Designing for Deep Understanding: Exploration and Application of Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction

When / Where

12 Jan 2026 – 13 Jan 2026
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Asia/Singapore

This interactive 6-hour online course is designed for educators in grades 3–12 who are seeking to deepen their understanding of Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (CBCI). This workshop will provide practical strategies to design instruction that fosters transferable understanding across disciplines and cultures.

Anchored in standards-based instruction and best practices, with its emphasis on Key Concepts and big ideas of principles and generalizations, participants will explore how concept-based approaches can shift learning from memorization to meaning-making. This workshop will walk through the planning process, starting with standards and identifying expectations to developing rich, meaningful engagements that allow students to make connections for real-world learning.

Participants will have opportunities for coaching and guidance on the development of creating big ideas and meaningful concepts to use as a foundation for creating exploration-based learning units. A focus for the sessions will include processes to develop scaffolded learning experiences with meaningful differentiation and varied levels of rigor.  This workshop will also include discussions and experiences increasing depth and complexity to challenge above-level learners.

Objectives
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Define Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (CBCI) and explain how it differs from traditional topic-based approaches.
  • Identify and apply Key Concepts to frame units of inquiry and drive deeper student understanding across content areas.
  • Design learning experiences that support intercultural understanding and connect conceptual learning to global issues.
  • Construct generalizations and guiding questions that move students from surface knowledge to transferable, conceptual understanding.

Outline 
Session 1:

  • What is Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction and why is it such a powerful learning approach?
  • How is a concept-based approach different from traditional approaches and from thematic instruction?
  • What is the role Key Concepts and why are they so important to develop fully?
  • How do teachers develop Principles and Generalizations for global understandings?
  • What types of questions can be used for guiding learning and how can they be used to scaffold explorations?

Session 2: Putting It All Together – Planning a Concept-Based Lesson or Unit

  • What does the planning process look like from standards to assessment to engagements?
  • How does Universal design and differentiated instruction fit into concept-based learning?
  • How do teachers assess formatively and summatively with concept-based learning?
  • What are the challenges with grading when using concept-based curriculum and how can these be addressed?
  • Reflection, Discussion, Questions & Next Steps

Trainer’s Profile
With over 25 years as a teacher and administrator of general education, special education and gifted education, Jodi specializes in professional development for educators in the area of differentiation for students from ages 3-adult.  She is a former Director of Special Education, President of the Florida Association for Gifted and is the Past President for the Family Network on Disabilities. She has worked with student populations from ages 3 to Adult. She has multiple publications with her first as a contributing writer in the Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul (2002). Her first book on her own, Beyond Differentiated Instruction (Corwin, 2010) is being sold internationally and is used at several university programs. She has also written a set of books- titled RtI and Differentiated Instruction- A Teacher’s Guide (Corwin, 2011) and is currently working on a new publication. She has presented at state, national and international conferences and workshops in the US, Asia and Australia as a presenter and keynote speaker. Jodi has worked as a consultant with several International Schools throughout Asia. Jodi currently resides in Florida, USA.

Methodology
This workshop offers many engagement opportunities, to engage, reflect and discuss concepts and ideas. Collaborative learning through active participation will be expected and lend itself to maximum learning. Modeling will be scaffolded throughout the workshop and reflective practices will enhance development beyond current practices to new possibilities. Participants will receive coaching and feedback as they gain new strategies and understandings of what it means to meet diverse learning needs.

Platform
Zoom
A Zoom account is not required if you are strictly joining Zoom Meetings as a participant. An email invite will be emailed to you prior to the live workshop. Before joining a Zoom meeting on a computer or mobile device, you can download the Zoom app from the Download Center. Otherwise, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom when you click a join link.

Download Zoom Mobile Apps for iPhone or Android
Download Zoom Client for Meetings

Target Audience
Elementary Educators (grades 3–12)

Fees
1 person: SGD397.00 (USD317.00)/person
2 to 4 person: SGD372.00 (USD297.00)/person
5 person & more: SGD327.00 (USD267.00/person)
E-certificate will be issued

Other Details
Duration: 2 days, 6 hours
Closing Date:  4 Jan 2026

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