Community Membership
Tap into a lifelong national network of 600+ Knowels Fellows. From in-person meetings to virtual connections; support is always available.
The Knowles Academy offers state-of-the-art professional development experiences for teachers. All Academy courses are designed and facilitated by experienced teachers who understand the complexities of teaching in today’s world. We offer both in-person and online courses and 90-minute online workshops for all teachers.
We understand the ever-evolving landscape of education. Our professional learning services are designed to be flexible and responsive, ensuring they can be tailed to meet the needs of schools and districts. Our services engage participants and serve as a model for best teaching practices.
What was groupwork like for you when you were a student? Do you want it to look similar or different? Are you enthusiastic about the idea of your students working in groups?In this workshop, teachers will learn how to leverage groupwork to provide students with more learning opportunities. Teachers will gain insights into productive groupwork while reflecting on their current groupwork practices. Facilitated by experienced teachers, participants will leave with small, practical changes that can be implemented to make groupwork structures more productive for all students. Dates: September 25, 2024, October 2, 2024, October 9, 2024, October 16, 2024, October 23, 2024, October 30, 2024
Exploring the Science Practice of Mathematical Thinking to Deepen Physics Understanding Anchored in a foundational “Patterns & Inquiry” unit, the Patterns Approach to physics engages students in the work of scientists, including generating research questions, designing experiments, collecting data, identifying patterns, and using those patterns to successfully predict future data points. In this workshop, teachers will gain an overview of the Patterns Approach to physics, experience a Patterns-type lesson, and discuss how the Patterns Approach could be implemented in their classroom.
Understanding math and science enables citizens to make critical, informed decisions that support individual wellbeing and civic participation. We see project-based learning (PBL) as a highly effective way to address these challenges. In order to harness the potential of these courses to improve the lives of all students, teachers need specialized support in leveraging PBL in math and science. Come learn with us about some of the basics of PBL, such as entry events, end products, checkpoints, and other core components. Walk away with the next steps to begin implementing PBL in your class.
Status imbalances in student groups can affect participation and learning, with higher-status students often dominating discussions. By recognizing and addressing these imbalances, teachers can create a more inclusive classroom, encouraging all students to engage, share their reasoning, and take academic risks.
In the third and fourth years of the Knowles Fellowship, teachers focus on understanding and improving learning opportunities by recognizing and addressing societal impacts on education. Through sharing personal stories and fostering inclusivity, they enhance student engagement and create equitable classrooms.
Knowles Staff, Joyce Lin and Ayanna Perry, share their experiences in co-creating norms can be challenging and problematic because it typically generates norms consistent with dominant perspectives and cultures. They advocate that norms should be given to (rather than created by) a newly formed community to elevate the different needs, goals, and perspectives of all team members.