William M. Ferriter

ChatGPT—one of the most valuable technology tools for teachers and learners—became widely available in the fall of 2022. Since then, artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT have taken education by storm. Teachers are using these tools to create new content, differentiate their instruction, identify strategies for teaching and reteaching concepts to their students, and work more efficiently and effectively. Just as important, students are using these tools to improve their understanding of complex ideas, identify new paths of learning in their areas of personal interest, and receive targeted feedback on their work. Because AI tools are changing how we work and learn, classroom teachers must reflect on their potential and understand their limitations.

Schools that truly want to “create lifelong learners” must understand the influence that their actions in the classroom have on realizing this mission. Creating lifelong learners depends on more than good intentions; it depends on intentional actions designed to encourage students to realize that they have the capacity to move their own learning forward regardless of life circumstances or experiences. While this truth is likely something that most teachers already believe, integrating practices that build student self-efficacy into daily instruction remains elusive in most classrooms. Creating lifelong learners happens only when teachers move from knowing about the importance of student self-efficacy to doing something about it.

Expert practitioners address the role of school leaders to model positive change and ignite a shift toward assessments that drive instruction.

Packed with practical strategies for designing, analyzing, and using assessments, this book shows how to turn best practices into usable solutions.

Chapter stories reveal good decisions and mistakes inherent to the PLC process. The authors analyze each scenario and offer practical recommendations and tools.

Focus on developing people not just improving test scores. The authors examine how staffing decisions can strengthen professional learning communities.

Discover strategies for infusing digital tools into your PLC, and acquire a list of digital tools your team can use to foster sharing, cooperation, and collaboration.

Gain strategies for reshaping the traditional classroom to give modern students opportunities to exercise choice in their curriculum and master new skills.

William M. Ferriter and Diana Williams share how their students are changing the world for the better by coming together to make microloans to entrepreneurs in the developing world.