Learning Opportunities

Implementing The Third Path Framework to Support Student Well-Being and Achievement in a COVID-19 World

Presented By

Dr. David Tranter

Series Sessions

Date Time
Thursday, January 21, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Thursday, February 18, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Thursday, March 18, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday, June 09, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Location

Online Online

The events of 2020 have disrupted education in profound ways. The impact has yet to be fully known, but the consequences are likely far reaching. We have the lessons we have learned from the pandemic to help us begin, and the lessons that our efforts will teach us along the way. More than ever, we know that achievement and well-being are inextricably linked. And, that school is more than just a building. School is about human connection. It is the intricate web of relationships between children and adults that create a rich environment that fosters genuine learning and development. We now have both the responsibility and the opportunity to rethink and rebuild our school communities in ways that are even more intentional and responsive to our students. This webinar series will draw upon the Third Path Framework to guide educators to:

  1. More clearly identify and more deeply understand the foundational social/emotional needs of their students.
  2.  Develop and implement a wider repertoire of responsive and effective approaches to supporting student social/emotional development and overall well-being.
  3.  Collaborate with like-minded educators to share ideas, provide and receive support, and be inspired to continue to strengthen the caring community that is education.

SESSION ONE: THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION - The series will begin by examining how both a relational mindset and design thinking informs the implementation of successful social/emotional classroom and school-wide strategies. The following questions will be explored: 1. Why do social/emotional initiatives often fail to succeed? 2. How can we more accurately understand the nature of the challenges that we are trying to address? 3. What is at the heart of all successful social/emotional initiatives? 4. Why is it better to “place small bets” than focus on larger scale change? 5. What does student success look like and how can we best track it?

SESSION TWO: SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL SAFETY - The second session will examine the foundational role that emotional safety plays in student well-being and achievement. The questions that will guide this session are: 1. What is both “safety to” and “safety from”? 2. What is the difference between ensuring emotional safety and the problematic practice of “Safetyism”? 3. What are the signs and symptoms of children who may be feeling unsafe? 4. What are the critical educator attributes that support emotional safety? 5. Why is educator psychological safety at the heart of student safety and how can it be best fostered?

SESSION THREE: ENSURING EQUITY FOR ALL STUDENTS - This session will focus the challenge of ensuring equity in education and will highlight the powerful role that day to day expectations influence student opportunity and success. The questions that will guide this session include: 1. How do we initially form bias and beliefs about our students? 2. How do teacher expectations influence teacher behaviour and student performance? 3. What are the Pygmalion and Golem Effects? 4. What concrete actions can educators take to ensure equity among all students? 5. How can student success be best tracked?

SESSION FOUR: PROMOTING POSITIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND - Maintaining a positive learning environment is critical, especially in light of the challenging reality of COVID-19. This session will examine the following questions: 1. What is the connection between positivity and learning? 2. What can we do to foster a positive mindset among students? 3. What are the key attributes of a positive learning environment? 4. Why is maintaining a sense of play critical to student success? 5. How can educators work together to foster a positive school environment for staff and student alike?

SESSION FIVE: MAKING A DIFFERENCE OVER THE LONG HAUL (Part 1) - Anyone can make change for a short while but making change that lasts over time in education is truly challenging. This two-part final webinar will focus on strategies to help educator make change that not only lasts, but grows. The following questions will guide this session: 1. What is the real difference between mainlining a short-term view of change and a long-tern view? 2. What are the specific strategies and environmental variables that support sustained change? 3. How can change be expanded outward from classroom, to school, to community? 4. What role does peer coaching play and what does it look like? 5. How can fence-sitters and naysayers be best supported to rethink some of their beliefs and practices?

SESSION SIX: MAKING A DIFFERENCE OVER THE LONG HAUL & A NEEDS INVENTORY (Part 2) - Anyone can make change for a short while but making change that lasts over time in education is truly challenging. In the second part of this conversation, we will check-back in as a group and do an informal needs inventory based on the eight conditions of this framework and possibly inform future work together. UNIQUE FEATURES OF THIS SERIES: • Each session will use the Third Path Framework to guide implementation and concrete action. • Each session will be stand alone as well as build on the preceding session. • Sessions will feature the ongoing work of outstanding educators. • Participants will be encouraged to create and implement strategies, as well as share their progress with colleagues through virtual professional learning communities.

This learning opportunity is being offered through a grant from Alberta Education.

 

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