Syllabus

**Course Description: **
====Creating Interactive Lessons to Promote Engagement and Critical Thinking is a course designed to help MCPS staff increase their understanding of the Promethean Interactive Whiteboard to enhance everyday instruction that supports teaching and learning through the integration of 21st century interactive classroom technology. Participants will learn how to utilize the basic tools learned from previous course work to build flipcharts that can be used to enhance instruction. They will increase student interactivity and engagement as a best practice for learning. The course will look at how the Promethean Board can help audio, visual, and kinesthetic learners to best meet their learning potential. Participants will also learn how to evaluate flipcharts for interactivity and creative thinking. They will use the Promethean Board to incorporate assessments to guide instruction. Participants will also have the opportunity to utilize resources from the web to help build an understanding of what crticial thinking looks like throughout a lesson. They will have the opportunity to collaborate with others to provide feedback on lessons created. ====

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

 * ====Create interactive flipcharts that promote engagement and critical thinking skills ====
 * ====Analyze existing flipcharts for interactivity ====
 * ====Identify key components in making interactive and engaging flipcharts ====
 * ====Learn how to incorporate the student response systems- Activote and ActivExpression– into lessons. ====
 * ====Learn specific Promethean tools that help to promote engagement including: ====
 * ====Drag and Drop resources ====
 * ====Flipchart recording ====
 * ====Desktop tools ====
 * ====Action Objects ====

All participants will have access to:

 * ====An MCPS issued computer - participants will be working in a computer lab, and should have access to the network with all of their documents and files ====
 * ====Class Wiki - to be used for collaboration and sharing of flipcharts ====
 * ====Promethean Planet - for resources and downloading of software on home computer ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants are required to download the ActivInspire software onto their home computer as part of the course. 15 hours of our coursework will be completed independently at home with the software. A video of how to download the software at home can be found here. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">By the end of this course, participants are expected to:

 * 1) ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Create 2 flipcharts for use in your classroom that are considered highly engaging and though provoking for students. Flipcharts must include some of the components taught throughout the course and include assessments with the Activotes or ActiveExpressions. ====
 * 2) ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Attend all classes and participate effectively to add to the value of the course. Particpants will be asked to complete course readings, participate in peer feedback, and complete 15 hours of work outside of the course time. ====

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Course Outline and Schedule: **

 * ====**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Day **==== || ====**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Topic **==== || ====**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Activities **==== ||
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Day 1: Monday ==== || ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Establishing criteria for student engagement ====

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Review of powerful Promethean engagement tools
|| * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Introduction to the course, course objective and requirements ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will review 2 flipcharts from the 21st Century Interactive Classroom website. They will rate each flipchart on a scale of 1-5 for engagement and interactivity. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">In pairs or small groups, participants will discuss what made each of the flipcharts interactive or not. They will create a set of criteria for engaging lessons. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">As a whole group, participants will share their thoughts and create a criteria for engagement. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will review a given set of tools (learned from previous workshops) and discuss how their use in a flipchart will promote interactivity within the classroom. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Using the criteria established today, participants will have work time to begin work on their 2 flipcharts required for the course. Instructors will be on hand to help with questions. ==== ||
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Day 2: Tuesday ==== || ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Promethean Tools: Appealing to Auditory, and Kinesthetic Learners ==== || * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will learn how to create flipcharts that appeal to all learning modalities: focus on auditory and kinesthetic learners. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Auditory Tools: ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Adding voice recorded sounds to flipcharts ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Adding sound clips to flipcharts ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Embedding noises/sounds from the resource library ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Creating containers with sound files to increase awareness ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Kinesthetic Tools: ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Using drag and drop resources to enhance lesson ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Creating action objects with existing resources ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Hiding text/pictures and using the reveal tool ====


 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will be given time at the end of the workshop to continue work on their personal flipcharts, utilizing the tools and techniques covered in class. Instructors will be on hand to help with questions. ==== ||
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Day 3: Wednesday ==== || ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Promethean Tools: Appealing to Visual learners & using video to enhance engagement ==== || * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will focus on visual learners and how to create visual appeal in flipcharts. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Visual Tools: ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">A review of how to embed videos into flipcharts using [|united streaming]. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Importing graphics and resources from the resource library, as well as outside sources ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Using the camera tool to enhance instruction ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Promoting critical thinking by using the hide/reveal tool to increase questioning ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will learn and practice using the flipchart recorder to record flipcharts. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will be given time at the end of the workshop to continue work on their personal flipcharts, utilizing the tools and techniques covered in class. Instructors will be on hand to help with questions. ==== ||
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Day 4: Thursday ==== || ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Promethean Tools: Student response systems ==== || * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will learn how to use the activote student response systems. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will learn how to activate and calibrate their activote systems to the board. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Using the question wizard, participants will learn how to create embedded questions in to their flipchart. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will learn how to create short cut questions at random ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Instructors will demonstrate the various ways in which activote results can be viewed and downloaded. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will practice exporting results into an excel spreadsheet. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Discuss the ways in which activotes and activexpressions can be utilized with flipcharts to enhance engagement. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will be given time at the end of the workshop to continue work on their personal flipcharts, utilizing the tools and techniques covered in class. Instructors will be on hand to help with questions. ==== ||
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Day 5: Friday ==== || ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Presentation and Evaluation ==== || * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Given a set of criteria, participants will work in pairs to evaluate and assess each other’s work. Participants will provide positive critiques as well as feedback to improve the flipcharts. Participants will have the rest of the workshop to continue work on their flipcharts. Instructors will be on hand to lend support and feedback. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">A gallery walk will be set up throughout the lab. Participants will post their flipchart to the computer and others will walk around and view the chart. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will provide positive critiques as well as feedback to improve the flipcharts. ====
 * ====<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Participants will have the rest of the workshop to continue work on their flipcharts. Instructors will be on hand to lend support and feedback. ==== ||