KSS Sessions
KSS sessions make content engaging, relevant, and practical. We ask that all sessions include the following, to ensure that best practices in adult learning are incorporated.
Session Requirements
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Your session should be built around clear, specific, and actionable objectives. Rigorous sessions push attendees to go beyond simply knowing the new information to actually applying it. Create a session that is focused on knowledge, application, and action.
How do I write strong objectives?
- Be specific, succinct, and actionable
- Include no more than 3 objectives
- Include higher order thinking verbs like: explain, interpret, analyze, compare, describe, debate, differentiate, question, design, and create
- Communicate it with attendees. Post it in the room, include it on your handout, and add it to your PowerPoint.
Examples
Check out these actionable objectives from some of our past top presenters. Their attendees were able to:
- Create an individualized model with college-ready assessments for the upcoming school year
- Look at student writing, and analyze what it takes for students to wrestle with author’s arguments as mature thinkers
- Take 5 different project activities and a) make a CCSS based lesson/unit from them; b) follow a protocol to take any small project and expand it into a lesson/unit aligned to the Common Core
Helpful Resource
Dave’s Video on Rigor -
The strongest sessions are designed with engagement at the center. Engagement can take many forms: with materials, with the instructor, and with other attendees. When you build a session that balances the amount of teaching or instructor talk time, with with the amount of engagement, learners are allowed to internalize new information and make meaning of your session.
How do I engage learners?
For your session, think about how you are going to build engagement. Previous sessions have included the following strategies:
- Table Topics: Discussion questions allowing attendees to process and talk about the topic with peers
- Written Reflection: Allows the attendee to reflect through writing. Written reflection can occur in the beginning, middle, or end of a session.
- Think, Pair, Share: A technique that builds in time for personal reflection (think), time to talk with a partner (pair), and the opportunity to discuss as a larger group (share).
- Diverse Teaching Tools: Integrate a few modes of technology, media, images, videos, podcasts, or quotes that support your objective into your session. These tools can break up a traditional lecture.
Helpful Resources
Dave’s Video on Ratio -
After introducing new information, it’s important to build work or practice time into your session. Practice allows adults to internalize, course correct, and identify strengths and weaknesses in their new learning. Practice helps build muscle memory and increases the percentage of information retained.
If we want information to stick, we must make our sessions active.
How do I create meaningful practice?
Every session at KSS should include relevant practice. Previous sessions have included the following strategies:
- Modeling: Before attendees are asked to practice on their own, make sure to show attendees it should look like in action when it’s done well
- Crisp Directions: Think about what attendees should say and do during practice. Then, create directions that will allow for them to get there. Before releasing to practice, check for understanding to ensure that attendees know what to do
- Break Up Practice: If you have a lot of content to get through, consider breaking up direct instruction with time for practice. This allows for attendees to focus their practice on a specific skill or strategy before having to put it all together.
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We have a systematic approach to supporting and developing KSS instructors. Supports include session plan feedback, coaching calls, webinars, and this instructor website. Since implementing this approach we have seen session quality improve. Given this level of success, we will be asking all instructors to submit their KSS session plan by June 21 to receive feedback on their session.
Helpful Resources
KSS Session Plan Template Example Session Plan
Planning Tools
Deadlines
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April 17
Contract, instructor bio & session description due. Submit instructor and session information through this form. Signed instructor contracts should be mailed to Eliana Ditren (editren@kipp.org).
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May 1
Deadline for securing travel and hotel
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June 3
KSS registration and session selection available. Don’t forget to register by June 28.
June 7
Instructor webinar (option 1)
June 8
Instructor webinar (option 2)
June 19
Session plans due. Please email them to kssprogramming@kipp.org
Review your AV needs and preferred room set (an email will be sent to you)
June 28
Registration closes. Make sure you have registered for KSS.
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July 12
If you aren’t bringing your copies to Houston with you, print and ship your materials for KSS to ensure everything gets there on time.
Review session attendee numbers and assigned room set. An email will be sent to you with this information
July 22
Start uploading session materials for posting on KIPP Share
July 29 – 31
Upon arrival at KSS, check into Instructor Services. Any materials shipped to KSS or printed through FedEx will be waiting for you at Instructor Services.
Upload your session materials so they can be shared out with your audience post-KSS via our internal platform, KIPP Share. To upload, please do the following:
- Re-name your files with the following naming convention (Your Last Name_Session Title_file purpose). Example: Meyer_KIPPShare101_presentation.
- Attach and email your files to KSS_201.roic63hyehigfb8k@u.box.com. Limit of 50MB of files per email sent. Send multiple emails, as needed.
- Questions or concerns? Reach out to Stephen Meyer at smeyer@kipp.org
July 31
Complete the KSS Instructor Survey before you leave Houston.
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August 31
Deadline for submitting reimbursements. Invoices, expense reimbursements, and itemized receipts should be emailed as a single PDF to invoice@kipp.anybill.com cc: editren@kipp.org
Deadline for submitting your session materials. Please do the following:
- Re-name your files with the following naming convention (Your Last Name_Session Title_file purpose). Example: Meyer_KIPPShare101_presentation.
- Attach and email your files to KSS_201.roic63hyehigfb8k@u.box.com. Limit of 50MB of files per email sent. Send multiple emails, as needed.
- Questions or concerns? Reach out to Stephen Meyer at smeyer@kipp.org
How Do I. . .
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Instructor information, biography, and session descriptions can be uploaded through this form. All instructors must submit their instructor information and biography. If you have co-instructors, only one of you needs to submit session information. Instructor bios and session descriptions are due April 12.
Helpful Resource
Session Description How To -
All instructors must secure a hotel room on their own, or with their school block by May 1. One night’s deposit is required at booking. You can find details for booking hotels on the KSS website. As a reminder, instructors will be reimbursed for one night of hotel per session and flights up to $400.
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If you would rather drive to KSS we will reimburse mileage at the federal rate up to $400. Make sure to include a map of your route with miles as a receipt when submitting reimbursements.
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Registration for KSS opens April 30, 2019. Our full agenda with the option to select sessions will be available starting on Monday, June 3rd. Please note that hotel reservation and KSS registration are separate. Reserving a hotel room does not register you for KSS.
All KSS instructors must register for KSS. To register, please visit the KSS website and look for a registration button.
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All session rooms come outfitted with the following:
- Wireless internet
- Speakers
- Standard LCD projector
- Screen
Any special AV requests beyond this (e.g. document camera) are submitted through this form. AV needs and room setup will be confirmed in mid-June.
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Use the 2019 KSS PowerPoint template to integrate our theme, With Purpose For Progress, into your KSS session. For optimal viewing, all PowerPoint slides should have a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Helpful Resource
With Purpose For Progress PowerPoint Template -
This website is a great place to start. Starting in May, we will send emails to remind you of upcoming deadlines and to highlight specific instructor resources.
If you still need help, send an email to Jessica Donnelly (jdonnelly@kipp.org).
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All session plans are due to kssprogramming@kipp.org by June 19.
Helpful Resource
KSS Session Plan Template -
You will receive an email in early July summarizing your session attendee numbers.
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Once registration closes on June 28, you may contact Jessica Donnelly (jdonnelly@kipp.org) to request a list of the attendees registered for your session. You may find this useful if you would like to…
- send pre-work
- give access to links that will be used during the session
- share materials
- follow up after KSS
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There are two ways to ensure your materials arrive on site by KSS or session start.
Option 1: Bring them to KSS with you in your checked baggage. If you chose this option the Foundation will reimburse your checked luggage fees.
Option 2: Mail materials to Houston so that they arrive by 7/19. We rent warehouse space prior to KSS. Packages must arrive by 7/19 so that we have time to sort and transport everything to the Convention Center prior to KSS. Packages arriving post- 7/19 risk being separated from all other supplies and being lost. This is also why it is critical to address packages in the following way:
INSTRUCTOR SERVICES/ (Your Name)
c/o Shephard Exposition Services
10001 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77045 -
Invoices, expense reimbursements, and itemized receipts should be emailed as a single PDF to invoice@kipp.anybill.com cc: editren@kipp.org by August 31, 2019.
Itemized receipts are required for ALL expenses including items charged to your hotel room that appear on a hotel folio. Please reference Exhibit A of your contract if you have any questions about KIPP’s reimbursement and payment terms.
Helpful Resources
KSS Reimbursement Guidelines Blank W9 Form Reimbursement Form -
We will share session materials with session participants via our internal sharing platform, KIPP Share. To submit materials please do the following:
- Re-name your files with the following naming convention (Your Last Name_Session Title_file purpose). Example: Meyer_KIPPShare101_presentation.
- Attach and email your files to KSS_201.roic63hyehigfb8k@u.box.com. Limit of 50MB of files per email sent. Send multiple emails, as needed.
- Questions or concerns? Reach out to Stephen Meyer at smeyer@kipp.org
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The KSS team hosted 2 webinars in the month of June for all KSS Instructors. Here are materials from each webinar and recordings of each.
Deliberate Practice Webinar (June 19 & 20)
Effective Powerpoint Design (June 26 & 27)