Toolbox 2.0

Eleven United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism educators have been selected to participate in a unique educational opportunity. Each recipient has been chosen to join Toolbox 2.0, an innovative web course designed to train key educational leaders to mentor their staffs in integrating web technology into their Jewish educational settings. Using such pedagogical constructs such as understanding by design, teacher directed presentation and direct instruction, concept attainment through student-engaged discussion and cooperative learning, problem-based teaching including differentiated and individualized instruction, and Jewish integrated experiential education underscores how to transform the traditional classroom into a Jewish community of cooperating and caring learners.

Taught by master educators and authors Dr. Richard and Elaine Solomon and supported by technology experts Katrina Way and Ben Vorspan, students are nurtured as they strengthen their pedagogical knowledge base and repertoire of web-based skills. The web course runs from February through March, with weekly live 90 minute seminars in which participants share their collaborative work, including assignments, on-line discussions, and projects.

This learning opportunity was funded by a generous grant from PELIE (Partnership for Effective Learning and Innovative Education). It is coordinated by Wendy Light, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s director of integrated education.

List of Award Recipients:

Janice Colmar, Congregation B’nai Israel, Millburn, New Jersey
Beth Cohn Copelovitch, Beth Israel, Madison, Wisconsin
Dina Eliezer, Shearith Israel, Dallas, Texas
Erika Eskenazi, Congregation Beth Sholom Chevra Shas, Dewitt, New York
Teri Hochberg, Park Synagogue, Pepper Pike, Ohio
David Kaplan, Director of Youth Activities, New Frontier USY/Kadima, Berkeley, California
Eva Locker, Agudath Achim, Savannah, Georgia
Keri Loventhal, Temple Mishkon Tephilo, Venice, California
Sharon Paz, West End Synagogue, Nashville, Tennessee
Rabbi Charni Flame Selch, Bnai Israel, Northampton, Massachusetts
Janette Silverman, Beth El Congregation, Phoenix, Arizona