Throughout most of modern education, teaching has been depicted as an educator standing in front of a blackboard delivering a lecture while students appear unengaged and aloof. Even AP instruction relied greatly on this lecture-style approach. In recent years, however, there has been a shift in the way teachers actually teach — enter, the teacher facilitator.
The Role of a Teacher Facilitator
Think back to your favorite classes and the teachers who led them. Chances are, they weren't the ones with lengthy daily lectures or endless drill-and-kill exercises. What made the teachers in these classrooms special was their ability to connect with students in a way that felt authentic, inspiring, and growth-oriented. They encouraged student ownership in learning, allowing them to explore, question, and genuinely engage with the material.
A teacher facilitator is an innovative practitioner who shares knowledge and cultivates an environment where students feel challenged and supported. Teacher facilitators prioritize student needs, adapt their resources and teaching methods for improved learning, and embrace instructional technology. In essence, the facilitator model moves away from traditional one-way teaching, focusing instead on guiding students through productive struggle and meaningful exploration.1
3 Steps to Becoming an AP Teacher Facilitator
Becoming an AP teacher facilitator involves 3 main steps: evaluating your current AP programming, adopting effective instructional practices, and using quality resources to enhance learning.
Step 1. Start With an Evaluation of AP Programming
An honest evaluation of your AP instruction and programming is a key starting point. Ask yourself: Are you prioritizing foundational skills by building a strong base for students' deeper understanding? Reflect on whether you're fully embracing the curriculum for your specific grade and subject area or if personal preferences might sometimes override it. Consider whether your classroom offers a safe space for students to ask questions, make mistakes, and develop critical problem-solving skills. One of the best ways to get a true sense of where your instruction stands is by asking someone you trust to watch you teach and provide you with productive feedback.
Being a facilitator also involves regular communication with students and parents and fostering a respect for classroom diversity. Use AP scores and participation rates as part of your AP instructional evaluation — remembering that data alone doesn't tell the full story. Instead, let it be a tool for self-assessment and growth, helping you identify areas to refine in your teaching approach. Additionally, if you have asked someone to observe you teach, they can also provide you with other types of data points, such as how much talking you're doing versus how much talking your students are doing.
Step 2. Establish Positive Instructional Practices
Effective instructional practices are at the heart of the facilitator model. Instead of standard learning objectives, consider using reflective questions that resonate more with students. For example, instead of a dry objective such as "Explain the U.S. response to international developments," ask reflective questions such as "How did the U.S. support non-communist regimes during this period?"
While student choice is valuable, constant choice can be overwhelming and unrealistic. Prioritize variation in instruction instead, incorporating activities including group discussions, debates, guest speakers, and recorded lessons. This approach shows students that you respect their strengths and care about creating an engaging, adaptable learning environment. Throughout the year, formative assessments allow you to quickly check students' understanding and adjust instruction as needed, balancing district mandates with responsive teaching practices.
Step 3. Utilize Quality Instructional Resources
Quality resources are essential for AP teacher facilitators, especially when it comes to delivering actionable, formative feedback that guides student learning. UWorld's Courses for AP are invaluable tools, offering pre-built assignments, engaging multimedia content, and an intuitive alignment with College Board® standards. This platform helps you distinguish between graded assignments and formative assessments, allowing students to receive low-stakes feedback and educators to adapt instruction based on quick, real-time insights.
With UWorld, you can use resources that engage students in productive struggle through rigorous AP exam-style questions and detailed answer explanations. Each question includes comprehensive feedback that builds foundational knowledge, corrects misconceptions, and supports deeper understanding. Additionally, UWorld's alignment with the College Board's curriculum framework simplifies instructional planning, making it easier for teachers to cover essential content while managing time effectively—a significant benefit given the tight pacing of AP courses.
Continuing to Grow as a Teacher Facilitator
To keep improving as a teacher facilitator, consider professional development options such as attending an AP Summer Institute, joining or creating a cohort, presenting at conferences, or becoming an AP reader. These experiences will enhance your teaching practices and help you connect with other educators with similar goals and challenges.
Discover how UWorld's Courses for AP can support your journey to becoming a more effective AP teacher facilitator, helping you empower student ownership in learning to build confidence, master content, and take charge of their success.
