professional development
SESSIONS
GEAR UP American Samoa (GUAS) has designed Teacher Professional Development (PD) training sessions for all our cohort schools throughout the school year. GUAS has and will continue to provide "Back to School Orientation Sessions", Before and After-School Tutoring Training Sessions, a variety of Math and English assistive technology classroom training sessions, Pre-SAT Teacher/student training sessions and parent/student awareness sessions to college financial aid assistance.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
READING AND WRITING TEST SECTIONS
This training provides teachers and school administrators with an overview of ASDOE standards and how they can be aligned to the SAT I college admissions assessment. In addition, teachers are introduced to four lessons for reading that can be used as stepping stones in order to build skills for the SAT writing tests. Next, participants review two reading lessons to build skills for the SAT critical reading tests. A highlights of the training is when participants do SAT simulations in order to get a feel of what students experience when they actually sit the SAT exam.
Instructor: Ruta Tauiliili-Mahuka
Time: 1 hr. – 1.5 hrs.
HOW TO IMPROVE STUDY SKILLS
This training gives participants strategies to teach students skills to help them become independent and responsible learners. Specific skill sets that are targeted in the training are a). how to be better organized, 2). how to improve listening skills, c). specific note taking techniques, d). effective study practices, and e). effective test taking exercises.
Instructor: Ruta Tauiliili-Mahuka, Tupua Roy Fua
Time: 1 hr. – 1.5 hrs.
UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID
This training gives school counselors, students and parents an overview of financial aid and scholarships available as the GUAS cohort gets closer and closer to graduation. The introduction of the training is focused on the economic value of a college education. The next points include post secondary options that promote ASCC attendance right after high school; the importance of scoring high on the SAT to qualify for scholarships; an overview of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid); and a listing of local and off-island scholarships that students can try to apply for.
Instructor: Ruta Tauiliili-Mahuka
Time: 1 hr. – 1 ? hrs.
HOW TO TEACH WRITING
This training was generated based on a request from GUAS teachers when cohort students got low scores on writing tests. The trainer gives educators an overview of test results focusing in on problem areas in writing. After that, the training concentration is on the building blocks of writing from grammar structures to essay writing.
Instructor: Ruta Tauiliili-Mahuka
Time: 1 hr. – 1.5 hrs.
SELF EXPLORATION AND THE STUDENT PORTFOLIO
This objective of this training session is to present teachers and counselors with the benefits of preparing student portfolios. Hard cover and electronic portfolios are presented in an effort to stimulate student interest by integrating technology into the portfolio building process. Portfolio sections include a). autobiography essay, b). personal mission statement, c). career aptitude assessment reflection, and d). learning style reflection. The last section of the student portfolio is where students exhibit their achievements that include best work, awards and certificates. This portfolio is essential when students start to apply for college and scholarships during their senior year.
Instructor: Ruta Tauiliili-Mahuka
Time: 1 hr. – 1.5 hrs.
MATH TREK: ALGEBRA TRAINING SESSIONS
The primary focus of the Algebra Training sessions is to strengthen the student's algebra and geometry skills utilizing a combination of the traditional method of instruction and technology assistive programs. The course is specifically devised to identify the student's weaknesses in math and assess them through a series of lectures, class discussions, class activities, as well as Math-Trek.
Objective
- Prepare students for the next core math course Algebra II as well as the SAT (covered basics of algebra and geometry and introduced some concepts in Algebra II. All acquired skills are applied to our SAT practices held in class.)
- Strengthened the student's math skills through the use of technology assistive programs (students were given time to explore the features of math-trek relevant to our daily lessons.)
- Enhanced students learning and social skills through collaborative and cooperative interactions with the instructors and the other students (students were put into groups to work in throughout the program and were asked to present their work to the class. We also did one on one counseling with the student to address several issues we found from our observations and assessments.
Instructor: Anthony Felise, Tipalelupe Tapuai
3 days, 1 hour 30 minutes
TECHNOLOGY ASSISTIVE LANGUAGE LEARNING (TALL)
The Technology Assistive Language Learning (TALL) e-learning system is designed to enhance English language learning by blending classroom instructions with computer assisted learning interaction. TALL is a language learning system that fully integrates the use of face-to-face instruction and technologically-assisted instructions.
The TALL system is supported by materials prepared in the Samoan Language for the Samoan student. GUAS believes that this program would be beneficial for a number of ASCC departments specifically: English Language Institute, English Department, Continuing Education, Upward Bound, Teacher Education as well as the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Instructor: Mr. Tipalelupe Tapuai
Hours: 3 hour
AUTODESK 3DS MAX TECHNOLOGY
The GEAR UP American Samoa Autodesk® 3ds Max® Session is a design visualization course offering state-of-the-art technology for creating photo-realistic "still" renderings and desktop animations. While it includes its own tools for 2D and 3D modeling, Autodesk 3ds Max can also work with geometry imported from many other applications. This course provides a thorough introduction to Autodesk 3ds Max that will help GUAS students make the most of this sophisticated application.
Instructor: Mr. Tipalelupe Tapuai
Hours: 1.5 hour
MARKBOOK TECHNOLOGY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The MarkBook software program replaces the grade book in many modern classrooms. MarkBook works for teachers, students, administrators and parents to maximize effectiveness in necessary classroom management areas such as accountability, data management, mark calculations, analysis, and much more.
Instructor: Mr. Tipalelupe Tapuai
Hours: 1.5 hour
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, LESSON PLANNING
GUAS staff will explore effective ways of classroom management as well as learning effective teaching strategies to appropriate student behavior. The GUAS Workshop will explore planning and organizing through cooperative learning and critical thinking. As part of the GUAS Program this Teacher Workshop is designed to help instill teaching strategies and to help classroom teacher develop a more effective classroom management system.
OBJECTIVES: Teachers will be able to:
- Understand and discuss research-based teaching practices through effective lesson planning;
- Identify the elements of effective teaching practices by connecting with the student;
- Recognize and compare elements of positive teaching practices;
- Identify elements of effective classroom management;
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of critical thinking in the classroom;
To identify the importance of creating a positive classroom environment for students to learn;
Instructor: Roy Fua
1 hour 30 minutes
A study of the Life-Span Human development from pre-birth to identifying the Psycho-Social development, cognitive development, physical development, moral development as compared cross-culturally during each stage of the life cycle. This seminar will focus in Early Childhood to Young Adulthood.
Upon completion of this course students should be able to:
- Describe significant theories and perspectives related to social, cognitive, moral and other observable phenomena;
- Describe and identify the human biological impact on behavior throughout the human life-span;
- Identify common drugs and social environment effects human behavior;
- Gain insightful guidance in the application of statistical data.
Instructor: Roy Fua
1 hour 30 minutes