"There was a lot of other people going through similar issues with kids and they offered solutions I never thought of."
Angela - PLC participant, Southern Oregon
Research and Evidence-Based Professional Development for K12 and Early Learning
Cultivate is the professional learning collaborative within the Center for Childhood Safety and Wellbeing (CSAW) at the University of Oregon, equipping educators and youth-serving professionals with research-informed training and implementation support.
Cultivate partners with ESDs, Districts and Schools to deliver research and evidence-based Professional Development that supports developing High Quality Environments for Children & Adults to learn and work.
Our Professional Development is rooted in MicroPD video lessons. MicroPDs are short (8-15 minutes long) animated videos that teach research and evidence-based strategies specific to a topic or skill our school partners have identified as important. We aim for our MicroPDs to cut down on the time and complexity usually involved when adopting and training staff on evidence and research-based practices. Each lesson is accompanied by discussion questions and scenarios for application all embedded within preset agendas, slides and quick guides.
Participants consistently report that Cultivate’s professional development feels different because it is designed specifically for the real world roles that educators hold. Educational assistants, teacher leaders, and administrators report that our content is practical, immediately applicable, and grounded in the day-to-day realities of schools.
Developed with educators, for educators, participants have space to reflect on their unique responsibilities, build on concrete strategies, and feel recognized as professionals with vast expertise to share. Across districts and ESDs, participants note that our PD increases job confidence, clarity, and collaboration, making the learning not only relevant but sustainable and impactful for both staff and students.