Synchronous Learning Sessions
Take your learning from the page into a live conversation.
Your course registration now includes a free one-hour synchronous session: a live Zoom conversation where you’ll reflect on what you’re learning, hear how other educators are applying strategies from our courses, and leave with practical ideas you can use right away. Our sessions can fulfill a district’s live-attendance requirement, but they are optional, and do not affect course completion, grades, or transcripts. You’ll receive a certificate of attendance once you have completed your session.
What You'll Get Out of An Hour
Join an experienced Teaching Channel Instructor to engage in great conversation with your peers!
Reflect on Your Learning
Talk through insights you’ve gained from your course with educators who are also working on Teaching Channel courses.
Make New
Connections
Connect with and learn from educators nationwide across grade levels, content areas, and courses to uncover new ideas to strengthen your own practice.
Expand What
You Know
Explore ways your learning can extend beyond your own classroom to support colleagues, your students, and your school community.
Leave with
Next Steps
Walk away with engaging and actionable ideas informed by the discussion, inspired to put your new learning into practice right away.
How to Join a Session
Registration takes only a few minutes.
1. Pick a Date
Select a date that works best with your schedule.
2. Register
on Zoom
Register to reserve your spot, then look for an email confirmation from Zoom.
3. Join the Conversation
Log in on your session date, and be ready to engage in conversation with fellow educators.
4. Get Your Certificate
After your attendance is confirmed, we’ll email your 1 clock-hour certificate of attendance.
Upcoming Session Dates
Choose a date that works with your schedule. We recommend joining once you’ve completed the majority of your course modules. That way, you’ll have more to share!
Tuesday, September 15
6:00 – 7:00 PM CST
Saturday, September 26
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST
Thursday, October 8
6:00 – 7:00 PM CST
Saturday, October 24
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST
Meet Your Facilitators
Our synchronous sessions are led by experienced Teaching Channel instructors who understand the realities of educator professional learning.
Brandi Gill, Ed.D.
Dr. Brandi Gill has been a Continuing Education Instructor with Teaching Channel for nearly three years. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, a master’s degree in School Administration, and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. With more than 20 years of experience in education, Brandi has worked in general and arts classrooms, school administration, and statewide educational support.
For the past four years, she has served as a Consultant with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. An experienced facilitator, Brandi designs and delivers engaging professional learning focused on strengthening instructional practices, leadership capacity, and organizational performance.
Elizabeth (Beth) Halbach
Elizabeth (Beth) Halbach has served as a Continuing Education Instructor with Teaching Channel for six years and currently works as an Instructional Specialist. She holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Education and is a Google Certified Trainer and Coach. With more than 20 years of experience in education, Beth has worked as a middle school science teacher, Technology Integration Specialist, and Instructional Specialist.
An experienced facilitator, she leads in-person and virtual professional learning for educators on technology integration, Google tools, and AI. She has also taught live online courses that guide educators through hands-on technology integration and AI projects.
Kia Johnson, Ed.D.
Dr. Kia Johnson is a Continuing Education Instructor with Teaching Channel and serves as Senior Director of PreK–12 Professional Development and Evaluations at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL). With over 18 years of experience in education, she began her career as a paraprofessional and school bus driver before becoming an ESL teacher and later serving in K–12, higher education, state education, and national professional learning leadership roles.
Kia holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership for Social Justice, master’s degrees in TESOL and Educational Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature. At Teaching Channel, she supports educators across three continuing education courses. An experienced facilitator, Kia has led engaging in-person and virtual professional learning for educators nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to attend a synchronous session?
No, this session is optional, and does not affect your course completion requirements, grade, or transcript. Some learners choose to attend to deepen their learning, or to fulfill a district’s live-attendance requirement for continuing education. We think it’s a great way to connect with other educators!
How do I get a certificate of attendance?
Once your attendance has been verified by our Teaching Channel instructor, we’ll send a follow-up email with your certificate attached, typically within a few business days after the session. No need to request anything; it’s automatically sent to verified attendees.
What if I can’t make it to my registered session or stay for the entire time?
You’re welcome to register for a different upcoming date instead! Sessions run twice a month, and there’s no penalty for missing or switching. Keep in mind that a certificate of attendance is issued only for the full one-hour session, so if you have to leave early from a session, we’d recommend joining a future date when you can stay for the whole hour.
What do I need to prepare before the session?
Come ready to share something connected to your learning. Spend a few minutes before the session thinking about an insight, takeaway, or question from your course. This might be an assignment, an artifact or classroom material you created, an example of how you applied a strategy, or a conversation you had with colleagues. Nothing formal is required, so if you are not able to bring something, you are still welcome to attend and participate.
Who will be in my session?
You’ll join educators nationwide from a variety of courses, grade levels, and content areas. Sessions are organized into smaller breakout rooms based on topic, so the conversation can stay focused with everyone having the chance to contribute and engage.
Who will lead my synchronous session?
Your session will be facilitated by an Teaching Channel instructor with an advanced degree in education, and broad experience across our courses and content areas. Your session facilitator may be different from your individual course instructor, which gives you an additional opportunity to connect with our Instruction Team!
Can I get help with a specific course during the session?
For questions about a specific course assignment or course content, please complete our Instructor Help Form, and a member of our team will be happy to help you! The synchronous sessions are designed for reflection, discussion, and sharing ideas with educators across a variety of courses.
Will you have more session dates later in the year?
Yes! New sessions are added on an ongoing basis, twice a month, rotating between weekday evenings and weekend mornings. Check back here on this page for the latest schedule, or watch for reminder emails linking to newly opened session dates.
Can I attend a synchronous session before I start my course?
Scheduling is flexible, and you can register for a session when it works for you. However, we recommend attending once you’re more than halfway through your course to ensure you have more to reflect on and share during the discussion.
Can I attend multiple sessions?
Yes! Since this is an optional opportunity, you’re welcome to register for and attend as many sessions as you’d like. You can attend sessions for just one course or for multiple courses you take with us. We look forward to seeing you!
