Services for Educational Institutions

Problem-Based Learning | DIAL^SM | Team Development | Coping With Stress | Safe Classrooms

Problem-Based Learning: Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Would you like your students to be energized, eager to learn and connected? Using Problem-Based Learning, students

• learn information and concepts and how to apply them;
• develop critical-thinking abilities; and
• acquire skills of lifelong learning.

The students work collaboratively in groups to seek solutions to complex, real-world problems. The learning is active and student-centered compared to the traditional text-driven or instructor-centered approach. The instructor guides the problem-solving process, functioning as facilitator, coach and role model for the students' efforts and skill development.

Instructors at all levels from elementary school through post-graduate training find that classrooms come alive when they use this dynamic educational method. Let us help you create classrooms full of life, passion, joy and commitment, where both students and teachers look forward eagerly to learning together.

Be sure to see our articles on Problem-Based Learning.

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Diverse Intercultural Awareness Leadership (DIAL^SM) Program for Schools

Creative Learning Solutions takes a fresh hands-on approach to uplifting the culture in your school. Our Diverse Intercultural Awareness Leadership (DIAL) Program trains your student leaders to build their own cooperative school climate. With students leading students, DIAL teaches young people how to value diversity. It also builds self esteem and offers them positive communication skills to use with each other.

The DIAL Program is a student-run, train-the-trainer program. A select group of students are trained in intercultural team-building, communication and leadership skills. These students in turn present the DIAL Show to their classmates. The DIAL Show helps students value differences and handle negative situations associated with stereotyping, low self-esteem, bullying, and intergroup strife. It is a program that helps young people feel good about themselves.

The DIAL Program has a proven track record of success with young people in elementary, middle and high schools.

Both the training for DIAL student leaders and the DIAL Show are interactive, engaging, informational, challenging and fun. According to one DIAL leader, "It (DIAL) opened up everyone's minds and got people involved. I learned so many things and it wasn't even boring."

We welcome the opportunity to help administrators, staff, parents and students create a dynamic, positive student climate in your school.

Why choose the DIAL Program?

Here's a sampling of student responses to the DIAL Training:

"It will help our school realize that everybody is more alike than different, and I can now communicate better with persons of other cultures and stand up for what I know is right."

 

"I can help people be not so quick to judge others. I think cliques are already disbanding because of the training and I know I'll be a positive influence for my peers."

 

"This past year I felt extremely isolated at school. This program brought together people of all cultures so I don't have to just sit by myself because I don't think that anyone cares about me."

Here is what a teacher says about the DIAL Program:

"After the DIAL leaders presented their show to the students, they became visible, positive leaders for our school. We use them for everything and they love it."

Dr. Yolanda Cruz, Superintendent for the Dallas Can! Academy, answers the question, "What effect did the DIAL Program have in your schools?"

"The program is phenomenal in its ability to turn a school around. In one high school, students began mixing with each other in the lunch room, where before different ethnic groups ate separately. The students became positive leaders. Some went to college who had not previously planned to. Students are so smart and make such good use of the skills."

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Team Development Training for a School Faculty or Administrative Staff

Creative Learning Solutions, Inc. has found that training in team-building greatly enhances staff effectiveness. When a teaching staff functions as a team trust is built, support is fostered, good thinking abounds and productivity increases. Our Faculty Team Development Training breaks down barriers, builds interpersonal respect, and results in teachers working together more productively. All of our training is participatory (rather than lecture), skill-building, engaging and fun. This training is customized for the particular group; participants learn team skills and apply them to current issues the group is facing.

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Coping With Stress in Your Workplace: Strategies for Leaders and Administrators

• Do you seem to go from crisis to crisis?
• Are you on overload? Do too many people report to you?
• Does complaining, gossiping or rumor-mongering drain your time and energy?
• Do you lack the energy when you get home to even put your feet up?
• Do you need some tools to think clearly in the face of emotions coming at you, and to increase your emotional intelligence?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, call us. We help you and your colleagues learn to cope with stress and free your energy for the work you really want to do.

We customize our programs to meet the unique needs of your workplace. Our training is fun, results in immediate on-the-job skill use, has long-lasting impact and helps develop an effective, positive work environment for your organization.

Our training on Coping With Stress in Your Workplace: Strategies for Leaders and Administrators can be tailored to a four, six or eight hour program. Call Creative Learning Solutions today.

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Strategies for Developing Safe and Positive Classrooms for the 21st Century

To have schools that are free of violence and where students can learn, students need to feel safe in the classroom. That means the teachers need to have successful strategies to develop safety for their students. Strategies for Developing Safe and Positive Classrooms Training fosters positive, trusting relationships among teachers and gives them specific tools at each meeting to do the same for their students. Teachers in the beginning of the 21st century are under new and unique pressures from many sides. Rather than one more thing for teachers to handle, this training increases teachers' creativity and effectiveness in what they are already doing in the classroom. The training is lively and participatory and makes a positive difference in the classroom and in the school.

Strategies for Developing Safe and Positive Classrooms Training is designed as a series of inservice trainings for educators. Topics for this training include the following:

• Strategies for listening, building student safety and open communication.
• Dealing with strong emotions: family, school, interpersonal and individual; and their effects on the learning process in the classroom.
• Strategies for interactive learning.
• Individual and group strategies for self esteem, validation and violence prevention.
• Positive communication skills development.
• Creating excitement about learning.

Like all Creative Learning Solutions programs, the training is participatory (rather than lecture), skill-building, engaging and fun. In each meeting participants design and practice specific activities they can use immediately back in the classroom.

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