Our leveled programs provide a gradual process to help you transition to new ways of teaching and learning. Each level offers customized packages of professional development, curriculum licensing, and planning.  Select from four levels based on your organization’s goals and level of readiness:

1. Imagine the Change: 1-3 day introductory programs. Details

2. Plan the Change: A 3-6 month strategic planning phase. Details

3. Begin the Change: Semester- or year-long programs to revise or create units, courses or programs.  Details

4. Sustain the Change: Extended initiatives to build internal capacity and maintain effective change. Details

Level I: Imagine the Change

Level I programs introduce new ways of reframing content and instruction through a lens of sustainable energy systems.  Participants envision and define possibilities for change as they experience approaches they can replicate in their own classes.  A typical package includes:

• 1-2 days of on-site professional development introducing core energy themes
• Age-specific energy curriculum samples
• Assessment of faculty interest and needs
• Compilation of evaluation outcomes and meeting with leadership team to plan next steps. Our capacity building framework guides an assessment of needs,  opportunities, and readiness.

Example:  An educational institution is seeking ways to use renewable energy as a context to make units more relevant, rigorous, and project-based.  In a two-day workshop, Creative Change leads educators through hands-on activities on topics such as forms and types of energy, renewable energy systems, and carbon footprinting.  During the sessions, educators review age-specific curricula and resources, and evaluate ways projects such as a home energy audit can be integrated into existing instruction to meet math, science, and other goals.  After collecting data on faculty needs and interests, Creative Change meets with the leadership team to develop a plan for moving ahead. 

Level II: Plan the Change

Our Plan the Change programs provide 3-6 months of strategic planning to help institutions define goals, strategies, evaluation, and a timeline.  The work is guided by our Instruction Change framework, a needs assessment tool that examines institutional culture, curriculum, professional development, and other factors affecting the successful integration of sustainability. 

Example: After collecting data on faculty impressions and interests, Creative Change meets with the leadership team to develop a plan for integrating sustainability into the curriculum in ways that support existing initiatives.

Level III:  Begin the Change

Level III programs provide professional development, curriculum licensing and ongoing support focused on revising curriculum, courses and programs. Spread over a year or more, a typical package includes:

• 3-5 day of on-site professional development
• 3-5 days of follow-up support and planning assistance
• Group subscription to the Curriculum and Resource Center
• On-line evaluation; compilation and reporting of outcomes

Example: After completing Levels I and II, an same institution works with Creative Change to develop a year-long plan focused on integrating a broad range of energy topics into existing core units.  After a planning phase, the initiative unfolds over a calendar year in three steps: A) on-site Professional Development, B) instructional redesign, and C) evaluation and Communication.

Step A) On-site Professional Development

Workshops begin by immersing teachers in content knowledge and research-based pedagogical strategies. To model effective approaches, the sessions engage staff in hands-on activities they can replicate with their students, followed by thoughtful analysis and discussion.  Activities include:

• Analysis of energy used in buildings, food systems, and other familiar contexts
• Inquiry into energy transfer and the science behind different renewable energy sources
• A role play examining cultural and economic aspects of global climate change agreements
• Energy auditing for schools and homes
• School- or community-based projects focused on retrofitting and conservation
• Critical analysis of "greenwashing"

Through these activities, educators define how the content and approaches can improve learning at their grade level.  The staff then evaluates their existing units or courses and set goals for reshaping them.  The science and civics teachers collaborate on a unit exploring renewable energy options and policies affecting them.  The geography teacher supports this by examining global biomes and their role in carbon sequestration.  All efforts integrate social equity by exploring connections among democracy and the impacts of climate change.  The staff works together to generate authentic ways students can apply their learning, such as a school-wide energy audit, or a student-led initiative focused on helping local residents conserve energy. 

Step B) Instructional redesign

The PD now shifts to the on-the-ground work of redesigning the units based on the goals set.  Creative Change’s approach to instructional design provides educators with a process and framework for planning units that start with students’ experiences, build an integrated knowledge base, and culminate in meaningful civic engagement.  In-depth instructional design tools and lessons from the Curriculum and Resource Center support teachers as they

• Align instruction and assessment around “Big Ideas” that integrate disciplines while meeting required content.
• Develop questioning strategies to promote critical thinking.
• Support literacy and writing skills through content instruction.
• Design and use assessments that have a real audience and purpose.
• Utilize rigorous content and pedagogy.

As faculty continue their work in a learning community, Creative Change provides on-going support with instructional design, implementation and evaluation through phone, email, Webinars, and in-person meetings.  For example, Creative Change helps a teacher team connect with local energy stakeholders, and develops specialized assessment tools to ensure the project meets achievement goals.

Step C) Evaluation and documentation

By the end of the year, the educators’ efforts have resulted in a collection of instructional modules that demonstrate best practices in content and pedagogy.  The faculty has evaluated the impacts of its work and wants to replicate the approaches in other areas of the curriculum.  To support this, Creative Change compiles pictures, reports, presentations and other documentation in order to communicate results to the district- or organizational leadership team and provide models for replication.  Based on the success of the work, the collaboration with Creative Change grows to other departments or schools through a Level III program.
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Level IV:  Sustain the Change

Level IV programs enable schools and districts to build internal capacity and institutionalize successful approaches.  Clients gain training, resources and strategic planning assistance focused on preparing an internal team to lead, evaluate, and sustain instructional change.  These packages, spread over two or more years, typically include

• Multiple days of on-site professional development focused on “training the trainer” (preparing staff to lead internal PD)
• Strategic planning assistance to set and monitor goals
• Technical support with evaluation, documentation results, and communication materials
• On-going communication and planning with administration/leadership team

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