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Teaching and Learning CoLabs

Teaching and Learning CoLab logo

Registration is Open!

The dates and host sites for this summer's Teaching and Learning CoLabs are:

  • Thursday, June 1: Grand Junction, hosted by Colorado Mesa University
  • Wednesday, June 14: Greeley, hosted by the University of Northern Colorado
  • Friday, June 23: Pueblo, hosted by CSU Pueblo

Registration is now open! Look below for your site and its program and registration links.

What is a Teaching and Learning CoLab?

Teaching and Learning CoLabs are locally hosted, multi-disciplinary events following a model developed and supported by the Colorado Department of Education. As the name suggests, these events are focused on teaching and learning and are designed for collaboration. Each one brings together stakeholders in K-12, higher education, Colorado's professional teaching organizations, and the Colorado Department of Education.

Who should attend?

Schools are encouraged to form teams that attend a CoLab, with teachers spanning across grades and content areas, along with instructional coaches, curriculum specialists, and building-level administrators. Our target attendance is 200 to 300 attendees per CoLab, with approximately 40% elementary teachers, 40% secondary teachers, and 20% administrators and C&I support staff.

How will attending a CoLab benefit me? How will it benefit my team?

CoLabs are being co-designed by multiple partner organizations to help shape the event into something meaningful and sustainable for teachers and educators across the state. The schedule allows both elementary and secondary teachers to dig into these content areas in 2023:

  • English Language Arts (Reading, Writing, and Communicating)
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Mathematics
  • Science and Computer Science
  • Social Studies
  • The Arts (Dance, Drama & Theatre, Music, and Visual Arts)

In addition, leaders and instructional coaches can attend these sessions or a program strand designed for school leaders. At the end of the day, school teams will come together for a facilitated hour of planning where they can make sense of the ideas from the day and consider how to carry them forward into the 2023-2024 school year.

What is the cost to attend? How do I register?

CoLabs are free to attend, although you will be responsible for your travel and any lodging you may need. Each CoLab Sched site will have suggested travel information.

As each CoLab is limited to 200-300 participants, we want to ensure that everyone who registers attends the event. We encourage registration from participants who can commit to attending the full day. We understand that some changes may arise and we will work with you to adjust your registration if event capacity becomes an issue.

2022 CoLabs Review

In June of 2022, the inaugural Teaching and Learning CoLabs were held in Grand Junction, Greeley, and Pueblo. Read the 2022 review for a summary of the events and their impact.

Cover image for the 2022 CoLabs review

To access last year's CoLab program and session materials, visit the 2022 Sched sites:

Read the 2022 Review

2023 CoLab Dates and Locations

Teaching and Learning CoLab Grand Junction logo

Grand Junction CoLab

  • Hosted by Colorado Mesa University
  • Date: Thursday, June 1
  • CMU Local Lodging 
  • Information about travel, parking, accommodations, and other logistical information is available on Sched with the program and schedule.

Program and Schedule (Sched)

Registration (Eventbrite)


Teaching and Learning CoLab Greeley logo

Greeley CoLab

  • Hosted by the University of Northern Colorado
  • Date: Wednesday, June 14
  • UNC Local Lodging 
  • Information about travel, parking, accommodations, and other logistical information is available on Sched with the program and schedule.

Program and Schedule (Sched)

Registration (Eventbrite)


Teaching and Learning CoLab Pueblo logo

Pueblo CoLab

  • Hosted by Colorado State University Pueblo
  • Date: Friday, June 23
  • CSU Pueblo Local Lodging 
  • Information about travel, parking, accommodations, and other logistical information is available on Sched with the program and schedule.

Program and Schedule (Sched)

Registration (Eventbrite)


Teaching and Learning CoLab Partners

The Teaching and Learning CoLabs are a collaborative event that does not belong to any one organization. The following partners are key contributors in the planning of the 2023 CoLabs.

Site Partners

The Teaching and Learning CoLab site partners provide support by providing the facilities and amenities needed to host successful events for hundreds of teachers across the state. In addition, faculty from each institution lead CoLab sessions.

Colorado Mesa University logo

Colorado Mesa University

https://www.coloradomesa.edu/

University of Northern Colorado logo

University of Northern Colorado

https://www.unco.edu/

CSU Pueblo logo

Colorado State University Pueblo

https://www.csupueblo.edu/

Professional and Organizational Partners

The Teaching and Learning CoLab organizational partners provide support by helping to solicit and deliver many of the sessions in each CoLab program. Some of these organizations are member-based professional teaching organizations, while others represent key content area stakeholders with educational outreach missions.

 

Colorado Association of Science Teachers

https://coloradocast.org/

The Colorado Association of Science Teachers (CAST) was formed in 1957 and is an affiliate of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA).

 

Colorado Council for the Social Studies

https://coloradocouncilforthesocialstudies.wildapricot.org/

The Colorado Council for the Social Studies (CCSS) is an affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS).

 

Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics

https://www.cctmath.org/

The Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics (CCTM) was formed in 1950 and is an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). CCTM is a professional organization that provides networking, advocacy, and support for teachers across Colorado.

 

Colorado District Literacy Leaders

 

 

Colorado Language Arts Society

https://www.clasco.org/

The Colorado Language Arts Society (CLAS) is Colorado's state affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English. Formed in 1962, this organization serves to support Colorado's educators in English studies, literacy, and language arts.

 

SHAPE Colorado

http://www.shapeco.org/

The Society of Health and Physical Educators of Colorado (SHAPE Colorado) is an affiliate of SHAPE America. SHAPE Colorado provides professional learning opportunities, publishes a quarterly journal, and promotes health and physical education issues throughout the state.

 

Renée Crown Wellness Institute

https://www.colorado.edu/crowninstitute/

The Renée Crown Wellness Institute opened in 2019 on the campus of CU Boulder to bring together scholars in multiple disciplines to work with community partners on issues impacting youth health and wellness.

 

Think 360 Arts

https://think360arts.org/

Founded in 1963 as Young Audiences of Colorado, Think 360 Arts promotes arts education in Colorado through teacher training, direct services to classrooms, and public awareness programs. Think 360 is a partner of Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, which helps them expand their professional development programs for teachers and teaching artists.

Logistical Support

This is the CDE logo

Colorado Department of Education

https://www.cde.state.co.us/

The Colorado Department of Education supports the Teaching and Learning CoLabs by providing funding, coordinating marketing and registration, and handling other logistical support.

Contact

For general questions and answers about Teaching and Learning CoLabs, contact Samantha Messier (messier_s@cde.state.co.us), director of CDE's Office of Standards and Instructional Support. For site-specific questions, contact information will be listed under each CoLab site page.