AP Summer Institute Sessions, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

• Program 1 Workshops
• Program 2 Workshops

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Program 1 Workshops

REGISTer for program 1

Computer Science Principles

During this AP^® Computer Science Principles workshop participants will explore the course Computational Thinking Practices and the components of the curriculum framework, including the big ideas, enduring understandings, learning objectives, and essential knowledge statements. Participants will also learn about completing the digital activation process at the start of the school year that will help ensure that students can register for AP® Exams by the fall deadlines. After attending this APSI, participants will be able to:

• Understand the skills students will need to demonstrate to be successful in the AP^® Computer Science Principles course and exam
• Incorporate the components of the curriculum framework, including the big ideas, enduring understandings, learning objectives, and essential knowledge, when building a curriculum
  
• Use activities that organize the course content to develop students’ proficiency in the skills identified in the curriculum framework

English Language and Composition (New AP® Teachers) 

This workshop is designed specifically for teachers with one to three years of experience in AP^® English and experienced teachers new to the AP^® curriculum. Our work will deal with the following practical concerns:

• The course audit
• Practical test-taking strategies
• Sample syllabi
• Types of texts and/or authors to cover
• How many and what types of writing assignments to use
• Managing the paper load
• The appropriate amount of homework
• What constitutes college-level work
• The implications of the revised course framework
• The impact of AP^® on the rest of the curriculum

Participants will examine the AP^® exam (including changes to some of the features of the exam), identifying the skills tested there, and subsequently prepare a syllabus that works with those reading and writing skills. Selected authors studied will reflect essays from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The workshop will also highlight the changes to the AP^® exam, focusing on the multiple choice assessments and analytic rubrics.

English Language and Composition (Experienced AP^® Teachers)

AP^® English Language and Composition focuses on the core skills articulated by the College Board^® — the application of close reading skills and developing a range of writing strategies to appeal to a variety of audiences. Our discussions will incorporate an examination of the still-new changes related to multiple choice composition questions, the six-point essay scoring rubric, and available online resources.

In addition to becoming familiar with all facets of the AP^® English Language exam, participants will also explore ways to incorporate the world as a text and gain experience in writing assignments that integrate issues relevant to the communities in which they teach. The workshop will include an experiential lesson to help participants apply the skills assessed by the exam in a real world setting.

During the workshop participants will work with a variety of multi-modal text sets, which will serve as catalysts for group discussion and can be models for their own classroom development. Significant time will be dedicated to meaningful collaboration with other participants and for the development of original free response passages and projects that participants can bring back to their classrooms. All participants will receive numerous resources during the course of the program.

English Literature and Composition (New AP^® Teachers)

This workshop, for new teachers and teachers who have completed one to three years of teaching AP^® English Literature and Composition, will use the AP^® Course and Exam description to develop strategies to ensure student success in the course and on the AP^® exam. Teachers will read a variety of literature suited to the execution of the units in the Course and Exam Description and aligned to the updated policy from the College Board^® regarding representative authors based on gender, race, and era. These works may range from Hawthorne to Urrea. Participants will examine student work and practice using the new six point rubric. They will also have opportunity to explore the digital resources available to them.

Participants will gain ideas and strategies for guiding students to be stronger readers and analytical thinkers and writers. Teachers are encouraged to share poetry, short stories, or a major work they plan to teach in the fall.

European History

During this AP European History APSI, participants will explore the course framework, the exam, and the new AP^® resources that will help to plan and focus instruction — and give feedback throughout the year on the areas where individual students need additional focus. Participants will also learn about completing the digital activation process at the start of the school year that will give immediate access to the new resources and will help ensure that students can register for AP Exams by the new fall deadlines. By attending this APSI, participants will gain deeper insight into the following key takeaways, among several others:

• Understand the Course
• Plan the Course
• Teach the Course
• Assess Student Progress
• Engage as a Member of the AP^® Community

In addition, specific attention will be paid to the following AP^® Classroom resources: unit guides, personal progress checks, AP^® teacher community, and the AP^® question bank.

German Language and Culture

Description coming soon.

Government and Politics - U.S.

This workshop will provide you with the pragmatic lessons, content, instructional skills, and resources to better prepare your students for the AP^® U.S. Government and Politics Course and Exam. There will be a special focus on the updated curriculum and assessment methods. In addition, this course is extremely interactive and hands-on, asking participants to share best practices.

Your consultant, Bryan Ashkettle, will send out a pre-session survey in order to address your needs, questions, and concerns, to better your content, knowledge and instruction.  Bryan is very committed to making our time together as useful and fun as possible.

Human Geography

This workshop is designed for new and experienced AP^® Human Geography teachers. Specifically, this session will be geared towards analysis and incorporation of the new AP^® Human Geography Course and Exam Description for the 2021-2022 school year.

Throughout the program, participants will engage in the following:

• Syllabus/course development
• Covering key concepts in all seven units
• Developing multiple choice and free response skills, including stimulus-based questions
• Lesson ideas
• Test analysis
• The use of online sources like AP^® classroom

Lessons will be modeled for each of the seven units. Participants will be given access to a Google Team drive with files including PowerPoints, lesson ideas, website links and test prep materials for the AP^® exam.

Psychology

This workshop is designed for both new and experienced teachers of AP^® Psychology and will include classroom activities, instructional techniques, teaching resources and assessment tools that prepare students for success on the AP^® exam. Participants will discuss, develop and share teaching materials, internet resources, rubric designs and AP^® exam preparation tactics for the major content areas in psychology. Participants will leave with a variety of strategies to implement and successfully teach the course.

United States History 

This workshop will consist of a mix of pedagogy and content, all focused on the successful implementation of the Advanced Placement^® United States History course. We will focus on the writing and analytical skills needed for the course, as well as the curriculum framework.  Participants will receive numerous resources during the program.  We will navigate AP^® Classroom and MYAP.

World History: Modern

Participants will explore the AP^® World History: Modern course, including AP^® history thinking skills and disciplinary practices, thematic learning objectives, pacing, and sequencing. They will will create lessons to help their students gain understanding of the course content and the skills necessary for success on the exam and in college work (with an emphasis on writing). The session will also explore techniques such as scaffolding and graphic organizers for preparing students new to AP^® classes or from under-served populations. Participants will learn and apply the most recent guidelines and rubrics for assessing student knowledge, including the AP^® Exam (multiple choice, short answer, and free response sections). Participants may, in addition, choose to apply their knowledge of pacing and sequencing by revising or creating a syllabus.

Program 2 Workshops

REGISTer for program 2 

Calculus AB

This workshop is designed to cover all the major topics of AB Calculus for both new and experienced teachers. Teaching strategies, appropriate use of technology, and problem solving techniques are all used and discussed to help instructors better teach their students. Review of past AP^® exams, along with how they are graded, will be a big part of the session as well. Participants should have a graphing calculator and a flash drive to use during the session.

English Language and Composition (New AP® Teachers) 

This workshop is designed specifically for teachers with one to three years of experience in AP^® English, or for experienced teachers new to the AP^® curriculum.

Our work will deal with the following practical concerns:

• The course audit
• Practical test-taking strategies
• Sample syllabi
• Types of texts and/or authors to cover
• How many and what types writing assignments to use
• Managing the paper load
• The appropriate amount of homework
• What constitutes college-level work
• The implications of the revised course framework
• The impact of AP^® on the rest of the curriculum

Participants will examine the AP^® exam, identifying the skills tested there, and prepare a syllabus that works with those reading and writing skills. Selected authors studied will reflect essays from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

English Literature and Composition (New AP^® Teachers)

This workshop, for new teachers and teachers who have completed their first year of teaching AP^® English Literature and Composition, will use the AP^® Course and Exam description to develop strategies to ensure student success in the course and on the AP^® exam. Teachers will read a variety of literature suited to the execution of the units in the Course and Exam Description and aligned to The College Board’s updated policy regarding representative authors based on gender, race, and era. These works may range from Hawthorne to Urrea. Participants will examine student work and practice using the new six point rubric. They will also have opportunity to explore the digital resources available to them.

Participants will gain ideas and strategies for guiding students to be stronger readers and analytical thinkers and writers. Teachers are encouraged to share poetry, short stories, or a major work they plan to teach in the fall.

French Language and Culture

This workshop will provide an overview of the structure and content of the AP^® French Language and Culture course. It will give participants an overview of new unit guides and instructional strategies created by the College Board^®, as well as the resources made available to registered teachers in the Fall of 2021: an AP^® question bank to use on formative assessments and an AP^® Classroom platform to check student progress. In addition, the session will provide opportunities to discuss approaches to vertical and horizontal planning, and explore and share essential resources and teaching strategies. Participants will view sample lessons, sample syllabi, and curriculum modules, as well as engage in developing lesson plans, and evaluation tasks. Finally, participants will share and discuss best practices and tips that work to assist colleagues in the day-to-day classroom teaching and learning context. Participants are encouraged to share samples of their own students' work from this past school year for possible group discussion and scoring using the AP^® rubrics.

Participants will need a copy of their present syllabus, and access to the textbooks and/or resource materials they plan to use in the coming school year. Google Drive will be used for file sharing.

Statistics

This workshop, designed for new and experienced AP^® Statistics teachers, will provide an overview of the topics included in the AP^® Statistics syllabus, including the broad conceptual themes:

• Exploring Data
• Sampling and Experimentation
• Anticipating Patterns
• Statistical Inference

In addition, this workshop will include curriculum design, online activities, simulations on the TI-83/84 and Inspire calculators, text selection, AP^® examination expectations, grading, and information regarding the College Board audit. We will also explore the online support materials on AP^® Central that were released in 2021 by the College Board.

This will be a hands-on workshop — participants should have a TI83/84, Inspire, or other graphing calculator.

United States History 

This workshop will consist of a mix of pedagogy and content, all focused on the successful implementation of the Advanced Placement^® United States History course. We will focus on the writing and analytical skills needed for the course, as well as the curriculum framework. Participants will receive numerous resources during the program.  We will navigate AP^® Classroom and MYAP.