Professional Learning

Transform your teaching and learning methodology with the insight of Mackin’s professional learning team

Keynotes and Workshops

We offer educational, engaging sessions in the following categories.

Innovative Libraries

Innovative Libraries is not just about the intersection of technology and print, but the shift of patrons from consumer to producer.

Instead of being the place for students to acquire knowledge, it is also an environment for our learners to make meaning of information and create new ideas. Using both the National School Library Standards (AASL) and the ISTE Standards for Students and Educators, Heather helps librarians identify targeted areas of growth and collaboratively develops a plan to address those areas. Heather helps librarians “start where they are” and make intentional, strategic changes to their programs to make the most meaningful impact to the students and teachers they serve.

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Leadership

Leadership is not about being at the front, taking charge or doing all the work. As Simon Sinek teaches, leadership is about

harnessing the talents and strengths of those around us to build trust, grow efficacy, and achieve more collectively than we could imagine individually. Jen and Heather use a strengths-based approach to all leadership-focused sessions, honoring the gifts educators and students bring to the learning and leadership process. They ground the collaborative learning sessions in the principles of adult learning, appreciative inquiry, collective efficacy, and engagement gleaned from their own learning and the research of thought leaders they study including Simon Sinek, Patrick Lencioni, John T. Guthrie, Irene Fountas, Gay su Pinnell, John Hattie, and Michael Fullan.

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Literacy

Literacy is often narrowly defined as reading and writing when it could more accurately be defined as thinking or learning how to learn.

When we broaden our definition of both literacy and text (any content be it visual, audio, tactile) we open up the methods, tools, and mindsets of all learners and educators. Jen and Heather use a strengths-based approach to all professional learning sessions, honoring the gifts educators and students bring to the learning process. They ground their sessions in the principles of adult learning, motivation, and engagement gleaned from their own learning and the research of thought leaders they study such as Richard Allington, Robert Marzano, Simon Sinek, Patrick Lencioni, John T. Guthrie, Irene Fountas, Gay su Pinnell, Marie Clay, and John Hattie.

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Maker Education

Maker Education is so much more than technology and gadgets in a room. Traditional schooling was created in the image of industrialism. Yet, as we continue our movement into the 21st century, there is less of a demand

on rote memorization of facts and an increased demand on collaboration, critical thinking, and complex problem solving. All of these skills demand a high level of flexibility and creativity. So how do we as educators provide opportunities for creativity and collaboration, while still addressing the standards we are required to teach? Fortunately, we are teaching during the age of the maker movement which aims to integrate opportunities for imagination, creativity, and an inventor’s mindset into the K-12 setting. One way to foster this is by developing a makerspace in your school or classroom.

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Motivation & Engagement

Motivation and Engagement is an ongoing topic of conversation and learning among educators. We often consider how to engage our learners (of all ages) in the learning process. Over the last several years

researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders have pushed us to consider the science behind motivation and to reconsider many of our instructional approaches. Carol Dweck, John T. Guthrie, Daniel Pink, Steven Layne, Stephanie Harvey and Harvey Daniels, and many more have pushed us to rethink the use of carrots and sticks, consider student voice and choice, and examine the intersections between what motivates us as adults (autonomy, purpose, and mastery) and what motivates our students. Dr. Jennifer McCarty Plucker’s research has been centered on motivating and engaging adolescent learners in literacy and learning. Her practical case study insight has helped other districts rethink how they create conditions where striving readers and learners can grow as readers, writers, thinkers, and scholars, actually enjoying the process along the way.

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View Keynotes and Workshops

Meet the Consultants

Jennifer McCarty Plucker, Ed. D.

Literacy and Professional Learning Consultant

Learn More About Jennifer

Jennifer McCarty Plucker partners with educators to provide customized coaching, guidance, professional learning, and transformation tools. Jen is passionate and energetic about student engagement, teacher efficacy, transformative leadership, and literacy.

Her research has been recognized by:

ASCD in Educational Leadership
International Literacy Association
Southern Regional Education Board’s High Schools That Work

Jen has over 20 years of education experience as a:

Teaching and learning coordinator
ESL coordinator
K-12 intervention specialist
English/speech teacher
Reading specialist
Speech coach
Past president of the Minnesota Reading Association Adjunct instructor
Literacy consultant

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Heather Lister

Professional Learning Specialist

Learn More About Heather

Heather Lister is an international speaker and author on the topics of makerspaces, innovative libraries, and space transformation. With her experience and training as a school librarian, mathematics, instructional technology specialist, and school administrator, Heather brings a unique and practical perspective to the world of school librarianship and maker education.

Heather’s work has been recognized by:

American Association of School Librarians in eCollab and Knowledge Quest
School Library Connection
School Library Journal
Teacher2Teacher

Heather is certified in:

Library Science
Instructional Technology
Mathematics
School Administration (Principal Certificate)

Heather is a certified educator and trainer for the following:

MakeyMakey Certified Trainer
littleBits Certified Training Partner
Raspberry Pi Certified Educator
HyperDuino

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Contact Our Professional Learning Team!

We offer uniquely designed workshops, keynote addresses, coaching, and consulting services. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Fill out our form and we’ll be happy to provide customized programs to meet your needs.

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Ongoing Consultation

Partnership with teams in designing and implementing transformative practices for student learning and engagement.

On-Site Workshops

Engaging workshops around maker-centered education, transformational libraries, effective leadership, inquiry-based learning, literacy, and more.

Keynote / Featured Speaker

Inspirational messages on topics related to student engagement, inquiry, design thinking, literacy, maker education, and more.

Virtual Learning

Custom webinars, interactive workshops, and digital coaching.