The Active Workshop: Practical Strategies for Facilitating Professional Learning

"Administrators and workshop facilitators will find in this book exactly what is needed to deepen teachers′ understanding of workshop content and processes and increase their own effectiveness." —Sharon Madsen Redfern, Elementary Principal, Highland Park Elementary School, Lewistown, MT "Ron Nash′s book provides a primer for the presenter who wants to facilitate active workshop participation. His techniques can also be easily adapted to the classroom for highly engaging, child-centered lessons. This is truly a book worth adding to your professional library." —Stephen D. Shepperd, Retired Elementary Principal, Sunnyside Elementary School, ID Maximize engagement and retention with less talk and more interaction! Today′s students learn best by doing—as do most of us. This newest resource from Ron Nash is designed for educators who would rather "show" than "tell" to create highly interactive workshops. Packed with anecdotes, brain-compatible strategies, and checklists, the book provides practical tools for engaging participants to talk, reflect, brainstorm, and stretch beyond their comfort zones. Highlights include: Techniques for shifting 80% of the workshop′s workload to participants Keys to enhancing retention with storytelling and laughter Methods for analyzing and evaluating your presentations for ongoing improvement Tips for extending learning beyond the workshop The Active Workshop is ideal for seminar trainers, seminar facilitators, principals, and teacher leaders—anyone who works with elementary, secondary, and college educators in a training capacity.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction 1. Set the Stage 2. Hit the Ground Running 3. Maximize Movement 4. Minimize Distractions 5. Facilitate Structured Conversations 6. Present With Confidence 7. Close the Deal 8. Extend the Learning Appendix A: Preworkshop-Visit Checklist Appendix B: Day-of-Workshop Checklist Appendix C: Room Arrangements References Index

About the Author :
Consulting Description See Ron's Presenter Profile Here! Ron Nash is the author of the Corwin bestseller The Active Classroom (2008), along with The Active Teacher (2009), and The Active Mentor (2010). Nash's professional career in education has included teaching social studies at the middle and high school levels. He also served as an instructional coordinator and organizational development specialist for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools for 13 years. In that capacity, Nash conducted workshops and seminars for thousands of teachers, administrators, substitute teachers, and teacher assistants. In 2007, he founded Ron Nash and Associates, Inc., a company dedicated to helping teachers shift students from passive observers to active participants. Download Ron Nash's product brochure "I was blown away at the conference and can't wait for the new school year to start so I can try all of the new ideas I received!" --Audra Bounds, Teacher Frederick County, VA "This was the best workshop I have EVER attended!" --Dawn Carter, Teacher Augusta County, VA "After teaching for 16 years, I was looking for inspiration and I found it. I'm excited to incorporate the innovative strategies Ron shared with me. The best part is the strategies are completely practical and doable." --Joanne Jimney, Teacher Chesapeake, VA "Your three-hour presentation was fabulous! When teachers give a standing ovation, this is the kind of program that will impact their daily teaching repertoire. Yours is an in-service that impacts how teachers engage students." --Patsy Slaughter, Elementary Principal Virginia Beach "This day reminded me why I became and love being a teacher." --Juli Weatherby, Teacher Chesapeake, VA "Attending Ron Nash's workshop changed my whole style of teaching. The tools I gained have rekindled my love for teaching and my students' love of learning." --Amber O'Malley, Second-Grade Teacher Austin, TX "As one of my colleagues stated about your professional development offering to us, "Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!" -- Linda Emerick, High School English Teacher Wilmington, DE

Review :
“Ron Nash’s book provides a primer for the presenter who wants to facilitate active workshop ‘participation.’ His techniques can also be easily adapted to the classroom for high engagement, child-centered lessons. This is truly a book worth adding to your professional library.” “Administrators and workshop facilitators will find this book to be exactly what is needed in designing a workshop that takes advantage of teachers’ prior knowledge, helps them to deepen their understanding of workshop content and processes, and find ways to be more effective.”