NovaNow: An Opportunity to Start Your Journey Into Project-Based Learning

NovaNow is a conference focused on innovations in education. One innovation that many people of heard of, but struggle to implement is Project-Based Learning (PBL). For this reason, NovaNow has dedicated an entire strand to PBL. This series of sessions will run throughout the conference for participants that want to learn how they can get started with PBL. Sessions included in this PBL series include:

• Design and Foundations of PBL
• Assessment in PBL
• Authentic Audience, Community Partners, and Student Voice
• PBL Culture
• Elementary PBL
• Secondary PBL
• PBL in Math

Each of the above sessions will be led by PBL experts, including facilitators from Kent Innovation High, a Project-Based Learning school.

To participate in our PBL strand, simply register for NovaNow on February 5 & 6.

Click here to learn more and register for NovaNow

#novanow

Inquiry Learning by Breaking Out of the Box

I want to introduce you to Kelly Kermode, Integrated Learning Strategist at Forest Hills Public Schools in the greater Grand Rapids area.  Kelly is an educator who has been in a number of roles for the past 16 years and is a Google Certified Innovator, Adobe Education Leader and MACUL Special Interest Group leader… along with about 15 other things. She is always looking for innovative ways to engage students in their learning to reach higher outcomes.

In late November, I visited Kelly in her native environment-that is, at a school and as usual, up to her elbows in making school more awesome for kids. On this day, she was deploying a very cool inquiry based learning adventure called Breakout EDU.

BreakoutEDU started as an idea pitched by James Sanders at the Illinois Future Ready Schools summit in 2015.  James is currently the Chief Innovation Officer, EdTechTeam.

At the keynote, James shared his idea about what are called “breakout rooms” and gave background about how they all came about. He went on to explain that there are these escape rooms around the world where you pay to get “locked in” a room with friends and try to escape by solving puzzles and unlocking codes. There was even an episode of Big bang Theory around this game.

James was with some high school students in Edmonton, Canada playing one of these escape room games and he was amazed at how engaged and hard these students were working to solve the puzzle during this game. James wanted to turn this incredible learning experience of problem solving and fun and into something that can be used in the classroom.

Shortly after, James launched the BreakoutEDU website which includes links to pre-created learning adventures and turn-key kits so you can run your own BreakoutEDU game.

Here’s how BreakoutEDU works.

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How breakouts are being used

Breakouts are being used to teach core academic subjects including math, science, history, and language arts. Each adventure has embedded standards that apply problem solving strategies within a real world OR collaborative context.

A feature of BreakoutEDU is that the quest to solve the mysteries is very much rooted in inquiry based learning where learning or solving a particular problem revolves solving a central question.

The framework of the learning game ensures that Involvement that leads to understanding, and that players are Converting information and data into useful knowledge.  The learning is centered around the process of figuring the problem out, all in a student centered, collaborative manner.  

As you watch the game unfold, you will see the learners collaborate, question, investigate, and observe each other’s thinking.  

For more information on how you too can make the magic happen in your classroom, check out these resources:

BreakoutEDU Webpage – http://www.breakoutedu.com/
BreakoutEDU Facebook Group
BreakoutEDU Overview 
BreakoutEDU Interview

Ron Houtman – @ronhoutman

#breakoutedu, #experiential, #forest-hills, #grand-rapids, #inquiry, #learning, #macul

NovaNow Registration is Open! Discounted Rate Available Through Dec 4.

NovaNow is a conference for educators of all kinds to share their best ideas, plans, and dreams about learning. It is also a place where thoughtful questioning and critiques are encouraged. NovaNow is a conference where presentations are not given, but rather conversations are led by innovators in learning.

Observe our PBL school in action on Friday morning and then join conversations beginning after lunch and continuing on Saturday. See examples of student products and interact with the students at the student Makerfaire. New for this year will be a PBL tract of conversations designed for a deep dive into implementing PBL into your classroom. NovaNow will also feature a spoken word performance by The Diatribe that you will not want to miss!

NovaNow will be held February 5-6, 2016 at Kent Innovation High in Grand Rapids, Michigan. KIH is a Project Based Learning school attended by students across Kent County. It is part of the New Tech Network of schools and has been awarded Demonstration Site status as an exemplary model of PBL.

Receive an early bird discount for registration now through December 4, 2015. Sign up now before it’s too late!

Click here to learn more and register for the NovaNow conference.

#novanow

edCampGR was awesome… what’s next?

What an amazing day last Saturday was!  We were privileged to meet so many professional and pre-service educators from across the region. As we listened and conversed,  inspired by the amazing things that are happening within and beyond our area,  we came away ready to make school more awesome for our learners.  We saw some great connections being made, and amazing things will happen because of them!

If you’ve never attended an edCamp, they are unlike traditional conferences which have schedules set months in advance by the people running the conference.  Edcamps have an agenda created by the participants just before the start of the event. Instead of one person standing in front of the room talking for an hour, people are encouraged to have discussions and hands-on sessions.

via @miched

What’s next?  We’d love to see the conversation continue online via Twitter using the #MichED hashtag and to look forward to growing this event in the future.

In addition, you might consider attending NovaNowGR, Feb 5 and 6, 2016 at Kent Innovation High School. It features a conversational format around Project Based Learning and how innovation and engagement can help our students achieve at even higher levels.

Thanks again to everyone for attending, and we hope to see you soon online and in person.

#edcamp, #novanowgr

Kent ISD’s Technology Integration Series – Part 2: I want to integrate technology… Where do I start?

This is part two of Kent ISD’s Technology Integration Series. Each course features five one-hour sessions that you can access in person at Kent ISD or virtually via web conference. Each simulcasted session will include direct instruction, as well as workshop time, with available support from the facilitator. Best of all, this offering is completely FREE!

To simplify the words “integrating technology” – we are merely suggesting that you discover ways to use technology within the existing curriculum. Technology should not replace what you normally teach. Technology is a tool – just like a calculator, a pen, or a chalkboard – which helps you to teach and helps your students to learn. It’s really that simple.

In this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe factors that influence the integration, implementation, and evaluation of educational technology in a learning environment.
• Set and define criteria, inspired by frameworks, for selecting and using educational technologies and match those criteria to potential resources.
• Recognize and describe major challenges faced by educators when implementing educational technology.
• Understand methods used to evaluate educational technologies and how and why they are applied.

To register for I want to integrate technology… Where do I start?, go to:

http://j.mp/1zib2xn

Up to 5 SCECHs are available for this course. More information regarding the third part in this series will be shared at a later date.

Kent ISD’s Digital Assessment Series Continues with Transformative Assessment Tools and Strategies

Kent ISD’s Digital Assessment Series began in September focusing on Substitutional Assessment Tools and Strategies. Through this experience, educators learned how to transition from traditional paper assessments to powerful online assessments. Through our next part in the series, Transformative Assessment Tools and Strategies, we want to continue our support of digital assessments and help educators to develop new assessments that were previously impossible without technology.

Transformative Assessment Tools and Strategies is part two of Kent ISD’s Digital Assessment Series. This course will focus on how teachers can use digital tools to transform their assessment practices in ways that were not previously possible. It will follow the same format as other parts of the series: 5 one-hour sessions that are designed to be flexible, accessible, and outcome-based. Participants can attend in-person or via web conference. Each session will feature an overview of tools and strategies as well as a workshop portion in which participants can apply the learning while getting support from the facilitator. Session topics for each week are as follows:

• Session 1: Getting Transformative with Formative
• Session 2: Getting Transformative with Google Forms
• Session 3: Getting Transformative with Edify
• Session 4: Getting Transformative with Rubrics, Part 1
• Session 5: Getting Transformative with Rubrics, Part 2

Registration for this course is open to all educators, so participation in the first part of this series, Substitutional Assessment Tools and Strategies, is not required. Best of all, this professional learning opportunity has been made available for FREE through Kent ISD.

To register for Transformative Assessment Tools and Strategies, go to:

http://j.mp/1zus6hd

Up to 5 SCECHs are available for this course. More information regarding the third part in this series will be shared at a later date.

Discovery Education Professional Learning Day at REMC 8 & Kent ISD

The REMC Association of Michigan, Discovery Education, and Kent ISD REMC 8 are pleased to present “Discovery Education Professional Learning Day” at Kent ISD.

• When: Thursday, December 17, 2015 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
• Where: Kent ISD – 2930 Knapp NE – Grand Rapids, MI 49525
• Cost: FREE to public school educators in the REMC 8 Service Area

Description:
This free, hands-on, minds-on workshop will provide participants with exciting and enriching professional development, focused on creative ways to maximize Discovery Education STREAMING, emphasizing instructional best practices for digital media. Cindy Lane, from Discovery Education, will be the facilitator for this exciting day. Whether you are new to Discovery Education STREAMING or you are an “every day, every lesson” user, this workshop will provide you with creative ways to motivate students, engage higher order thinking, support retention and transfer, and achieve learning and curriculum goals with a myriad of creative integration strategies for using Discovery Education media assets.

This workshop will begin with the basics and will move on to explore how to use Discovery Education resources to create interactive lesson plans that support all curricular areas while differentiating instruction. You’ll leave feeling empowered to create rigorous and relevant, media-infused learning experiences that support all learners!

Please make sure to bring your own internet browsing device.

Note: Registration is open to public school educators in the REMC 8 service area.
http://bit.ly/remc8dod – The ‘secret code’ to register is: REMC8

#discovery, #educational-technology, #professional-development, #remc, #remcam

Using Tech With Intention

It is not uncommon for teachers (or schools and districts in some cases) to implement technology without much intention or planning. Another way to put that is people are using tech because they feel like they should, and it may not be tied to effective practice or intended outcomes. This is like trying to capture something while blindfolded, and it leads to problems. I want to explore some of those problems as well as share some ideas on what can be done about them.

Problems 

1. Lack of consistent implementation across classrooms or grade levels, resulting in a varied experience for students and challenges with analyzing effective practices across an organization.
2. Lack of preparation or training to facilitate, resulting in ineffective implementation.
3. Lack of alignment with any research-based practice or existing school/district improvement goals.

Some Options for Addressing Problems

1. Work in grade level or content-area teams to build common tech-related activities into the curriculum. This will help ensure consistency across classrooms and provide a focus / support structure for teachers. (A key difference between effective integration and just messing around is writing it down).
2. Use a process (collaborative preferably) to determine what should be used for a given objective (Example: MiExcel Hexagon Tool). This will help ensure that the choices can be supported and meet the identified need.
3. Choose an existing research-based strategy or existing school improvement goal and add a tech element to it (Example: Marzano Strategies). This will help ensure that activities are rooted in effective practice.

Some people may think that these approaches may limit innovation or stymie creativity. To counter that, I argue that innovation most often occurs as an improvement upon something that already exists. If we are intentional about the tech that we choose, we can build from what we know to be effective and maximize our impact without experimenting with students.

#educational-technology, #effective-practice

Bring a Maker Faire to your School!

Here’s a great idea for your school – launch a Maker Faire!

Maker Faire is a celebration of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. It’s a place to show what we’ve made and to share what we’ve learned with others—a great match for any educational community.

Schools host Maker Faires because they are a perfect combination of part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new. School Maker Faire exhibitors, or “makers,” are primarily students—either as individuals, clubs, classes or groups. And Maker Faire exhibits can be from any discipline — from science to art to gardening to engineering to craft.

For more information and how to get going on this next-level STEM event going at your school, please visit the Maker Faire School website.

#faire, #maker, #stem

Personalized Learning Conference Call for Proposals is Open!

Kent ISD is pleased to announce the hosting of the Personalized Learning Conference on April 29, 2016 and is searching for presenters to share their experiences in this evolving educational practice. Personalized Learning is a model of learning that puts the needs of students first by providing choice and flexibility in how, what, when and where each student learns.

Proposals that include the innovative use of blended learning and/or technology to drive or support elementary, middle and high school learning to ensure students are college and career ready are sought. In particular, we seek case studies, action research, and stories of success related to innovative learning that facilitates one or more of the following:

• Blended Learning Implementation
• Individualized Instruction
• Assessment & Feedback
• Practice
• Promoting Transfer and Universal Design for Learning
• Active Learning
• Mastery Learning
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Project-Based Learning

Click here to submit your proposal for the Personalized Learning Conference

Proposal submission deadline is December 4, 2015 at 11:59PM.

#plcon16