Entrance Ticket: As people enter, they will receive two post-its. On one, they will write about community needs: challenges and opportunities for action. On the other, they will write about the essential skills they want students to develop. OPTIONAL: Share a current professional learning challenge/ problem/ opportunity for which you'd like help! (as people enter)
Small Group Warm-Up: Using the post-its of the group, attendees will synthesize and organize opportunities for hands-on community learning. Each table will have a variety of "supplies" with which to compile their data and represent it in the format of their choice. Will enter their ideas into an online sharing system (like Mentimeter and/or Padlet). (8 minutes)
Inspiration Overview: Overview of Incubator and Accelerator models and examples of their use in the PD space. We'll propose a general statement about the purpose of professional learning (20 minutes)
The Accelerator Challenge: Groups will receive a short narrative describing a mock community, including community challenges and community assets. Working independently or with those around them, attendees will identify an opportunity for a community impact project. ***If attendees have shared sample problems, they will be invited to brainstorm their challenge/need instead.***
Teams will then outline either:
1. A CLASSROOM project that a teacher and students might design to address that community need; OR
2. A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING experience that places community needs at the center of PD.
(15 minutes)
Show & Tell: Attendees will share their ideas. (7 minutes)
Q&A: Identify your top three takeaways and/or outline your action steps to improve PD. (10 minutes)
Attendees will:
1. Hear examples of community projects from Incubator teachers.
2. Engage in collaborative brainstorming around professional learning best practices, design, and impact.
3. Practice Design Thinking structures to identify and outline possible community collaboration impact projects.
4. Experience the accelerator format as they design, in real time, a possible community impact project.
"The incubator: an innovative approach to professional development for beginning teachers and mentors" https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364310888_The_incubator_an_innovative_approach_to_professional_development_for_beginning_teachers_and_mentors
"Belonging, Safety, and Trust: A Recipe for Better Professional Learning" https://www.edutopia.org/article/belonging-safety-and-trust-recipe-better-professional-learning/
"What Happens When We Trust Teachers?" https://www.gettingsmart.com/2025/08/04/what-happens-when-we-trust-teachers/
"Letting Teachers Choose what they want to learn supports teacher morale and yields better teaching" https://theconversation.com/letting-teachers-choose-what-they-want-to-learn-supports-teacher-morale-and-yields-better-teaching-236840
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