2024 Great Ideas in Education Conference

Attendees will be able to:

• Highlight findings from The Opportunity Myth & The Opportunity Makers
• Connect High-Quality Instructional Materials to School Improvement
• Describe Curriculum-Based Professional Learning and How it Supports Quality Instruction

Research over the last decade has provided strong evidence that instructional materials can be one of the most cost-efficient and effective school improvement measures. States that have sought to increase access to high-quality instructional materials (HQIMs) have reported significant gains in student reading proficiency, mastery of mathematics standards, teachers’ perceived support, improved alignment to state standards, and student engagement. The bottom line is that the selection and implementation of HQIMs, supported by curriculum-based professional learning, is a transformative school improvement measure that has been underutilized.
In this session, we'll explore TNTP's national research that highlights the role of HQIMs in standards-aligned instruction, describe the role HQIMs play in supporting quality instruction, and introduce curriculum-based professional learning as a mechanism that supports school improvement.

Modern artificial intelligence tools present both challenges and benefits to classrooms across the academic spectrum. This session is intended primarily for K-12 classroom teachers and curriculum leaders in all subject areas. Presenters will provide a brief look at the current state and capability of popular software tools and then discuss both the potential positive and the potential negative impacts of these capabilities. Best practices from national organizations and from other states’ efforts will be described, covering hot topics such as academic integrity, inquiry, and immediacy of feedback. A significant portion of the session will be reserved for discussion of attendees’ key concerns.