The ALI Works in three ways to enliven what teachers bring to students and to clearly define what sort of learning must take place at each grade level. The first day of an ALI workshop highlights "best practices." We ask teachers to consider what they do now and to then share the best of their work with their peers. The goal is to disseminate what works (without reinventing the wheel). It also helps them to understand what their students are learning when. this helps to identify repetition. In addition, it helps teachers in higher grade levels understand what they can build upon and teachers in lower grade levels understand what their students must know to be successful in later years.

The second day of the workshop focuses on content enrichment, and it is run by a Trinity University faculty member who has expertise in the field. It strengthens teachers' understanding of subject matter by addressing critical content areas identifed by the teachers. This is accomplished in a lecture format with as much discussion as possible. In addition to lecture, this is a time to introduce teachers to new demonstrations and hands-on learning experiences that they can bring to their students. It is important to show how the learning experiences can be sequenced or can build to address the learning objectives of each grade level. Moreover, it is not always clear what learning opportunities are embedded in the best practice lessons shared the day before, so the Trinity faculty member may revisit the best practice lessons on day two, highlighting and strengthening key concepts and principles while specifically referencing the lessons that were shared the previous day. Time at the end of the day allows teachers to try the demonstrations and labs themselves.

The last day of the workshop is devoted to developing new learning experiences and adopting/adapting learning experiences shared in the previous two days of the workshop. this is a challenging day. The goal is to keep the teachers interacting with one anothere across grade levels and between institutions. It is also importand to keep them working on new material (incorporating what they have learned in the ALI) rather than simply working from their textbooks. At the end of the day, teachers share what they have developed with one another, and everyone is invited to respond to shared lessons.

Following are the Understanding by Design (UbD) units develped by the teams in each grade level during the Advanced Learning Institute (ALI). Click on the links to view what the teachers created.

Sixth Grade Level

Seventh Grade Level

Eighth Grade Level

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Harris Middle School Project