Mindwaves, with the cooperation of the Israeli Ministry of Education and several Israeli municipalities, is in the process of developing partnerships with organizations, including All Kinds of Minds and Hidden Sparks, in order to offer professional development programs for individual educators and entire schools in Israel.

According to the New Teacher Center at the University of California, Santa Cruz, what most teachers need in professional development are opportunities to help them differentiate instruction to meet diverse learning needs. Similarly, 94% of teachers surveyed by Public Agenda for Teaching in Changing Times (2008) said they believe more preparation to help them adapt instruction to meet the needs of diverse classrooms is one of the top factors in improving teacher quality. (source: All Kinds of Minds)

The programs are intended to provide an in-depth exploration of learning and learning variations, along with processes and tools that help educators address the diverse learning needs in their classrooms. The program will teach how the mind functions through the All Kinds of Minds research-based framework of eight neurodevelopmental constructs and explore—through interactive discussions, case studies, and reflection—how an understanding of the science of learning can enhance instructional decision-making. Participants will develop skills to identify strengths and breakdowns in student learning, link them to a student’s unique learning profile, and effectively select instructional strategies that leverage a student’s strengths and help him or her overcome barriers to learning.