Project UNITE

Program Component 1: Professional Development
The UNITE Professional Development (PD) is the core learning activity for preservice teachers, in-service teachers, and CSU faculty. The PD workshops will focus on topics related to urban education and will be delivered in person at CSU and through online learning modules.

Resident and Mentors will participate in joint PD and separate workshops. The joint PDs will focus on four broad topics.

• Culturally relevant practice and teaching for social justice.
• Creating supportive cultures of inquiry, thinking, and learning
• Understanding how students learn and develop over time
• Incorporating technology and innovative practices

Residents will meet as a group to reflect on their field experiences, discuss problems of practice, work on assignments, and develop the employment portfolio.

Mentors will come together to participate in the Teacher Leadership Academy. This PD will expand their leadership skills and address any challenges they are experiencing as a mentor.  

Program Component 2: Virtual Resource Center
Project UNITE will use the Absorb Platform as a virtual learning lab to house all content material, including the monthly learning modules, instructional resources, and videos. The purpose of the VRC is to create a hub or safe space for residents to engage with one another, share and access resources and information, and react to assigned posts or videos. Residents may pose questions, problem-solve, or collaborate with peers and UNITE Faculty Advisors on aspects of their field experiences. In addition, Mentor Teachers will have their own space to engage with one another in a similar manner.

Program Component 3: The Cross-Institutional Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
The Cross-Institutional Learning Community (CI-PLC) is a learning community consisting of pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and faculty within the same specialized discipline. For example, one CI-PLC may consist of a CSU Math Professor, two Math teachers, and three preservice teachers studying Math Education. Project UNITE plans to develop several CI-PLCs that will serve three purposes:

• Deepen school-university partnerships to improve practice as teachers and faculty work together meaningfully.
• Promote greater alignment between teacher preparation and schools as they share information related to research, best practices, instructional resources, and state standards.
• Create a reciprocal relationship between teachers and faculty - with teachers and faculty recognizing each other's strengths, resources, and insights.

Program Component 4: The Urban Teaching Consortium
The Urban Teaching Consortium (UTC) is a group of educators, community leaders, college students, faculty, education leaders, and others committed to urban education. The UTC will operate with the common goal of improving academic outcomes for students in urban communities. Network members, who represent a diverse group, will draw from common experiences and research to reimagine best practice in the current urban teaching landscape. They will cooperatively explore creative solutions with a focus on innovative teaching and active learning.