contract). For participants who want to attend a workshop outside of a previously established district contract, the cost is $169 for IU13 district participants and $199 for non-IU13 district participants.
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Engagement: Practical Strategies to Ignite Student-Centered Learning
Enhancing learner engagement is at the heart of effective teaching. In this workshop, educators will explore evidence-based strategies to create dynamic and participatory learning environments. This workshop will focus on understanding learner engagement vs. compliance, learner profiles, classroom structures and strategies that lead to lasting learning experiences, and the development...
Enhancing learner engagement is at the heart of effective teaching. In this workshop, educators will explore evidence-based strategies to create dynamic and participatory learning environments. This workshop will focus on understanding learner engagement vs. compliance, learner profiles, classroom structures and strategies that lead to lasting learning experiences, and the development of a personalized plan to implement student-centered strategies effectively.*Participants invited to attend by their district under an established contract are welcome to register at no additional cost (costs are already included in the established contract). For participants who want to attend a workshop outside of a previously established district contract, the cost is $169 for IU13 district participants and $199 for non-IU13 district participants.
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Informed Writing Instruction : Application and Extension
Literacy/ IS
January 29, 2026
8:00 am to 3:30 pm
This one-day professional development session builds on the foundations established in Informed Writing Instruction Part I and focuses on applying, refining, and extending effective practices for teaching writing across grade levels and content areas. Participants will revisit the Writing Rope as a model for understanding the complexity of writing and...
This one-day professional development session builds on the foundations established in Informed Writing Instruction Part I and focuses on applying, refining, and extending effective practices for teaching writing across grade levels and content areas. Participants will revisit the Writing Rope as a model for understanding the complexity of writing and explore evidence-based routines, instructional strategies, and tools that support all learners in developing as skilled writers. Through interactive activities, discussion, and collaborative design, participants will: *Revisit the Writing Rope to pinpoint strengths and next steps. *Explore the latest research in thinking, language, and motivation, plus the growing role of AI. *Try out high-impact routines like sentence combining, mentor mapping, and author's craft study. *Analyze student writing with rubrics to uncover strengths, needs, and supports across the Writing Rope. *Design and share practical writing routines or mini-units that work across subjects. By the end of the session, participants will deepen their understanding of writing as both a thinking and equity tool, and leave with practical strategies and collaborative insights to strengthen writing instruction in every classroom. Attendance in Informed Writing Part I is not required. Lunch will be provided
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Speaking and Understanding: Designing speaking and listening tasks and assessments for teaching a World Language
Social Studies/ IS
February 2, 2026
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Which languages do you speak? Let's expand this question to include the valuable skills of listening and negotiating meaning, because if someone speaks, the assumption is that others listen to them and understand them. In this session, participants will: (1) experience engaging ways to develop their students' world language production...
Which languages do you speak? Let's expand this question to include the valuable skills of listening and negotiating meaning, because if someone speaks, the assumption is that others listen to them and understand them. In this session, participants will: (1) experience engaging ways to develop their students' world language production and comprehension skills - and therefore their overall communicative competence - in the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication and (2) learn to use backward design to start with summative assessments via performance tasks and work backward to the daily plans for teaching students how to engage in speaking and listening through debates, oral interviews, role plays, oral presentations, storytelling, guided and spontaneous conversations in pairs or small groups, and more.
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