Professional Development

This professional development session will provide teachers across all disciplines with practical tools and resources that they can use to frame and facilitate discussions with students. It is important that schools are places for sharing and exploring the questions, concerns, and ideas that students have about current events. This fall, Close Up’s virtual, practice-oriented session is intended to prepare teachers to engage with students about the 2020 election, the COVID-19 pandemic, and nationwide protests.

• 3-hour Interactive Workshop (districts or schools)
• 90-minute Interactive Workshop (districts or schools)
• 30-minute On-Demand Session (individuals)

“Clear and organized…there was constant activity. It was exceptionally strong. I am excited to debate contemporary issues and connect them to US History…This was exceptional PD, the best of the year!” –History Teacher, MA

This session will give teachers the skills and knowledge needed to help students critically evaluate media messages. Teachers will leave with an enriched understanding of the media landscape, knowledge of key concepts in media literacy, and a set of activities that help students engage with a wide range of sources, read critically, apply media literacy to social and digital media, and identify active efforts to mislead.

• 3-hour Interactive Workshop (districts or schools)
• 90-minute Interactive Workshop (districts or schools)
• 30 minute On-Demand Session (individuals)

“Well organized and great being able “role play” the strategies! Close Up is always outstanding in providing training and resources. Thank you!” –High School History Teacher, MD

It is essential that students understand the ways in which political decisions—often at the local and state levels—shape the world around them, and that they have the capacity to influence those decisions through individual and collective action. This session will help teachers break down the barriers that exist between the classroom and community civic life. Teachers will learn how to foster students’ civic and political efficacy and their ability to cooperate with others, and they will leave equipped with lessons, strategies, projects, and activities to engage students with their local community.

• 3-hour Interactive Workshop (districts or schools)
• 90-minute Interactive Workshop (districts or schools)
• 30 minute On-Demand Session (individuals)

“I plan to introduce this to the teachers I work with and use this as a part of my school’s requirement that students take action on issues of local, national, and international importance.” –Middle School Social Studies Teacher, SC

This intensive, practice-oriented professional development session will provide teachers with the knowledge and competencies needed to address sensitive topics in class and meaningfully incorporate current issues into their curriculum. Teachers who attend this session will leave with the ability to connect headlines to major concepts and tensions in our democracy, and to facilitate high-quality debates and deliberations.

• 3-hour Interactive Workshop (districts or schools)
• 90-minute Interactive Workshop (districts or schools)
• 30 minute On-Demand Session (individuals)

It was very informative well done! I have new ideas on how to approach controversial topics and how to do it via zoom for online learning. I really loved the ‘Medicare for All’ debate piece. Close Up provided great resources applicable for online or in-person debate.” –Middle School Teacher, TX