PEER Physics professional learning is designed to assist teachers in understanding and implementing scientific practices, through immersion experiences, collaboration with other teachers implementing PEER Physics, and understand the underlying pedagogical approach of the PEER Physics curriculum. This community of teachers engages in implementing PEER Physics and researching effects on their practice and their students.
The PEER Physics professional learning experiences are carefully designed to respond to the needs of PEER Physics teachers and foster community and collaboration. PEER Physics also offers customizable professional learning and support packages including onsite professional learning, virtual collaboration and support, classroom observations and coaching, visiting a PEER Physics classroom in action (including a pre-brief, observation, and structured debrief in a lab visit format).
| Summer Institute — This professional learning experience sets the foundation for teachers to be successful in their initial implementation of PEER Physics and establishing a classroom culture in which learners develop, share, critique, argue, and revise evidence-based ideas. This institute may be offered at the beginning of each year, depending on the number of teachers new to implementing PEER Physics each year. |
| Year 1 PD — In Year 1, teachers grapple with pedagogical ideas such as how language shapes classroom culture, ways to facilitate small group interactions, strategies for consensus building and formalizing science ideas, and assessing and differentiating. |
| Year 2-5 PD — In Year 2, teachers deepen their understanding by participating in a book study, participating in peer learning labs, looking at student work to make claims about and to refine their implementation of PEER Physics, and co-construct extension experiences to use in their classrooms. In Years 3-5, topics for investigation are driven by additional needs of teachers and the project. |
| Coaching — Skilled coaches support teachers through planning, observing, and reflecting, as teachers transform their instruction, grapple with beliefs and values, and reflect on successes and challenges. |
| Learning Lab Visit — Visit a PEER Physics classroom in action. Observe a veteran PEER Physics teacher implementing PEER Physics with their students. Experience includes a structured, facilitated pre-brief and debrief. The host teacher takes the stance of lead learner, rather than expert. |
| Facilitator Training — Teacher leaders (volunteers or otherwise selected) learn ways to facilitate PEER Physics professional learning for their school/district. In particular, they learn how to leverage parallel pedagogy and inclusion strategies to build community among colleagues. Opportunities to practice co-facilitating parts of the PEER Physics professional learning are followed with structured coaching and reflection. |
| Learning Lab Training — Teacher leaders (volunteers or otherwise selected) learn how to facilitate learning lab and/or host a peer learning lab in their classroom while taking the stance of lead learner, rather than expert. |
| Coaching Training — PEER Physics coaches learn how to use Cognitive Coaching strategies and virtual coaching techniques to support PEER Physics teachers in difficult, thought provoking reflection and actionable professional growth. |
Pricing Information: Associated costs will be negotiated based on the size and scope of the partnership.
