NESC newsletter
January 2022
NESC ConnectEd
Lessons with our outstanding state partners take place each Tuesday, 3:45 - 4:15 CT!
This project is supported in part by the North Dakota Afterschool Network's STEM Next Opportunity Fund Grant and a grant from the ND Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The NESC at a Glance
Lake Region Teacher Center Visitation Grant Available

The Lake Region Teacher Center Visitation Grant enables NESC teachers to observe North Dakota colleagues for the purpose of continuous improvement in the classroom. This funding is intended to pay for a substitute teacher and one day of travel expenses (in-state) in order for an instructor to leave his or her classroom for the day or part of the day to observe a master teacher in the classroom. Let this opportunity help you reach your professional goals!

Access the grant application here! Apply while funds are still available!
Members at Work
NESC You're Hired! - Fall 2021 Recap
The NESC brought You're Hired! to more than 1,000 students in the fall and early winter of 2021, allowing them to experience STEAM and the application of 21st Century Skills through group problem solving of present-day issues. Students worked as teams (companies) to find unique solutions and then presented their proposals to a boardroom. Through strong research and planning, innovative design, and persuasive presentation, teams heard the words, "You're Hired!"

You're Hired! can be an introduction to project or problem-based learning. There is no right answer to the problem presented within each of the You're Hired! modules. These problems are designed to engage students in the 4Cs (communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking) and STEAM. With this event, the process is more important than the product, although the students delight in showcasing the product!

The NESC facilitated synchronous and asynchronous events for schools across the NESC and North Dakota with the support of the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund!
  • 777 students, grades 6-12, from 12 districts!
  • 226 students, grades 3-5, from 8 districts!
  • 8 state partners (a.k.a. "board members")!

EDUCATOR REFLECTIONS
Survey Results (n=8):
  • 100% see the YH! event as a valuable experience for students.*
  • 87.5% observed students growing and practicing the 4Cs.*
  • 100% have interest in the use of future problem-based learning opportunities for students.*
  • 87.5% report the YH! event as a supplement/support to current 4Cs curriculum.*
  • 75% report the YH! event as a supplement/support to current college and career exploration efforts.*
  • 75% report the YH! event as a supplement/support to current collaborations with community members.*
*Responded with "strongly agree" or "agree."

What do you see as the greatest impact of the YH! event on your students?
"The collaboration aspect is awesome. The students need to work together to solve the task, and that is such an important skill they need in the real world."

"The greatest impact is probably growing students' confidence in their abilities. At the beginning of the day, most don't 'get it' and are nervous to present. By the end of the day, they've seen that they CAN think outside-of-the-box to develop solutions, plus...they are excited to tell someone about what they've done!"

STUDENT REFLECTIONS
Survey Results (n=103)
  • 78% reported the YH! event helped them grow and practice COLLABORATION skills.*
  • 70% reported the YH! event helped them grow and practice COMMUNICATION skills.*
  • 80% reported the YH! event helped them grow and practice CREATIVITY skills.*
  • 69% reported the YH! event helped them grow and practice CRITICAL THINKING skills.*
*Responded with "strongly agree" or "agree."

What are you most proud of after completing today's YH! event?
"We learned to work together."
"Presenting well."
"Getting everything done and being on task."
"I'm most proud of how we communicated and how we put everything together so well."
"How my team worked with each other to present our finished product."
Celebrations!
party_pooper_bday.jpg
February 7th-11th is School Counselor Appreciation Week.
February 22nd is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day.
We celebrate you and couldn't appreciate you more!

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has recognized exceptional educators from around the world who have shown a passion, dedication, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of the students who they teach. Congratulations to Nicole Johnson, Lake Area Career and Technology Center instructor in Devils Lake, for this great honor!
NESC Learning Opportunities
Prioritized Instructional Planning
Two Canvas, Self-paced Courses Available!

  • One for leaders of professional learning teams
  • One for individual educators

Content and format are the same for each course, but the design of the courses is tailored for facilitated team delivery or individual study and application of the content.

Module topics include:
  1. Determining What Students Sill Need to Learn
  2. Effective Planning for Teaching the Most Critical Content (Part 1)
  3. Effective Planning for Teaching the Most Critical Content (Part 2)
  4. Effective Monitoring of Student Learning (Part 1)
  5. Effective Monitoring of Student Learning (Part 2)
  6. Crosswalking Benchmark Assessment Data with the North Dakota Priority Standards
Foundational Reading Assessments Webinar

A quality assessment can guide our instruction in the teaching of the foundational skills in literacy. During this session you will learn what assessments you could be using, the subskills they measure and general instructional strategies for each of the subskills.

Date: February 3, 2022
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM CT
Location: Zoom
Facilitator: Pati Montgomery, Schools Cubed
Cost: FREE!

Registration link:

Registration deadline: January 28, 2022

This webinar is a repeat of Pati's sessions from the ND CLSD Literacy Convening in August and is supported by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
NESC Graduate Credit
The NESC is partnering with Valley City State
University to offer cafeteria graduate credit to member educators for NESC professional learning events.


Graduate Level
Professional Development
Credit Courses
(up to nine credits) for $275!
Purchase an annual subscription to gain access to online Graduate Level Professional Development Credit courses at a significant savings only available to NESC members. You'll be able to take one course each term for a total of three courses per year. 

Courses are offered through a partnership with University of North Dakota and Virtual Education Software (VESi). 
  • Three courses per year (up to nine credits) for $275
  • Learn online at your own pace from the convenience of your home
  • Choose from over 30 online courses for license renewal and salary advancement
 
View the full list of available courses, access course info/FAQs, and purchase the annual subscription at the following link: https://www.virtualeduc.com/nesc.
 
Questions? Call 1-800-313-6744.
NESC Partner & North Dakota Learning Opportunities
Past NESC Workshops - Continued Support
CTE Demo of Virtual Job Shadow

Learn why CTE professionals rely on VirtualJobShadow.com to accelerate the career exploration process and deepen student understanding of their own college and career pathway.

10:00 - 11:00 AM CST

Mission
The NESC supports schools through leadership and collaborative opportunities.

Vision 
The NESC positively impacts schools' capacity to offer high-quality education.