The Core Learning Department designs and delivers high-quality, culturally-responsive professional learning opportunities, instructional coaching, technical assistance, and strong leadership to improve and support teaching, learning, and assessment in our 18 Alameda County School Districts and Court and Community Schools.

Our department includes experts trained in the following content areas: Arts Learning, Early Learning, English Language Arts/English Language Development, History-Social Science & Civic Engagement, Math, Science, and Technology. Our team members utilize Universal Design for Learning Principles as well as the Adult Learning Theory when designing in-person, hybrid, or virtual professional learning opportunities. Each team member also seamlessly integrates opportunities for leaders and educators to reflect on their practices to ensure that students are provided with equitable access to learning and the interventions they require to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. 

Additionally, our team regularly communicates and supports implementation of content-specific policy updates and partners with our districts, institutions of higher education, and community-based organizations to support teaching, learning, assessment, and workforce development in our county. It is also an honor for our Core Learning department content experts to serve as regional leads for Arts Learning, Early Learning, Science, and the Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC). 

Lastly, the Core Learning department proudly designs, facilitates, and hosts the Alameda County Elementary and Jr. High Spelling Bees, Mock Trial, and History Day competitions and we support our Alameda County districts and schools in the statewide Distinguished Schools Awards program. 

Please view our Menu of Services and visit our content-specific sub-pages to learn more and contact us if we can be of any support. 

Recorded Clinics

Shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our department designed and facilitated two timely clinics to support teaching, learning and assessing. The recordings of the two clinics are available below. 

▶︎ View "Pedagogical Shifts with Distance Learning" • July 2020
In this clinic, we explored pedagogical practices and key considerations that support high quality, student-centered teaching for synchronous and asynchronous distance and blended learning. Participants had the opportunity to examine and discuss these pedagogical approaches that support student engagement and mastery of core content for all learners.

▶︎ View "Assessment Of and For Learning" • July 2020
In this clinic, we explored various models of formative and summative assessment that schools and districts are adopting in the context of synchronous and asynchronous distance learning given the current shifts in pedagogical practice. Participants had the opportunity to explore the ways in which districts can support teacher professional development around assessing student proficiency and planning adaptively to meet students in this new virtual environment.