Professional Development
The Regional Learning Project offers a variety of professional development opportunities for classroom teachers and other educators, with a focus in bringing quality, primary source materials to Indian Education and place-based history in ways that engage students and lifelong learners.
Indian Education for All Leadership Training – Online Course
This two-semester training for leadership of Indian Education programming in schools is offered periodically through UMOnline, with credit from the School of Education. The first semester, created by RLP staff, is taught through the lens of the Essential Understandings about Montana Indians. Students participate in a number of activities designed to increase cultural awareness, and understanding of historical and contemporary Native American issues. The second semester, created and taught by School of Education faculty in Curriculum and Instruction, supports participants in applied learning.
Educator Workshops
Introducing historical artifacts and contemporary native voices on educational DVDs, our workshops provide guidance in how to use visually rich, hands-on materials about Native Americans, history, and tribal cultures to support learning across the curriculum. We use inquiry-driven approaches that enhance critical thinking skills while integrating history, social studies, geography, reading and writing. Workshops assist in how to integrate these unique resources into existing curricula or interpretive programs, and are tailored to meet the specific needs of participants in local, state, or regional locales.
Workshops offered include:
Indian Education Across the Curriculum
- Ethno-History of Montana Tribes
- Introduction to Indian Education For All In Montana
- Integrating Indian Education throughout the Curriculum
- Telling Our Stories: Bringing Indian Voices Into Your Classroom
- Integrating Tribal Histories with Local and Regional Geography
- Teaching about Columbia River Tribes Using Films and Websites
Learning History Through Maps and Narrative
- Understanding Local History Through Maps and Stories
- Layers of History: Northwest Map Basics
- Layers of History: Montana Map Basics
- Journey Through Time: Place-Based Learning in Western Montana
- Journey Through Time: Place-Based Learning in Eastern Montana
- Journey Through Time: Place-Based Learning on the Columbia Plateau
- The Walla Walla Treaty and Its Aftermath
Treaties and Sovereignty
- Treaties and Sovereignty: Using Historical Documents and Video to Enrich Understanding
- Teaching the Treaties: Attend the Great Peace Council of 1855 through Readers’ Theater
American History with Tribal Perspectives
- Tribal Perspectives on American History: Northwest
- Tribal Perspectives on American History: Great Plains
Heritage Trails of Montana
- Heritage Trails: Understanding History through Traveling Tales
Custom Tailored Workshops
The Regional Learning Project can design workshop goals and content, as well as provide learning materials specific to your educational group’s needs. Please contact us for more information.
Presentations
- Montana History Through Maps and Story
- Historical Maps as Cross-Curricular Learning Tools
- Father DeSmet and Mapping the Northwest
- Heritage Trails of Montana
- Multi-media History and Geography Resources: Native Voices DVDs and Websites
- Tribes Along the Lewis and Clark Trail
- The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Tribal Legacy Project
- Indian Education Across the Curriculum
- Learning from the Source: Bringing Indian Voices Into Your Classroom