The Authentic Educator

Evergreen - Always open for registrations

We can think of making a plan as something rigidly established in advance, with no scope for modification. Or… we can think of a plan as a proposal or intention that helps set our direction, but is open to revision and enhancement along the way.  

When we also think of ourselves as designers of learning opportunities, we take on the role of,

“a good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.”

(Charles Eames, American Mid-Century Designer)

Designing a clear plan for our Writing Workshop prepares the learning environment and our thinking for the needs of the young writers we work alongside. It can bring clarity to our teaching, connection to writer’s learning and intentionally build a sense of community.

In this short eCourse, Lisa will:

• Introduce the benefits of framing writing learning within a Spotlight Study (Unit of Study)
• Share how she plans for a Spotlight Study that brings an inquiry stance into Writing Workshop
• Share a strategy for connecting your planning to the Australian Curriculum (and other Curriculum Frameworks)
• Lead you through a process for mapping our your Writing Workshop intentions for the year

Commonly Asked Questions

I’ve never done an online course before – what is it like?

I personally talk you though a series of slides that you’ll follow at your own pace on the screen. You have control over how slowly or quickly you work through each Part. The downloadable Reflection Guide supports your thinking with key points from each Part. It will be a valuable resource to keep for your future planning. 

How long does this eCourse take?

It is difficult to know this exactly, because everyone learns at their own pace and will take different amounts of time to journal and/or discuss with colleagues. However, a rough estimate is this eCourse will take approximately 4 hours. This includes time for you to engage in your own planning. It is not total screen time. 

Do I need to do the Parts in order?

Yes. There are 3 Parts to this shorter eCourse. The Parts are designed to build on each other and need to be followed in order. However, you can always return to a previous Part if you want to review anything. 

How long do I have to complete the eCourse?

Don’t worry if reports are due or your children get sick and you don’t get to complete all the Parts in a session or two. You will have six months to access all course materials, so you have the time to devote to your learning. 

Do I get Professional Development credit for the hours of professional learning?

At the completion of the eCourse, a certificate of participation for 5 hours will be available to download. 

How does it work if I want my Team to participate together?

We all know we learn so much more when we have the chance to talk about our thinking and listen to others’ ideas.  This eCourse, in particular, lends itself to team planning.  

We ask that each person registers as an individual participant. This means the content will be available to revisit individually for 6 months. 

If you wish to participate as a Team, please email Melissa to talk about a team discount.  This is available when there is 4 or more from the same site or team participating at the same time. 

But what if I don’t have a team to learn with?

Don’t worry! You will still get a lot from the eCourse if you need to learn on your own.  One of the reasons I decided to use Thinkific as the hosting site for my eCourses is each eCourse has a Discussions capacity. So if you like to feel connected to some others who are learning through the eCourse at the same time as you, you can post ideas or questions in the Discussions and build some online connections. I check in on the Discussions from time to time also and aim to respond to any questions within 2-3 days.

What technology do I need?

All you need is a computer with speakers and access to a reliable internet service. The course modules have been thoroughly tested across multiple devices and browsers and are all functioning correctly, but occasionally some users run into issues. These are usually related to specific computers, internet browsers, internet connections or school security firewalls.

To avoid the frustration of being blocked by your site’s security firewall (which unfortunately we can't control), we recommend that prior to beginning the eCourse, you contact your school’s ICT/Network manager about removing any security block on the eCourse or Thinkific site.

We also find that GoogleChrome is a more reliable browser for the Thinkific platform so you might like to use this from the start.

How much does it cost?

Full access to the eCourse is AU$60 per person, including admin fees and GST (Australia). This works out to only AU$12 per hour for professional learning that you can do in your own time, at your own pace.  

What do I get for this Registration Fee?

• Access to all course materials
• Reflection Guide for the eCourse
• Downloadable examples from Preschool and Primary
• Preschool and Primary templates for planning (in Word format so you can modify them for your own Curriculum frameworks)
• A set of resources about Bookmaking/Writing Workshop
• Downloadable brochures about Bookmaking and Writer's Notebook written for families - and permission to copy and distribute as much as you wish!