Teaching and Learning CoLab 2024

This session will explore Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Standards related to social emotional learning. Based on the standards participants will identify key health skills of communication, self-management, decision making, and advocacy. Participants explore and create strategies for introduction, reinforcement, and mastery of the skills.

The OERColorado Project is a statewide initiative to provide digital collections of free openly licensed curriculum resources for PK-12+ educators to use in their teaching and classrooms. Open Education is a movement to increase access to educational resources across all disciplines and subject areas. The resources in the OERColorado digital library include free lessons, classes, textbooks, simulations, games, rubrics, icebreakers, and many other tools for teachers to use in face-to-face, online and blended learning environments. OERColorado as a searchable repository of free resources supports teachers in customizing their classroom experience to their learner demographic and context. Educators attending the session will create an OER adoption plan for their classroom, school or district context with the support of the OERColorado professional development coordinator. Learn more about adopting OER textbooks, complete curricula or just locating support materials. All at no cost to you or your district. Think “Teacher’s pay teachers,” but Free!

Colorado Multi-Tiered System of Supports (COMTSS) is a prevention-based framework for school improvement. In order for it to be effective, leaders need to understand and support both staff and students’ whole human needs. Staff and students need to believe that school is somewhere to feel safe, seen, accepted, and believed in as well as challenged to learn and grow. This session will provide a research base surrounding the positive impact of teacher-student relationships and administrator-teacher relationships, as well as provide concrete examples from the field of how to build those relationships. In this session, participants will also learn how to support the key human needs we all share to create an environment of safety and support that encourages engagement and achievement. Presenters will share practical strategies and content from the research and their experiences.

Whether you are in the classroom our outdoors, connecting students to the work in the natural resources and environmental fields can bring relevant experiences to your classroom curriculum. Conservation and environmental education connections can bring standards to life, increase engagement and provide students with the opportunity to find personal connections to what they are learning. Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife to explore how to use outdoor experiences to add relevancy to your curriculum.

Heard of Generative AI, but feel intimidated? Learn what Generative AI is and how it can revolutionize your work processes. We will delve into the fundamentals of Generative AI, exploring its applications in your everyday life and work.

Participants will learn how to identify opportunities for integrating Generative AI into their daily tasks, streamlining workflows, and enhancing productivity. Through real-world examples and hands-on exercises, you'll discover how to leverage this cutting-edge technology.