Workshops and Teaching Institutes

The Choices Program offers two kinds for professional development.

Teaching institutes and seminars take place at Brown University and connect content sessions led by scholars with teaching sessions focused on integrating the content and approach into the classroom.

Workshops and in-service programs take place in schools, at local education centers, in methods courses for student teachers, and at professional conferences. See Workshop Rates.

  

Choices also provides professional development for Teaching American History programs.

Teaching Institutes and Seminars

Our teaching institutes and seminars join content and methodology. Whether it is a one-day seminar or an extended summer institute, these programs bring content specialists together with classroom teachers at the secondary level. They engage the participants in scholarship on the topic and provide opportunities for teachers to explore ways to incorporate the Choices Program’s resources and approach to make these topics come alive for students in their classrooms.

See Institutes and Seminars for information on the kind of institutes offered by the Choices Program. Teaching Institutes usually take place at Brown University.

One-day seminars are styled after our workshops and in-service programs but include one or more scholars who provide content sessions that inform the day. For lengthier summer institutes, Choices collaborates with multiple scholars who provide content sessions and one or more “lead teachers” who provide peer leadership to help teachers incorporate the content into their classroom teaching.

Workshops and Inservice

Contact the Choices Program to arrange for a workshop or in-service program in your area. Workshop Rates are available online.

Our workshops and in-service programs focus on the Choices approach to addressing contested current and historical international issues. All programs take an interactive approach, giving participants first-hand experience with the Choices methodology from the students’ perspective. Participants engage in one or more model lessons from our curriculum units, including taking part in a role-play simulation that places students at the center of a critical current or historical decision making moment. All of our workshops provide an overview of the Choices approach and philosophy and suggest strategies for successfully implementing the Choices curriculum in the classroom.  Further, the workshops engage participants in reflection and discussion around issues such as relevance to state standards, differentiated instruction, and classroom management.

See the Choices Program calendar for upcoming program opportunities.

All of our professional development facilitators have extensive teaching experience, a strong background in history and international issues, and a keen understanding of the Choices methodology.

When providing in-service programs, Choices collaborates with teachers and administrators to create programs that meet the specific needs of the schools and districts. Interested districts should contact the Choices Program to discuss possibilities.

Collaborations with Districts and Organizations

The Choices Program has worked with a variety of Teaching American History programs. Some collaborations involve professional development taking place over an extended period of time. Others involve shorter professional development programs that fits into a district's longer term programs.