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Quotes

Following are a few illustrative quotes from participants in various courses we have offered over the years.

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At this point I feel that I have traveled an extremely long journey and have seen and experienced very much since the start of our first session. My mind needs time to finish absorbing all the new possibilities; and then start to process the value, opportunities, variations, applications, and planning that have surfaced from learning involved in this experience.

- Michael Coleman, High School Teacher, Hialeah Senior High School, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Hialeah, FL

My WIDE World courses strongly reinforced my belief that Teaching for Understanding is critical for preparing students to be engaged life-long learners, critical thinkers, and problem solvers - the preparation our children will need in a world that will require continual and rapid assimilation and adaption to tremendous change.

I am always taking courses, but there are no courses that compare to the rich curriculum, dialogues, and growth that I experienced professionally and personally through my WIDE World courses. The instructors, coaches, and class participants create a truly amazing environment with thought-provoking assignments and discussions. Prepare to work, THINK, learn, and develop understandings that continue to deepen long after the end of the courses.

- Charlene Ehll, K-5 Teacher, Marion Elementary, Ritenour School District, St. Louis, MO

Learning how to plan using the framework of the TFU has been a very constructive experience. I am now at the stage of trying to become more independent as I make decisions of what I feel is important for students to understand. TFU is 'beginning ' to open my eyes as I try to find more active ways of involving my students as they build new knowledge and understandings.

The tight construction and the clear forcus help me as a teacher to stay on task and not fall into the trap of adding something that 'might' enrich my student's knowledge. I have tried to involve the students in a more active way....trying to give them opportunities to connect the "required' materials to their own lives. But...there is still plenty of room for improvement!

- Ingeborg Megai, preK-2 Teacher, United Nations International School, Queens Campus, New York, NY

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I feel that my students leave the class with a better understanding of the subject and how it applies directly to them. Since their learning more directly applies to them, they are able to participate in class more and are able to stay motivated.

- Betty Lynn Rigsbee, High School Teacher, Socastee High School, Myrtle Beach, SC

This is an incredible course. I've never received this kind of one-on-one support in any other course. My questions are being answered in a respectful and thoughtful way. I feel as if I can put my ideas out and get authentic feedback.

This course is far better than any online course I've taken. I actually feel as if I'm beginning to know the other participants and their work. I can see that the course is being modified in every session to meet the needs of the participants. I am awestruck by the amount of work that the coaches and instructors are willing to put into the design of this course and into understanding what each participant is trying to do. What a teaching model everyone has been!

- Teresa Strong, K-5 Teacher, Boston Public Schools, West Roxbury, MA

The changes in peer assessment and the addition of more rubrics have the students more engaged in their learning. With all of the new and clear directions, the students are secure about how to get the grade they want. They know HOW now to create more quality work.

- Jeri Cocchi, Middle School Teacher, McIntosh Middle School, Sarasota, FL

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We used the ideas learned so far to organize a faculty meeting on doing report cards. We were able to move from routine to understanding in such an important aspect of teaching. After the meeting, teachers started reconsidering the way they had been filling report cards for years, and began to apply more thought into each report card.

Before Teaching for Understanding, report card meetings were simply a moment where we handed out some printed information on how to do report cards. Teachers never got feedback on their actual report cards. Now, teachers are able to see things they can do differently, and they are reconsidering many 'empty' phrases they had been using mechanically.

- Josefina Pin, Teacher and Coordinator, Mexico City, Mexico

...You have given us a chance to fulfill our dreams of giving our students the best learning experience they can possibly have. Keep it up!

- Maria Dolores Joie Austria, Teacher and Administrator, Manila, Philippines

I now feel rejuvenated. This course has given me an intellectual (and physical) burst of energy. And it was just the right kind of brain and soul food that makes me want to teach again. For me this online course has been without a doubt the most successful practical hands-on course ever! I'm now able to communicate with my colleagues on a whole new level...It's been a pleasure!!

- Titika Magaliou, 10th Grade Teacher, Athens, Greece

I love the opportunity we have to read others' experiences and interpretations of the material. It often sparks my thinking and encourages me to try something new in my own classroom.

- Raylene Taylor, K-2 Teacher, Maude Burke School, Melfort, SK, Canada

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I used my students as guinea pigs to help me evolve my unit. They gave me insights into their own areas of understanding at the beginning of the course and I used those as starting points for my unit. Just talking about areas of understanding with students heightened their awareness of their own learning experience.

- Kristina Kostopoulos, High School Teacher, Lincoln Park High School, Chicago, IL

...It changed me from the jaded professional development teacher that I used to be into this TFU advocate of today. My whole outlook has changed for real. My teaching is so much more effective than it used to be. The strength of this work is that it really gets us to practice theory. It's not just talk. Every time I try the simplest new TFU twist, I see immediate results...

- Robin Christopher, 8th Grade Teacher, The American School of The Hague in The Netherlands

The quality of the course was great! I had to work very hard and, as a result, it's almost impossible to forget what I learned or to stop thinking about it!

- Ms. Wanda Jane Brugal, Principal, M.I. Center, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The quality of the teaching, the commitment of the coaches, and the obvious investment of the other participants...is extraordinary.

- Martha Fox, Writing Specialist and Staff Developer, Manchester, Massachusetts

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The convenience factor of WIDE World's online courses is obvious. What could be better than completing the course work according to your own schedule each day, and in your bathrobe, at that!

- M. Linda Kennedy, Elementary School Teacher, Collierville, Tennessee

I am certainly a better teacher for having taken the course and I am inspired to learn and develop more.

- Dr. John Morrissey, Microbiology Department, University College Cork, Ireland

Prior to taking a WIDE World course, I had not experienced the on line learning process. I think all teachers should experience an online learning course at least once!

- Meriloy Horsham, Principal Education Officer - Science, Tasmania, Australia