PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Throughout the academic year, we provide transformative learning experiences to high school teachers, known as OnRamps Instructors, who are implementing OnRamps dual enrollment courses.
Throughout the academic year, we provide transformative learning experiences to high school teachers, known as OnRamps Instructors, who are implementing OnRamps dual enrollment courses.
OnRamps Instructors take part in a year-long, research-based professional learning and development (PLD) to further impact student learning and enhance instructional practice throughout the academic year.
Instructors work closely with—and are supported by—OnRamps staff, university faculty, and their peers across the state through:
- monthly virtual conferences;
- mentorships;
- summer, fall and spring professional learning institutes (PLI);
- weekly course-specific newsletters;
- as well as opportunities to collaborate with peers across the state to further impact student learning and enhance Instructors’ practice.
SUMMER PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE
As an OnRamps Instructor, your journey begins in the summer as an attendee to one of our virtually facilitated learning experiences: the Summer PLI. Through both synchronous sessions and asynchronous modules, you will engage in the rigorous OnRamps course content and develop the necessary skills to implement college-aligned pedagogy for students to achieve a growth mindset.
New OnRamps Instructors
Instructors teaching an OnRamps course for the first time prepare for effective course implementation by learning essential course content and pedagogical skills, familiarizing themselves with course-specific technology and setting year-one expectations for themselves and students. They work with peer Instructors across the state, partner with Mentor Instructors, and reflect on challenges of practice with OnRamps Implementation Coaches.
Returning OnRamps Instructors
Instructors returning to OnRamps to teach the same course deepen their pedagogical content knowledge for the benefit of students and their communities of practice. University faculty and OnRamps course staff facilitate learning experiences that promote collaboration between Returning Instructors across districts and fine-tune their pedagogy and skills in various learning modalities.
SUMMER 2023 DATES
| 2023 Virtual SummerProfessional Learning Experience | Returning Instructors (18 total CPE hours) |
New Instructors(60 total CPE hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Directed Assignments Complete asynchronous, self-directed modules to set the stage for subsequent collaboration and learning during synchronous sessions. | CPE Hours: 6 Date Available: April 3 Due Date: Prior to Instructor’s synchronous PLI sessions | CPE Hours: 30 Date Available: April 3 Due Date: Prior to Instructor’s synchronous PLI sessions |
| Synchronous Sessions Attend one of the session options hosted via Zoom to deepen course content knowledge and prepare for upcoming implementation. | CPE Hours: 12 Options: June 13 - June 14June 21 - June 22*July 18 - July 19 | CPE Hours: 30 Options: June 26 - June 30July 24 - July 28 |
| *The June 21 - June 22 Returning Instructor dates were only available to College Algebra, Precalculus, Rhetoric, History, Physics I, and Chemistry I Instructors.. | ||
FALL AND SPRING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING INSTITUTES
Following summer, Instructors across the state of Texas attend fall and spring institutes. These seasonal hyper-focused experiences provide in-depth learning for the next phases of implementing OnRamps courses with fidelity and ease. Additionally, they serve as a time for Instructors to tap into the OnRamps facilitated network to share classroom experiences, challenges, and solutions.
FALL 2023 DATES
Economics, U.S.History, and Rhetoric
Thursday, October 19
Tuesday, October 24
AET, College Algebra, Computer Science, Precalculus, and Statistics
Wednesday, October 18
Monday, October 23
Biology, Chemistry I & II, Geoscience, Physics I & II
Tuesday, October 17
Thursday, October 26
Quantum Computing
Tuesday, October 17
Dates for Spring 2024 PLI to be announced
YEARLONG SUPPORT
JUST-IN-TIME GUIDANCE
OnRamps staff and the University of Texas at Austin faculty provide just-in-time guidance and coaching to Instructors through platforms such as Sibme or our Canvas LMS. In addition to working on instructional planning and classroom needs, they provide weekly email communications with the latest resources and news
STAFF SUPPORT
Each OnRamps course is designed by a University of Texas at Austin faculty member who develops the college curriculum, teaches professional development seminars, and works with OnRamps’ college Instructors of Record to ensure effective implementation of the curriculum. Both are approved by the associated academic department for the course. The college Instructor of Record is the primary point of contact for the high school OnRamps Instructor, maintaining the curriculum and providing group and one-to-one support.