Our "why" is to ensure teaching and learning is
standards based, socially and emotionally supportive, and student responsive
so that the experience is academic and affective for all.
MAVERIK EDUCATION provides professional development, guidance and support on how to develop and deliver teaching and learning experiences that are standards driven, socially and emotionally supportive, and student responsive.
MAVERIK EDUCATION is owned and operated by Erik M. Francis, M.Ed., M.S., an international author and presenter with over 25 years of experience working in education as a classroom teacher, a site administrator, an education program specialist with a state education agency, and a staff development trainer who produces and provides professional development, guidance and support for teachers and school leaders.
Erik is the author of Inquiring Minds Want to Learn: Posijg Good Questions to Promote Student Inquiry and Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning published by Solution Tree. He is also the author of Now THAT'S a Good Question! How to Promote Cognitive Rigor Through Classroom Questioning published by ASCD.
Erik is ranked consistently as one of the World's Top 30 Education Professionals by the research organization Global Gurus. He has also been named as one of the Top Global Thought Leaders for Design Thinking and Future of Work by Thinkers360.
Erik specializes in providing academic professional development, consultation, and coaching to K-12 schools, colleges, and universities on how to develop rigorous learning environments and deliver engaging educational experiences that will prompt and encourage students to demonstrate different levels of thinking and understand and use their depth of knowledge (DOK) in diverse contexts, new situations, and their own unique way. He has extensive experience working with diverse populations of schools, staff, and students at all grade levels from pre-kindergarten to post-graduates.
Erik's seminars and workshops have been featured at national, state, and regional education conferences hosted by organizations such as ASCD, Learning Forward, the College Board, the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the National Teacher Center, and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). He has led and facilitated in person and virtual professional development trainings at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and internationally in Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East.
Erik received his Master’s in Education Leadership from Northern Arizona University and Master’s of Science in Television/Radio/and Film Production and Management from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. He also holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication and English from the University at Albany.
Erik lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his family. He enjoys football (Go Arizona Cardinals!), basketball (Go Phoenix Suns!), working out, Peloton (#Maverik70), playing guitar, classic rock music (I'm a huge Van Halen and Led Zeppelin fan!), and watching films (The Godfather saga, Jaws, the Star Wars saga, the Rocky films including the Creed movies, and Marvel's Infinity War saga are my favorites).
You can connect with Erik at the following social media sites:
Twitter / X: @Maverikedu12
Learn how to phrase and pose good questions during classroom instruction that will ignite students' inquiring minds, enrich their learning, "hook 'em" into learning, and guide them down four different and distinct pathways of inquiry that will make teaching and learning educational and enjoyable for all.
If your understanding of depth of knowledge (DOK) is a little cloudy, you’re not alone. This resource is your one-stop-shop for learning what it is and how to use it to provide learning experiences that are academically rigorous, socially and emotionally supportive, and student responsive.
What is a good question - or rather, how does a good question challenge students to demonstrate different levels of thinking and understand and use their depth of knowledge? xplore how good questioning can provide the proper scaffolding to deepen student thinking, understanding, and application of knowledge.
Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Conversation with Erik M. Francis - Solution Tree Podcast
DOK and Good Questioning - The Tom Schimmer Show
Daily Drop In with Rae Hughart from Teach Better Team
Teach Better Talk Podcast with Rae Hughart and Jeff Gargas
Out of the Trenches Podcast with Dana Goodier
DOK and Good Questioning - Teacher Success Summit with Chuck Poole
The Lurnist Radio Show - Interview along with Chrisian Nelson from uQualio(R)
Interview on The Lasting Learning Podcast hosted by Dave Schmittou
"Transitioning Teaching and Learning in the Classroom to the Home" - Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast hosted by Andrea Samadi
"Using Good Questions to Promote Cognitive Rigor" - Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast hosted by Andrea Samadi
Interview on the EduTechGuys
Inquiring Minds Want to Learn:
Posing Good Questions
to Promote Student Inquiry
by
Erik M. Francis
Published by Solution Tree