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Erikson Institute is widely recognized as a leader in research and professional learning in the area of early childhood development. In 2021, Erikson launched Project Connect, a comprehensive professional learning initiative to advance kindergarten readiness, in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education. Because of the critical importance of the kindergarten year to overall student success, this innovative undertaking sought to support kindergarten teachers across the state in connecting their content knowledge to research-supported instruction, more effectively linking classroom practice to state assessment measures of kindergarten readiness.
The Project Connect model was multifaceted, weaving together asynchronous learning content, synchronous professional learning communities, and administrator support. Convergence was tapped by Erikson to work with its faculty to design and produce asynchronous courses that would guide teachers through key literacy and math concepts, as well as child development concepts that are key to effectively teaching to the whole child.
We knew that the asynchronous learning could not stand alone. Rather, it had to be an integral part of the system of professional learning that was Project Connect. It would need to serve as a jumping off point for the discussion and practice development that would occur in the professional learning community meetings.
Convergence helped Erikson research and choose a learning platform that could support a high level of interactivity, multimedia components, and research affordances. Once this was chosen, the Convergence team worked closely with Erikson faculty to thoughtfully design and curate learning content in a scaffolded format that centered real classroom interactions. The goal was to give teachers a learning experience that felt like observing in a real classroom, in order to develop their skills in observing, documenting, interpreting, and assessment. Teachers would interact with this learning content, then bring artifacts and observations from their own classrooms to their PLCs meetings to continue the practice. Our design decisions were driven by the idea that teachers should feel like this was familiar territory, a practice space in which to develop further.
Convergence designed four intensive courses focused on key language and math development areas, illustrated through the voices and interactions of real teachers, students, and faculty. Each module featured several videos, animations, multimedia interactives, resources, and assessments that provided engaging and differentiated points of entry for teacher learners. In addition, we produced several introductory videos for various stakeholder audiences.
“I am thankful to Convergence Design Lab for its top-notch instructional design services. The team is skilled in creating interactive and engaging modules that effectively deliver educational content and make learning a joyful experience. The module development is a collaborative process, as the Convergence team is always responsive to our questions and willing to adjust to ensure the best outcomes. The modules greatly strengthened our teacher professional development across the state of Illinois.”
- Jie-Qi Chen, Ph.D., Barbara T. Bowman Professor of Early Childhood Education, Erikson Institute
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