Connecting The Next Generation of Educators to The Indiana Learning Lab
I recently completed a webinar series alongside my colleague, Alisha Foor, from the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE) Digital Learning team. Our goal was to introduce preservice teachers to the Indiana Learning Lab, a personalized micro-learning platform offering easy access to free resources for Indiana educators and families. It was exciting to share these tools with future educators, and as of today, nearly 1,000 preservice teachers are registered in the Lab, marking an important step in supporting our state’s new teachers.
These webinars aimed to demonstrate ways the Lab can assist preservice teachers as they prepare for the classroom. From planning guidance to professional development opportunities, the Lab provides a wealth of free resources that enhance coursework, support practicum experiences, and guide teachers through the challenges they’ll face in the classroom.
We shared the Lab with over 30 classes at colleges and universities across the state and focused on topics most relevant to today’s teachers: supporting early literacy, computer science, and STEM instruction; ensuring access for all learners through UDL; understanding IDOE’s Standards Frameworks; and exploring of ways to help parents and families support their students.
The feedback we received from participants highlights the positive impact of the Learning Lab. We’re hopeful that access to these resources will help grow and sustain this new generation of Indiana educators. Here are a few themes that resonated with webinar participants:
Navigating the Platform
A key part of the webinars was helping participants become familiar with the Learning Lab’s features. The step-by-step walkthroughs gave teachers the confidence to use the platform independently in the future. One of the most common praises was the platform’s ease of use. As one participant put it, “It’s so simple to navigate, and so visually appealing.”
Supporting Lesson Planning
Many preservice teachers noted how the Lab helped with lesson planning, offering “helpful ideas” and “exciting elements to add to lessons.” The platform’s resources, aligned to state standards, provide a strong foundation for creating engaging, standards-based curricula.
A Wide Range of Resources
Participants were surprised by the variety of available resources, including subject-specific toolkits, comprehensive learning Hubs, and Collections aligned with Indiana’s academic standards. The Lab serves as a comprehensive resource for guidance and inspiration.
Aligning with Standards and Professional Growth
Preservice teachers also appreciated the Learning Lab’s alignment with Indiana’s academic standards. They valued the ability to find resources that connected with the standards and were excited about the opportunities for professional development and collaboration.
I’m grateful for the IDOE’s partnership, the support of the educator preparation faculty, and the enthusiasm of the preservice teachers who participated. I’m excited to see how these future educators use the Indiana Learning Lab to help them create meaningful learning experiences for their students.
If you haven’t yet experienced the Lab, create your free account at inlearninglab.com. If you are a faculty member at an educator prep program and you’d like to bring the Lab to your students, reach out to me to schedule a webinar this spring.
