Sometimes people think the phrase \u201csummer learning\u201d is a bit of an oxymoron, as summertime traditionally is thought of as a break from schooling. Yet summer provides the perfect downtime to engage in a bit of your own learning, whether you want to call that professional development (PD) or personal growth. Beach reading these days can look quite different and can also have a major impact during the new school year! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our land of multimedia, learning engagement can come in the form of a print book, audiobook, video, and even an online course. You may choose to commit to a long text or digest some microlearning via short-format videos. Remember, professional development or professional growth is a spectrum of formal and informal opportunities. During the summer, you can click on a handful of articles, enjoy the heft of a book, listen to a webinar, participate in a workshop, complete a course, or join a community discussion. Whether in-person or online, there are many experiences available that won\u2019t infringe upon your summer schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do some backward design of your own to determine your summer goals and then ladder back to find the resources that can best support your objectives. Ask your peers for recommendations, generate a list of suggestions via AI, surf the internet (like in the olden days!) and follow the breadcrumbs based on your interests. Renaissance has some great resources teed up and ready to go for you these next couple of months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you may be putting your work email on pause for a few months, do consider signing up for our newsletter<\/a> with your personal email for a bit of beach reading! Truly diversify your summer reading with some blog articles that will highlight trends in education, pedagogical tips and tricks, as well as stories of success from the field. Inspiration in your inbox! <\/p>\n\n\n\n This digital landscape of ours is ever-changing, but the experts at the Center for Digital Thriving at the Harvard Graduate School of Education have a new asynchronous course, 8 Mindshifts for Teaching Digital Well-being<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>designed to help you unpack what your students are experiencing in this 24\/7, always-on world. Discover thoughtful reflections and insights based on ten years of research from Dr. Carrie James and Dr. Emily Weinstein. Learn how to best support your students and encourage digital agency and responsibility. The course also includes classroom-ready resources you can earmark for the fall\u2014plus, you\u2019ll earn a certificate for 12 hours of learning! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Renaissance Educator Academy\u00a0offers\u00a0\u201cchoose-your-own-adventure\u201d\u00a0online\u00a0modules for\u00a0building essential skills and deepening\u00a0mastery\u00a0across our product portfolio.\u00a0Awarded as a finalist for the\u00a0Best Professional Development App or Tool by the 2024 Tech Edvocate Awards<\/a>. Renaissance has on-demand PD resources such as a library chock full of webinars<\/a> and a catalog of virtual and in-person workshops<\/a>.\u00a0If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0focusing on\u00a0Nearpod and Flocabulary in particular, you can find more\u00a0webinars<\/a>\u00a0as well as\u00a0tutorials<\/a>,\u00a0how-to\u00a0videos<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0blog articles<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of you may fill some of your summers by working in Out-of-School-Time (OST) programs. Join Dr. Julie Vogel and Dr. Merv Jenkins for tips on how best to craft summer learning plans for students that will drive meaningful, measurable results\u2014whether that be closing skill gaps or building that all-needed confidence. Watch this free 40-minute webinar, Ignite OST & Summer Learning: From Engagement to Measurable Growth<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, with a colleague or on your own time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n 2. Get up to speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Choose your own adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Binge watch webinars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n