Professional Growth
Social Studies is the part of a school's curriculum that examines social relationships and the functioning of society. Social Studies courses are comprised of anthropology, civics, economics, geography, government, history, and sociology.
The AIU provides curriculum guidance and teacher professional development in these formats:
- Social Studies Network - face-to-face teacher professional development sessions are held at AIU's central office four times throughout the school year. These full-day workshops are centered on a specific topic related to social studies. Click here to register for 2025-2026 offerings.
- Social Studies Symposium - a full-day conference style teacher professional development event that is held every other year at AIU's central office. This event consists of a vendor showcase and a variety of short break-out learning sessions held on a variety of topics related to K-12 social studies education. The next symposium is slated for October 2027.
- Social Studies Curriculum and Instruction - social studies curriculum development and instructional coaching is available and can be arranged on an individual basis. Contact Dr. Paul Cindric for details and scheduling.
Professional Development Opportunities for Social Studies Educators
Historical Thinking in the Middle Grades
Geared toward teachers of history in the middle grades (5-8), this three-part professional development series provides participants with in-depth experience in utilizing inquiry-based lessons. This sequence of workshops seeks to break the lecture/note-taking/testing cycle and guide teachers toward a more student-centered pedagogy.
The goals of Historical Thinking in the Middle Grades include:
- Delving into the concepts of historical thinking models backed by research and experience
- Practicing the design, planning and instructional techniques involved in historical thinking usage
- Experiencing a myriad of resources that support historical thinking in middle grade classrooms
- Aligning PA Content Standards and PA Core Standards to history instruction
- Creating and utilizing assessments that measure students' comprehension of historical thinking concepts
Our next series is scheduled in Winter/Spring of 2026. Click here for more information and to register.
Contact Us
Dr. Paul Cindric, Program Director
paul.cindric@aiu3.net
412-394-4940