Professional Development

Professional Development

CRDG was ahead of its time when, nearly forty years ago, it required professional development for teachers who used its innovative and unique science curricula. CRDG’s wealth of experience in teacher in-service serves it well as it provides ongoing professional development to teachers locally, nationally, and internationally.

CRDG has continued to support schools and teachers as they make their way through today’s changing education landscape. The Mathematics section continued to respond to the needs of schools and districts with their whole-school professional development efforts at Blanche Pope Elementary, Lanakila Elementary, and Stevenson Middle School; their secondary mathematics development program for the Nānākuli, Pearl City, Waipahu complex; and their district-wide work on connecting mathematics strands to the Hawai‘i Content and Performance Standards III. The Science section also worked with individual schools and teachers, offering customized courses on Teaching Science as Inquiry and continuing to offer follow-up support through distance learning using the Hawai‘i Interactive Television Systems (HITS).

CRDG also hosted students from the Master’s of Education in Teaching (MEdT) program in 2008 through classroom immersion experiences, student teaching, and internships. In August, fifteen students from the MEdT program spent a week in the University Laboratory School (ULS). Following an orientation and tour of the school, students spent two days observing classes in their subject specialties, a day shadowing a group of ULS students, and a day shadowing a ULS teacher. They rounded out the week talking with school counselors and administrators.

MEdT students also explored the school to gather data for their school immersion assignment, the goals of which included their gaining an understanding and appreciation for the demands of teaching and obtaining a complete picture of what a school is like. Frequent group debriefing and individual conversations with teachers and students provided opportunities for questioning and discussion. Instructors and students alike appreciated the learning experience. “Allowing us to observe your school for a week was an invaluable experience! Very much appreciate it!” was just one of many written thank yous sent to CRDG by participants and professors.

In addition to the week-long observation by a full cohort, both the Social Studies and English departments at ULS hosted interns from the MEdT program in 2008.