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Year 1 Social Studies Professional Development
Elementary Year 1: Introduction to the Standards Course
The objectives for this course:
- Identify and apply the structure of the new standards in my classroom.
- Understand and apply the instructional shifts of the new standards in my classroom.
- Apply the inquiry process of social studies (for both teachers and students).
- Create and use compelling and supporting questions as part of the inquiry process with my students.
Secondary Year 1: Introduction to the Standards Course
The objectives for this course:
- Identify and apply the structure of the new standards in my classroom.
- Understand and apply the instructional shifts of the new standards in my classroom.
- Apply the inquiry process of social studies (for both teachers and students).
- Create and use compelling and supporting questions as part of the inquiry process with my students.
Year 2 Social Studies Professional Development
Elementary Year 2: Putting the Standards Together Course
Objectives for this course include:
- Review year one professional development.
- Identify the basics of creating coherent unit plans.
- Begin to process how to use new standards within unit design.
- Create a coherent unit based on a bundle of standards with aligned questions, sources, and tasks.
Secondary Year 2: Putting the Standards Together Course
Objectives for this course include:
- Review year one professional development.
- Identify the basics of creating coherent unit plans.
- Begin to process how to use new standards within unit design.
- Create a coherent unit based on a bundle of standards with aligned questions, sources, and tasks.
Year 3 Social Studies Professional Development
Elementary Year 3: Getting Ready for Full Implementation
Objectives for this course include:
- Examine best practices in social studies assessment.
- Analyze the connection between formative and summative assessment in an inquiry-based classroom.
- Critique and revise examples of assessments to match Social Studies Standards and student needs.
- Create your own standards-based classroom assessments.
Videos and Webinars
Library of Congress Professional Development Videos
Minnesota Historical Society Video Series - A video series from the Minnesota Historical Society includes several videos on teaching with primary sources, literacy in social studies, concept-based social studies instruction, and more.
Thinkport Education Research Learning Modules - Online modules outlining how to teach with primary and secondary sources and the historical research process.
Teaching Channel Videos - Select "Social Studies" from the subject dropdown menu to view more than 140 videos specifically for the social studies classroom.
Five College Center for East Asian Studies Archived Webinars - More than sixty archived webinars about teaching East Asian studies.
United States Institute of Peace Webinars - Webinars for educators introduce key issues in international conflict management and peace building and explore classroom resources and strategies for teaching these issues in the classroom.
Building Literacy in Social Studies Webinar Recordings
Social Studies Webinar Learning Series - Designed to help support implementation of Iowa’s social studies standards, the following webinars were created to address questions the field has expressed about the standards or best practices that should be used in order to best implement the standards.
Online Courses and Modules
Writing in U.S. History - A course from PBS Learning Media includes six self-paced lessons for high school students or teachers to look at key topics in U.S. history integrated with writing tools.