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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Hands on History: Using Manipulatives in the Social Studies Classroom
Social Studies/ IS
December 1, 2026
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Think manipulatives are just for the math classrooms? Think again! In this interactive session, we'll explore how physical "stuff"-from hexagonal connection tiles to clipping tools-can turn abstract historical concepts into concrete understanding. Come ready to play, build, and leave with a toolkit of tactile strategies that increase engagement and access...
Think manipulatives are just for the math classrooms? Think again! In this interactive session, we'll explore how physical "stuff"-from hexagonal connection tiles to clipping tools-can turn abstract historical concepts into concrete understanding. Come ready to play, build, and leave with a toolkit of tactile strategies that increase engagement and access for every student in your room. Lunch on your own
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Problem-Based Mathematics: Planning Engaging Units
Mathematics/ IS
December 3, 2026 Series
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
"Show students the magic in math through real-world problem-solving." Math comes to life when it's seen as a tool for understanding the world. This learning experience, facilitated by coaches from New Tech Network, draws on their nationally recognized expertise in supporting schools with high-quality, problem-based, student-centered learning. You'll learn to...
"Show students the magic in math through real-world problem-solving." Math comes to life when it's seen as a tool for understanding the world. This learning experience, facilitated by coaches from New Tech Network, draws on their nationally recognized expertise in supporting schools with high-quality, problem-based, student-centered learning. You'll learn to design open-ended problems that spark critical thinking, plan lessons that build problem-solving skills, and foster collaboration that makes math learning more meaningful. This cohort is designed for practicing educators who are ready to put their learning into action. Participants will create problem-based units, implement them with students between cohort sessions, and return to collaborate, reflect, and problem-solve with colleagues around implementation. Eligibility: At this time, registration is open only to current educators working within the IU13 footprint. Cohort Dates: October 7, 2026 | October 8, 2026 | October 21, 2026 | November 19, 2026 | December 3, 2026 | February 9, 2027 Cost: Fully funded by the Lancaster County STEM Alliance Lunch on your own
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Gifted Education Network Meeting – December
Gifted and Enrichment Services/ IS
December 3, 2026
12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
These half-day job-alike gatherings will be facilitated by IU13 and open to any staff invested in supporting the academic growth of gifted/advanced learners and complying with Chapter 16 regulations. A key component of each meeting will be time set aside for collaboration with grade-level, job-alike colleagues. District/school staff will also...
These half-day job-alike gatherings will be facilitated by IU13 and open to any staff invested in supporting the academic growth of gifted/advanced learners and complying with Chapter 16 regulations. A key component of each meeting will be time set aside for collaboration with grade-level, job-alike colleagues. District/school staff will also have the option to plan as a team during a portion of the meeting. Communication for the Gifted Network will primarily take place through Schoology, and anyone interested may join this Group for updates, resources, and discussions. The access code is FBGZM-ZHCMD. Registration will be required for each meeting for planning and Act 48 purposes. There is NO COST for IU13 district and nonpublic school staff to participate in network meetings.
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Virtual Teacher Collaborative
Instructional Technology/ IS
December 3, 2026
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Virtual
Quarterly meetings will provide school district virtual educators with a forum to collaborate and share best practices for teaching in a solely online environment. These collaborative meetings will focus on participant needs and professional development supporting K-12 online learning.
From Pressure to Progress: Guiding Gifted Students
Gifted and Enrichment Services/ IS
December 3, 2026
8:30 am to 11:30 am
Explore the roots of perfectionism in gifted learners and discover strategies to shift from pressure and fear to progress and healthy striving. Our time together will cover how to recognize the difference between healthy striving and unhealthy perfectionism in gifted students. We will then identify underlying causes of perfectionistic behaviors,...
Explore the roots of perfectionism in gifted learners and discover strategies to shift from pressure and fear to progress and healthy striving. Our time together will cover how to recognize the difference between healthy striving and unhealthy perfectionism in gifted students. We will then identify underlying causes of perfectionistic behaviors, including asynchronous development and fixed mindset patterns and then apply evidence-based cognitive, behavioral, and emotional strategies to help students reframe failure and manage perfectionistic anxiety.
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IU13 School Climate Network – Session #3: Teaching & Learning
Curriculum and Instruction/ IS
December 8, 2026
12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
This session explores how instructional practices and social-emotional skills intersect to foster an environment where success is expected for everyone. We will discuss the varied ways students demonstrate knowledge and how independent thinking is encouraged within the classroom. Time will be provided for school teams to determine how these climate...
This session explores how instructional practices and social-emotional skills intersect to foster an environment where success is expected for everyone. We will discuss the varied ways students demonstrate knowledge and how independent thinking is encouraged within the classroom. Time will be provided for school teams to determine how these climate dimensions can be better integrated into their curriculum and instruction.
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Performance Tasks That Matter: Designing Inspiring and Engaging Performance Tasks for a Student-Centered Classroom
Instructional Technology/ IS
December 10, 2026
8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Research highlights the critical role of performance tasks in fostering deeper learning and assessing complex understanding. Yet, many tasks fall short of engaging and inspiring students. In this workshop, we will learn how to design performance tasks and assessments rooted in the GRASPS framework while ensuring they are relevant, meaningful,...
Research highlights the critical role of performance tasks in fostering deeper learning and assessing complex understanding. Yet, many tasks fall short of engaging and inspiring students. In this workshop, we will learn how to design performance tasks and assessments rooted in the GRASPS framework while ensuring they are relevant, meaningful, and aligned with research-based best practices. Explore strategies to create tasks that captivate students, encourage critical thinking, and connect to real-world applications. Leave with an understanding of what makes a task effective and a ready-to-implement task tailored to your classroom.
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IU13 AI Academy: Cohort 3
Instructional Technology/ IS
December 10, 2026 Series
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Join our 3-Day Professional Learning Experience where we empower educational leaders to master and guide AI integration in K-12 settings with our comprehensive AI Academy. This transformative program turns district educators into AI innovation leaders through an intensive workshops covering generative AI fundamentals, classroom applications, and strategic implementation. Participants will:...
Join our 3-Day Professional Learning Experience where we empower educational leaders to master and guide AI integration in K-12 settings with our comprehensive AI Academy. This transformative program turns district educators into AI innovation leaders through an intensive workshops covering generative AI fundamentals, classroom applications, and strategic implementation. Participants will: * Master AI tools, ethics, and opportunities * Receive and develop faculty meeting-ready presentation materials * Engage in 6 half-day sessions combining professional learning and collaborative planning Districts will benefit from: * Actionable resources * A strategic framework for leading AI adoption ACT 45 / ACT 48 Hours are available for this cohort. Please reach out to Keith Royer @ Keith_Royer@iu13.org for more details. Limited cohorts are available for three-person teams. Don't miss this opportunity to lead the future of education with AI Cost: IU13 District Team Pricing: $2,000.00 covers registration for a team of up to 3 participants from the same district Non IU13 District Members - $2,500.00 covers registration for a team of up to 3 participants from the same district Lunch on your own
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Leading Lasting Change: Implementation Science and Change Management for Curricular Shifts in Literacy
Literacy/ IS
December 17, 2026
8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Transforming district vision into lasting classroom impact requires more than launching curriculum; it demands disciplined Change Leadership and actionable Implementation Science. In this free session, K-8 literacy leaders will explore how to ground strategic planning in the Leadership Brain framework and the principles of People, Process, and Practice to navigate...
Transforming district vision into lasting classroom impact requires more than launching curriculum; it demands disciplined Change Leadership and actionable Implementation Science. In this free session, K-8 literacy leaders will explore how to ground strategic planning in the Leadership Brain framework and the principles of People, Process, and Practice to navigate organizational shifts and drive sustainable outcomes. The session concludes with a candid panel discussion featuring district colleagues from Lower Dauphin who are immersed in this work, sharing real-world triumphs, challenges, and key takeaways from their transition into Year 2 of implementation. Agenda: 8:00 AM-8:30 AM Registration 8:30 AM-9:00 AM Networking Breakfast, compliments of Amplify 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Change Management & Implementation Science Session (presented by Janise Lane, Amplify & Lower Dauphin SD) 11:00 AM-11:15 AM Break 11:15 AM-12:00 PM Guided Planning and Collaboration Session (facilitated by Liz O'Brien, IU13) 12:00 PM Grab n' Go lunch, compliments of Amplify *Sponsored by Amplify (includes complimentary breakfast and grab & go lunch)
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Internal AI Training (INTERNAL IU13 ONLY)
Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring the fundamentals of AI and its current landscape. What We'll Cover: • AI Fundamentals: Learn the basics of AI, how it operates behind the scenes, and current industry trends. • Data Privacy & Policy Alignment: Discover key strategies to safeguard sensitive information and...
Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring the fundamentals of AI and its current landscape. What We'll Cover: • AI Fundamentals: Learn the basics of AI, how it operates behind the scenes, and current industry trends. • Data Privacy & Policy Alignment: Discover key strategies to safeguard sensitive information and utilize AI tools safely in full compliance with IU13 policies. • Hands-On Exploration: Gain practical, real-world experience in a supportive learning environment. • Google Workspace Plus Upgrade: Explore the benefits of our 2026-2027 upgrade, including embedded Gemini AI features across all Google apps.
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