Curriculum-Based Professional Learning Symposium
Join Learning Forward for a two-day event that will help you integrate curriculum-based professional learning into instructional practice. Through hands-on experiences, attendees will adopt strategies to support implementing high-quality instructional materials with integrity to an instructional model. Collaboration and reflective practice are key components of this symposium, as participants will assess their current use of curriculum-based professional learning, engage in meaningful dialogue with peers, and create action plans for improvement.
Watch this video featuring districts from Learning Forward’s Curriculum Based Professional Learning (CBPL) Network to see how curriculum-based professional learning positively affected their teaching and learning of middle school mathematics and teacher and student success.
Symposium Overview
Through collaborative learning within and across district and state teams, participants will explore how high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) impact student engagement and achievement; examine the essential components of curriculum-based professional learning that support effective use of HQIM; experience instructional materials as a learner to help shape their practice as educators; and collaboratively reflect to help improve their use of HQIM and enhance instructional practices.
Learning from this symposium will reflect the professional learning from Learning Forward’s Curriculum Based Professional Learning (CBPL) Network, launched in 2023 with three districts: School District of Philadelphia, Montgomery County (Maryland), and Metro Nashville Public Schools. Learning from expert network facilitators as well as participants in the CBPL Network, you will work toward a shared goal with districts from across the country to increase the effectiveness of curriculum-based professional learning and positively affect teaching and learning.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how CBPL can help realize the potential of their HQCIM;
- Enhance their expertise in analyzing, describing, and delivering Curriculum-Based Professional Learning;
- Gain insights from both the learner and educator perspective by experiencing curriculum-based professional learning (CBPL);
- Hear from practitioners who will highlight how they drove systems change through professional learning that supports teachers' use of high-quality curriculum, including designing student-centered instruction and peer collaboration;
- Engage in collaborative activities and reflective discussions to assess their current use of HQIM and plan for improvement in their instructional practices;
- Learn the value of and strategies for providing CBPL through a network model.
Who is this for?
District-level professional learning leaders; district directors/technical service providers supporting instruction and curriculum; superintendents, assistant superintendents, and chief academic officers; regional and state agency leaders, including instructional, curriculum implementation specialists, are encouraged to attend. Team participation is strongly encouraged.
Why should I attend?
This event will help you align the practices of high-quality professional learning and collaborative continuous improvement in all learning environments, and provide you with concrete, evidence-based next steps to demonstrate shared responsibility for improving learning for all students.
Day 1 Agenda
Morning
Welcome & Community Building
HQCIM & HQPL combination
What is CBPL and why is it necessary for effective implementation of high-quality curriculum and instructional materials?
Voices from the field: Curriculum implementation in action
What does CBPL look like and feel like? How is it making a difference?
Phases of curriculum implementation
What do educators experience during curriculum implementation?
Afternoon
A CBPL experience: Let’s DO MATH!
What might educators experience during CBPL? What is learned when educators experience the curriculum as a student?
The role and function of Learning Networks
How might you leverage a learning network to support curriculum-based professional learning?
Day 2 Agenda
Morning
Welcome & Reconnect
The challenge of change
How do educators manage the change process through CBPL as they are enacting new instructional materials?
Practical strategies for CBPL
How do you use CBPL to address the challenges of curriculum implementation?
Afternoon
Measuring CBPL
How do you measure and monitor the effectiveness of CBPL?
Planning for action
What are the immediate next steps your districts will put into action?
Hotel Recommendations
Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown
201 N 17th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-448-2000
0.3 miles (7 minute walk) from Parkway Central Library
Click here for more info
The Logan Hotel
1 Logan Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-963-1500
0.3 miles (8 minute walk) from Parkway Central Library
Click here for more info
The Windsor Suites
1700 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-981-5678
0.4 miles (9 minute walk) from Parkway Central Library
Click here for more info
Facilitators:
Michelle A. Bowman is senior vice president of networks and continuous improvement at Learning Forward. She engages in and executes cross-organizational strategic thinking, especially through the strategy of networks and communities of practice, that supports state and local education agencies committed to professional development redesign and oversees the development of content and learning designs that support organizations capacity to engage in continuous improvement processes. With more than 30 years in public education, she has her doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change. Prior to joining Learning Forward Michelle served in leadership at the district, campus, and classroom levels.
Shannon Bogle is the senior director for networks and the Academy at Learning Forward. She designs networks and content, builds capacity in state and district educators through network coaching, and manages the strategy and operations for the Academy. A 2019 Learning Forward Academy graduate, Shannon is also a certified as an instructional coach through the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida. She has more than twenty years in K-12 education as a teacher, instructional coach, and supervisor in Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida. Most recently, Shannon served as a professional development supervisor for the Transformation Network.
Elizabeth Foster is the senior vice president of research and strategy at Learning Forward. She leads the organization’s research efforts for partnerships, programs, and fundraising. Elizabeth co-wrote the Standards for Professional Learning (2022) and facilitates learning sessions about the standards and develops resources that support their use and implementation. She contributes to the design, facilitation, and evaluation of networks. Prior to Learning Forward, Elizabeth was the vice president of strategic initiatives at the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF). Her published work includes studies on teacher recruitment, preparation, and professional learning; teacher shortages; and professional learning communities.
