Marco Antonio Torres is an internationally recognized teacher and filmmaker who uses the movie-making process to make his classroom projects explode with empowerment and enthusiasm. Working along side the exceptionally talented Alas Media Team, this phenomenal workshop will take you through the entire movie making process.
This two day event will be a practical, hands-on session where teachers will learn not only valuable and practical tips on how to make a great movie, but also how to plan and manage such projects. Teachers will also find out how to market this program to their communities and also learn how to share the projects with the world! See how movies have a place in your content area classroom/ new studio. Lights, Camera, LEARN!
We will start by exploring a variety of apps, some that lend themselves to learning content such as math facts or spelling words and others that can be used in open-ended content creation such as storytelling or photography. Then we will link these apps in design to your curriculum. We will explore opportunities for mapping to the curriculum where students are creating, contributing and engaging globally on both the iPad and other mobile technologies.
Participants will:
Presentation Link: http://balancedtech.wikispaces.com/BLC12+-+iPad+Apps+For+Creativity
Marco Antonio Torres is an internationally recognized teacher and filmmaker who uses the movie-making process to make his classroom projects explode with empowerment and enthusiasm. Working along side the exceptionally talented Alas Media Team, this phenomenal workshop will take you through the entire movie making process.
This two day event will be a practical, hands-on session where teachers will learn not only valuable and practical tips on how to make a great movie, but also how to plan and manage such projects. Teachers will also find out how to market this program to their communities and also learn how to share the projects with the world! See how movies have a place in your content area classroom/ new studio. Lights, Camera, LEARN!
Unpacking the broad assessment agenda we face in schools today and exploring new insights and solutions for the challenges we face. Let’s face it, the assessment agenda is fraught with mixed metaphors, blind alleys and confusing vocabulary! Let’s re-establish assessment in it’s rightful place as an integral part of any learning.
It is all about the grade at the end of the day. How can I break this everlasting cycle?
I want my students to be more central in their learning, how do I take steps towards this?
I think I am doing OK with assessment in my classroom, but how does this compare with elsewhere in the world? Do others face the same challenge?
Attendees will:
Bring your digital camera and join us on a walking tour of downtown Boston to explore night photography and to change the way you view Boston Harbour.
We will explore global projects engaging students to paint their city, home and themselves in a different light. We will investigate ways we can offer to depict stereotypes, such as inner city locations in inspiring ways.
We will be going on a photo safari around downtown Boston at night and will look at ways to investigate the how we frame our photos (what we focus on, what we edit out) as a starting point for reflective practice, for writing, art and critical thinking in the classroom. Learn about night photography and painting with light to ignite imagination and create highly dramatic photos to render the familiar a little strange.
Most -- if not all -- of the important skills in our lives are acquired outside the traditional classroom setting. Yet we continue to teach using lectures where students passively take down information. Peer instruction is a research-based pedagogy that actively engages students in the classroom and has been shown to dramatically improve conceptual understanding, even in large classes. While successfully implementing peer instruction doesn't require any technology, using the right technology can improve student engagement, increase learning, and make it easier to implement peer instruction in your classroom. In this workshop you will learn how to use Learning Catalytics -- a web-based technology publicly unveiled for the first time last year at BLC '11 -- to bring peer instruction to your students. You will get hands-on experience designing effective questions -- not just multiple-choice but also open-ended questions where students produce textual, numerical, or graphical responses -- and using Learning Catalytics to pose them to students. You will also see how to use Learning Catalytics to manage the discussions students have during class and promote engagement and conceptual understanding.
Screencasting is a fun and exciting way for students to take an active role in their own learning. Student-created screencasts can be used for authentic assessment, tutoring and sharing concepts with a global audience. This workshop will start with the basics of how to get started with screencasting. With hands-on guidance and demonstrations, participants will learn how easy it is to record, edit and share their screencasts using Camtasia (a free copy of Camtasia Studio or Camtasia for Mac will be provided to each attendee).
Participants will learn to create, organize and present crisp, professionally-pleasing screencasts. Other topics to be covered include:
Do you like to eat with your fingers? Maybe the iPad is for you. Are you a “multitasker”? If so, perhaps the iPad is not for you. What real questions do you need to consider in implementing mobile technologies into a school culture? How does teaching and learning change when you have access to the right information at the right time.
In an age of overabundance of information what information do we need, do our students need? Learn about practical examples of how you can use iPads for empowered learning. This is not a session showing yet another list of the latest apps. Bring your iPad and be prepared to share an idea of how you are using iPads to change the structures of learning. Join Julia for this hands on popular session.
Please come to the workshop with your own iPad, your Apple ID's and passwords and your iTunes account.
Also, go to the following link and download the apps PRIOR to the session. Many of the apps require you double click them to launch them then sign up for an account. Please sign up for accounts for these apps prior to coming so that you can participate along with us and use them right away. If you have a laptop, bring it also.
Click on the link below to get the list of apps to download: http://ipadapi.wikispaces.com/
In a world of rapidly developing technology, are you having a difficult time finding a jumping off point? In this four-hour session you will take part in a hands-on learning adventure that models an immersion process you can use with your own students. You will interact with a powerful learning community as you explore a variety of Web-based tools and learn to integrate these same tools across the curriculum in meaningful and effective ways. The results will be expanded opportunities for developing a personal learning community, authentic work, global audiences and concrete ways that your students can make valuable contributions to their learning community.
Screencasting is a fun and exciting way for students to take an active role in their own learning. Student-created screencasts can be used for authentic assessment, tutoring and sharing concepts with a global audience. This workshop will start with the basics of how to get started with screencasting. With hands-on guidance and demonstrations, participants will learn how easy it is to record, edit and share their screencasts using Camtasia (a free copy of Camtasia Studio or Camtasia for Mac will be provided to each attendee).
Participants will learn to create, organize and present crisp, professionally-pleasing screencasts. Other topics to be covered include:
How can leaders maximize student engagement and academic achievement? How can leaders encourage teachers and students to collaborate with peers and professionals around the world?
The goal of this session is to provide you with maximum capacity for effective leadership in the 21st Century. This session will outline essential skills for leaders and offer practical guidelines and creative solutions for building accountability into the planning process. Articulating vision and managing change will be emphasized, along with the following:
Join us as we journey through a Common Core based activity drawing on critical thinking, information literacy and project development. Explore the process changes involved in building the capacity of students to ask deeper questions, think critically about content, deconstruct information and support or challenge claims, as they respond to increasingly complex tasks.
An intentional play on the popular quote from David Coleman, a contributing author of the ELA Standards, the title of this workshop invites participants to engage with the standards using the media and mediums of todays leaners.
Throughout this high engagement, hands-on workshop, participants will explore a process for:
- asking effective questions
- mapping a project plan
- collecting, analyzing and sifting through evidence
- identifying authentic audiences
Closing discussion and reflections will offer participants an opportunity to connect design elements of the workshop with learning experiences for their students.
Presentation Link: http://brainyardworkshop.wikispaces.com/
Successful public charter schools have embraced innovation, entrepreneurship and 21st century learning throughout the past decade. For many of us, though, our schools have strongly established traditions, expectations and curriculum that are slow to embrace change. We are in a time of global transition, but how do we effectively navigate cultural and social expectations while meeting the needs of learners in the digital age? How can we generate real change in our schools when our local and national culture is steeped in 20th century educational traditions and benchmarks? In this session, you will take away applied examples for making the case, stimulating and building resonance for change in your school. You will pick up proven tactics that will help you create and support programming for integrated 21st century learning, change existing faculty mindsets and practices and meet expectations of parents and colleges.
A leading safe, social curricular learning platform (ePals LearningSpace) will be demonstrated and show the advantages of this next generation social learning platforms for school use. This session will provide evidence and data on how social learning platform significantly increases writing, critical thinking, and engaged learning. See how to leverage "social learning" principles while maintaining easy teacher and district implementation in a safe way. Simplify integrated web 2.0 tools in the kind of way that prepares students for college and the career workplace where they will create, share and manage their work and ideas in a professional online environment with their peers. Presenters have done thousands of integrated school deployments worldwide and are industry leading experts.
Curricular content from the Smithsonian and publishing companies will be also be featured.
Join Peter as he challenges educators to incorporate the 4 C's ~ Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity in their approach to teaching and learning. Peter shares his new short film, "Above and Beyond", created in collaboration with The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. This animated fable helps show that content mastery without the 4Cs will not provide students with the "wings" required to meet the demands of higher education, career, and life in a global society and world economy. In addition hear about Peter's essentials to foster creativity and innovation in the classroom. Participants leave with a renewed sense of engagement and a practical list of tools to tackle this challenge.
This is a specific post production, editing workshop focused for more experienced (or willing) people who feel they need more time to talk about strategies, techniques, and tools to help them get their movies to look and feel more PRO-like. First off, any teacher can make a better looking, flowing, sounding movie. iMovie and Final Cut Pro X are two tools that have been intimidating to some, but I will take this time to go over features and tip of both applications that can help you produce the movie you want to make. There are a lot of you who ask me for this workshop and here it is. I can also do my best to answer any of your specific questions you may have about these apps. I will showcase some of my favorite tips and techniques, project management advice, and direct you to online resources to continue your journey to better movie making!
Over the past three years, the November Learning team has visited over 20 schools in the United States, in Canada and in Asia as a part of our Innovative Planning Partnership (IPP), a process that assists schools and districts in developing technology integration plans that lead to more empowered teaching and learning immediately and in the future. By completing a review of current technology and professional development plans, a school/district-wide survey, a series of classroom observations and meetings with school leaders, teachers, students and parents, we have been able to define clear steps of how to integrate and align technology across the curriculum.
During this session, I will share what we have learned during our visits, including the top five crucial areas that are often forgotten about as schools make the transition from paper to digital environments.
Have you been wondering about those curious little square codes that are showing up more and more in magazines, stores, theaters, and everywhere else? They are QR Codes and they have the power to link the real-world to the digital-world. In this session we will explore ways to use those little black and white codes to communicate and educate.
Participants will learn:
-more about what QR Codes are and how they work
-how to quickly and easily create your own QR Codes for free
-how to use QR Codes to give students access to rich information and experiences through links to movies, podcasts, text, URLs and more
Be sure to bring your smartphone to fully participate in this interactive session!
Presentation Resources: http://lainierowell.com
Reading is a lifelong skill that is critical to student success. Not until myON reader was launched was a program able to personalize learning and provide books and assessments digitally. Launched in 2011, myON reader is a personalized literacy environment that matches students to a recommended book list based on their interests and reading level that provides anytime, anywhere access on any device. The myON platform uses the MetaMetrics Lexile® Framework for Reading to provide valid and reliable embedded assessments and scientifically based predictions of future reading abilities.
During this session you will:
In this one-hour interactive discussion, my students and I will share reactions and reflections on activities inspired by previous BLC events. Participants will also share ways they have (or will) put BLC ideas into action. Various topics will include:
-Flickr used as a way to make abstract thinking concrete (an idea inspired by Darren Kuropatwa’s use of Flickr in his calculus classroom)
-Student film as art, instruction, and introductions (inspired by the film making workshops of Marco Torres and Alas Media)
-The Digital Farm (inspired by Alan’s presentations of the same name)
-Student Scribes in an English Classroom (inspired by Alan’s podcast with Darren Kuropatwa)
Presentation Link: http://tinyurl.com/BLCathome
Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving… buzz words no longer! To meet the complexities of today’s world, our students need more than skills — they need Habitudes! Successful students, workers, and citizens have identifiable habits and behaviors which allow them to manage emotions, communicate effectively, and sustain themselves as independent and successful lifelong learners. We’ll explore intentional lessons and conversations that nurture and develop these habits and attitudes; the Habitudes that ensure our students’ success far beyond our classrooms.
Alan November challenges us to give students the opportunity to proclaim "stand on our shoulders” by doing work that is valued by others and that peers can build on to transform the world. In promoting “stand on our shoulders” work in your school or district, you want to move from pockets of innovation to sustained innovation.
Hear strategies to use in your search for the Holy Grail—Scaling Up:
• Promote a framework that emphasizes providing students the opportunity to do transformative work (what is transformative work and how does it create a sense of ownership among students);
• Strengthen professional learning networks with an emphasis on teacher-leadership and looking at student work;
• Implement policies that promote digital citizenship rather than just focusing on restricting users [encourage students to bring cell phones & other devices to school for learning, decrease restrictions on access to the internet (including YouTube, Twitter, & Facebook), and remove policy barriers to display of student work & photos on the web]; and
• Provide anytime/anywhere access to the resources of your network through a bring-your-own-technology initiative and a private cloud.
How large is the gap that truly exists between the real and ideal for learners? Are there ways to “tweak” (small shift) content-driven instruction that will enlist students as deep questioners, critical thinkers and effective problem-solvers (big impact)? What if we created a “Destination Postcard” of the ideal learner, and designed learning experiences from there? Join this Switch-inspired think-tank on lesson design strategies that empower students to think and act their way to the acquisition and connection of content while developing learning dispositions. (Common Core Compatible)
Attendees will engage in discussion and consider activities designed to help educators:
Consider content acquisition as a vehicle for learning (means not end).
Create a classroom of “disruptive technologists,” seeking learner-driven ways to leverage digital tools, environments and processes.
Apply concepts from Switch (Chip & Dan Heath) to identify “small shift / big impact” possibilities in lesson (re)design.
Presentation link: http://bit.ly/ssbi-links
The Values Exchange (VX) is a unique web-based thinking environment. The VX community allows students to explore any social issue using 'Facebook-style' technology and powerful social concepts (my feelings, hopes, ideals, equality, law etc). Students eagerly grasp the chance for online debate about situations that really matter to them. Students can post unlimited issues of their own, and explore a comprehensive dashboard of results as soon as they submit their ideas.
This session will explain exactly how teachers can use the Values Exchange Community to enhance their teaching in all areas of the curriculum. In addition, participants will:
understand the background to this thinking environment
how students can best use it
how to set up their own cases for debate
how to engage students in exploring results and interpreting rich meaning from the data
Everyday the Year 3 (2nd Grade) pupils at Rosendale Primary School in London negotiate their day.
Since September 2011 NoTosh has been working with the teachers at Rosendale Primary School. One of the key elements that emerged was how their innovative child centred curriculum was restricted by the traditional notion of the timetable. So we helped them re-design it, handing over the control to the 8 and 9 year olds.
Attendees will:
- See an overview of the project and how it fits into ongoing Design Thinking work
- Explore the curriculum model that puts the pupil at the centre of learning
- Review their own timetable to reveal questions and challenges - and surface the traditional blocks in the way
- Take away a new perspective on what teachers or school has control over
- Hear the views of pupils and staff who are innovating in this way in their classes
- Have time to reflect on their own practice and what it would take to change
Members of our faculty engaged in a yearlong exploration of effective innovative practices to create optimal models in modern education at the secondary school level. School visits, research, discussion and reflection reshaped our approach to learning. We will share our findings of systemic, curricular and specific classroom models, evaluation and assessment, use of technology as a tool, project-based learning and the ever-shifting roles of the teacher and the student and discuss how we are implementing change at our school.
In this session you will:
-Learn how we planned, organized and implemented our study
-Discover what best practices we observed and how teachers and schools developed successful classes and programs
(-Learn about authentic PBL and ethics education)
-Hear what we learned about our own professional and personal growth by challenging and questioning ourselves and each other as education professionals
-Discuss how you can do a similar faculty project at your school
Presented by Special Guest, Greg Whitby
Traditional schooling is no longer relevant in today’s world and there are expectations that schools (and school systems), reform and innovate to better prepare children for the demands of life and work in the 21st century. How do education systems and school leaders respond to this challenge? What frameworks, structures, roles and responsibilities are necessary to support reforms? What capabilities do teachers require and what does effective teaching look like in schools? How do we bridge the equity gap regardless of the background, interests and abilities of all children?
This workshop will:
• explore the changing nature of schooling in today’s world in the context of moving schools from "cottage" to "enterprise" using technology to support learning and teaching.
• share insight into a "whole of system" response to 21st century schooling at superintendent, leader and teacher level
• provide practical structures and frameworks for leading a 21st century system and school
• demonstrate practical examples of building teacher capacity through an inquiry and knowledge building model
Re-Imagining Schools will look at ways to develop sustainable professional development that supports a technology infused curriculum and develops leadership within your faculty. We will investigate innovative ways to restructure the boundaries of learning and teaching. Empower teachers using technology to re-imagine new roles for themselves and their students that will allow students to connect with others globally learn in ways that wouldn't otherwise be possible. This is intended for administrators and lead teachers who want to look at managing change.
How large is the gap that truly exists between the real and ideal for learners? Are there ways to “tweak” (small shift) content-driven instruction that will enlist students as deep questioners, critical thinkers and effective problem-solvers (big impact)? What if we created a “Destination Postcard” of the ideal learner, and designed learning experiences from there? Join this Switch-inspired think-tank on lesson design strategies that empower students to think and act their way to the acquisition and connection of content while developing learning dispositions. (Common Core Compatible)
Attendees will engage in discussion and consider activities designed to help educators:
Consider content acquisition as a vehicle for learning (means not end).
Create a classroom of “disruptive technologists,” seeking learner-driven ways to leverage digital tools, environments and processes.
Apply concepts from Switch (Chip & Dan Heath) to identify “small shift / big impact” possibilities in lesson (re)design.
During this session, learn how to utilize reading and writing as a means to encourage problem-finding, as a means to encourage service learning, and as a means to encourage literacy. Students in a high school novels course connected, blogged and created authentic projects inspired by their texts. Follow an English teacher’s journey to create a meaningful, rigorous course where technology empowers and homework is a gift you give. Social reading and writing tools will be shared during the session.
Link for presentation: http://bit.ly/erinolson
As global STEM teams becoming an everyday reality, our students have to become competent and be fully prepared working with colleagues from different cultures both face-to-face and virtually. Join our session to learn more about:
Global Diversity and Global Team-work skills;
A learning framework working across cultures;
Some fundamental dilemmas that people of all cultures facing while working in global teams;
You will also learn more about one of innovative approaches teaching and learning Global team-work skills via GTEC Global Virtual STEM Classroom;
You will be provided with recommendations ready for forming global partnerships and implementation at your school
This workshop outlines essential skills for leadership, and offers practical
guidelines and creative solutions of building accountability into the planning and implementation process. Articulating vision and mission, managing change, and aligning technology to primary curricular goals are emphasized. A shift in perspective from technology to information and communication planning is a critical next step. We will explore opportunities for “leader as a role model.” We will also explore various opportunities for professional development design including empowering educators to join global professional communities.
The workshop will include response to the following critical leadership questions, such as:
How do we retain our educational and social values during this transition?
How do we redesign the culture of learning from a classroom with walls to every classroom expanding to global boundaries?
How do we build capacity within our schools for massive opportunities for professional development?
How do we engage our parent community, board and alumni as strategic partners in this transformation?
What should every student know to be prepared to make meaningful contributions to society?
What is the emerging definition of life-long learning?
How can we design more motivating and rigorous student work?
What is the balance of online learning with face-to-face learning?
How can school leaders provide the role models needed to set the tone and expectation of this transition?
Critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, communication and creativity are not 21st Century skills; they have been the goal of education for the last twenty years. Teaching students skills they need to be successful in their future is a philosophical idea built upon strong constructionist theory. Web 2.0 tools don’t change education, passionate teachers do. Join Mike and Garth as they discuss the philosophy behind their integration of technology into curriculum. Learn not just about free web 2.0 tools, but more importantly learn how these tools inspire students to learn for more than just a grade. 21st century learning is about changing the focus of why we teach and then using technology to improve how we teach.
Presentation link: http://www.teachersfortomorrow.net/blc12.html
Who said you need a fancy video camera to capture a great story? Any still camera and audio recorder (even a phone) is all you need. Come discover how simple it is to tell compelling stories through photography. Whether you are experienced or just starting out with photography, we’ll show you how to create photo stories like the pros.
Blogging with your students is a process, not an end in itself! This process mirrors the effort you and your students put into it. Learning the logistics of using a blogging platform is easy. Experiencing the shift in teaching and learning takes time and pedagogical commitment.
The presenter will share a guide for educators with step-by-step directions for teachers to learn about blogging FOR their students.
The session will look at the following essential components of the process:
Aaron Sams and Jonathan Bergmann are prominent voices and advocates of the Flipped Classroom. This presentation looks at the current status and the future of the Flipped Classroom.
Teachers who flip their classes quickly realize that using teacher-created videos allows them to create dynamic, active and rich classroom experiences for their students.
A single educational model can never meet all educational needs of teachers and students, but used in conjunction with one another, Universal design for learning (UDL), Project Based Learning (PBL), Standards Based Grading (SBG) and The Flipped Classroom can help teachers meet the various needs of all students.
Participants will leave with a granular view of the Flipped Classroom as well as a broader view of where the Flipped Classroom fits into the larger picture of education. Participants will see examples from classrooms utilizing aspects of PBL, UDL, Flipped Class and SBG.
This session enables educators to realize the potential solutions that video can provide in today's schools. Furthermore, this session will show how video can increase collaboration among students, schools and educators throughout the world.
Presentation Links: Greg's website or download his presentation PDF
Embark upon a journey through the dawn of the information age with college student, Travis Allen. Experience the life of a true digital native who boldly refused to accept the status quo in the classroom. Learn how he uses his tablet, and only his tablet, in all of his courses. More importantly learn how you can be a part of a revolution for change in education.
Are you ready to turn education upside down? Perhaps you have tried a little Flip of your own and want to learn more. You might be beginning an investigation to discover what a Flipped Classroom is with the thought of possibly trying some kind of flip yourself. This is a must attend session before jumping in the air and doing a full flip. Together we will investigate and contemplate what might work best for specific classroom needs. You will leave with a better definition, resources to explore, and tools to begin your flip. Best of all, you will discover how to incorporate Bloom’s higher order thinking skills and blend the learning environment. You may just begin to Flip your idea of what Flipping really is!
Are you already using iPads in the classroom? Just considering an implementation? Either way, this session will be a rich source of ideas, resources, and information about learning with the iPad in the elementary classroom. This fast-paced session will explore productivity tools, educational activities and more, using built-in and freely available applications for Apple's iPad. With the iPad, learners can perform research, collaborate, interact with experts, and produce creative works! We will examine the iPad's iOS platform, unique features that support student learning, and applications and activities that support differentiated mobile learning. We will also discover tips and tricks to get even more out of your Internet communication device. Participants are encouraged to bring their own iPad to participate.
Presentation Resources: http://lainierowell.com
The Flipped Classroom Model is gaining momentum as a new means to transform educational processes. At the core of this model is the ancient art of questioning to draw out student understanding. To help you make a research-based case for adopting this model, Sonny Magaña will share recent findings by the University of York and Marzano Research Laboratory on the impact of technology-supported questioning strategies on student engagement and academic achievement.
Learn how to create an engaging presentation with Prezi. Prezi is a free software for educators and students that allows building presentations that are not just linear. In this workshop, you will not only learn how to use Prezi, but you will also better understand how to be an effective communicator on stage. The audience will co-create a Prezi.
Remember the days of hanging your child’s work on the refrigerator for everyone to see? In today's changing world the refrigerator is no longer relevant. Students need a window to the world where they can publish, share and connect with others around the world. In this session participates will learn how to create their classroom’s window to the world. Digital publishing in the classroom is much more complicated than placing a computer or iPad in front of your students. You, as a teacher, can shift your philosophical understanding of teaching and learning. Garth and Mike will discuss the positives and negatives, problems and road blocks and how allowing students a digital voice has effected teaching and learning in our lives. Further, we will discuss the methodology necessary to prepare students for leaving Digital Footprints worth following. Think of the excitement in August as you introduce a new way to connect with your students, parents and the world. Join us and empower your students to leave digital footprints worth following.
Presentation link: http://www.teachersfortomorrow.net/blc12.html
No longer should you be concerned about spending precious classroom minutes mining the Internet looking for information. Join us as we take a tour of the tools and strategies that Google has developed to help you and your students focus on synthesizing the information you’ve found rather than spending precious classroom time trying to find it. Explore how to use Google’s latest search techniques with your students and develop strategies to help your students do meaningful queries rather than just hunt for data.
Presentation Link: http://goo.gl/ylmH8
We thought about titling this session, "Stop Giving Them The Answer: Let Them Figure It Out Themselves!", but thought that sounded a little too edgy. Join us for a strategy-building session on how to foster student-owned learning in the classroom (and live!). Don't expect one size fits all answers - but questions, strategies, possibilities, examples, and maybe a few awkward silences...
In this session, participants will explore ways to:
• Engage and empower students as critical thinkers, questioners, connectors and creators of content
• Build student repertoire of problem-solving strategies
• Promote and develop student capacity for finding the right information, right relationships and right resources, all at the right time.
Presentation Link: http://balancedtech.wikispaces.com/BLC12+-+Less+Is+More
How do educators create real student centered learning and essential educational transformation? More than a presentation, you will have the opportunity to listen to testimonies from educators, students and various professionals. Along the way, Mike will share some tools he has created to assist your students. These include ”Ten Basic Google Search Techniques” and a “Seven Step (A-G) Web Evaluation Program." Learn about amazing free web resources such as Intel Thinking Tools and investigate student creativity with some video creation ideas. Have the opportunity to smile, laugh, engage and reflect on both practice and possibilities. Walk away with points to ponder, antidotes, a reason to transform and resource material that you can share with your personal learning community.
In a word or two you remember the whole story: glass slipper, sour grapes, cold porridge. You remember more than the facts (a step mother & two step sisters, an absent father, a godmother) you remember the relationships and deeper connections between the characters (nasty step mom & sisters, warm but lonely friendships with the animals in the house, a dream of a better life).
The challenge for teachers and students is not to find problems but to find stories. Powerful narratives, in a word or two, bring to mind a wealth of ideas and relationships; more than just facts. How can we find the stories that make our teaching sticky? How do we help kids find, and more importantly tell, the stories that make their learning sticky?
We’ll look at some strong examples and send you on your way with a toolkit of ideas and practices to make teaching & learning sticky in your class.
Presentation link: http://j.mp/DarrenBLC12
Elementary students in the United States communicated via email with students in Australia in my research, published in The Reading Teacher. This session will provide teachers with qualitative research results and specific instructions for setting up and implementing ePals in their classrooms. Teachers will learn about the impact of authentic communication activities on students’ motivation/engagement, written language production and cultural learning and empathy. Results and implications for subgroups of general education students, special education students, and second language learners are reported. Student writing samples will be shown. Methods of using the new ePals global community, projects, and activities will also be shared. Learn benefits of globalizing student writing. Assist students in improving their written language and cultural understandings.
The Values Exchange (VX) is a unique web-based thinking environment. The VX community allows students to explore any social issue using 'Facebook-style' technology and powerful social concepts (my feelings, hopes, ideals, equality, law etc). Students eagerly grasp the chance for online debate about situations that really matter to them. Students can post unlimited issues of their own, and explore a comprehensive dashboard of results as soon as they submit their ideas.
This session will explain exactly how teachers can use the Values Exchange Community to enhance their teaching in all areas of the curriculum. In addition, participants will:
understand the background to this thinking environment
how students can best use it
how to set up their own cases for debate
how to engage students in exploring results and interpreting rich meaning from the data
This game changing program was developed in order to better serve our students and eliminate the learning obstacles that often stop learning from taking place. This flipped school approach allows an at-risk student to learn in the same type of supportive atmosphere as a more affluent student. Thus creating educational equality in our public schools. By using today’s available software enables local, state and national educators to put the best teacher presentation in front of all students at all times. For the first time, we have the opportunity to take advantage of each teacher’s strength and expertise.
Presentation Links: Greg's website or download his presentation PDF
Ideas for activating your network to not only connect but to create
Our professional networks are brimming with resources and links and it sometimes feels like too much! One of the best ways to narrow the focus is to crowdsource specific content. Networks should not simply be about connecting with fellow educators, we need to activate the huge potential they have and create together!
Learn alongside Tom Barrett who has been spending the last 5 years crowdsourcing resources that support teacher’s professional development as well as inspire engaging learning in the classroom!
- How can I make crowdsourcing a part of how I design materials for teachers and students?
- How do I engage all of my staff to be able to engage in creating resources together?
- How can I filter the vast amount of resources that I see everyday in my online networks? How do I make the most of the resources available?
- What tools can I use to help create resources with other teachers in my district?
Attendees will
- understand how a network can be a powerful tool for co-creation and not just connections;
- reflect on their own creative practices and how crowdsourcing might fit in;
- see real world examples of how crowdsourcing innovations are being applied in sectors beyond the education sector;
- see a range of examples of successfully crowdsourced resources for education.
- take away a range of tools and models to crowdsource unique resources for your classes and schools;
- see crowdsourcing in action!
Educator Melissa Spears explains how technology has changed the landscape of her classroom; allowing her more flexibility, an expanded reach and a myriad of new resources. Using technology in her classroom, Mrs. Spears can take her students on a field trip to Alaska, or to a meet and greet with authors, all without leaving campus! Find out how her students stay ahead of the curve with captured lessons and with a few simple commands, Mrs. Spears can reach the kids who have missed a lesson or need review.
Presented by Special Guest, Greg Whitby
Traditional schooling is no longer relevant in today’s world and there are expectations that schools (and school systems), reform and innovate to better prepare children for the demands of life and work in the 21st century. How do education systems and school leaders respond to this challenge? What frameworks, structures, roles and responsibilities are necessary to support reforms? What capabilities do teachers require and what does effective teaching look like in schools? How do we bridge the equity gap regardless of the background, interests and abilities of all children?
This workshop will:
• explore the changing nature of schooling in today’s world in the context of moving schools from "cottage" to "enterprise" using technology to support learning and teaching.
• share insight into a "whole of system" response to 21st century schooling at superintendent, leader and teacher level
• provide practical structures and frameworks for leading a 21st century system and school
• demonstrate practical examples of building teacher capacity through an inquiry and knowledge building model
Re-Imagining Schools will look at ways to develop sustainable professional development that supports a technology infused curriculum and develops leadership within your faculty. We will investigate innovative ways to restructure the boundaries of learning and teaching. Empower teachers using technology to re-imagine new roles for themselves and their students that will allow students to connect with others globally learn in ways that wouldn't otherwise be possible. This is intended for administrators and lead teachers who want to look at managing change.
Realistic fiction offers students the opportunity to learn about people and cultures from around the world. The web provides the authentic connection between students and people from around the world. Using these two resources, lessons can be created that engage and challenge your students to read more and with greater understanding. We will share classroom examples of books used with students and how we connected fiction to the real world. One example is the web site our students created for the novel Mississippi Trial 1955. We will focus on literature appropriate for grade 5 - 9. The concepts can be adapted for all grades.
Common Core Standards:
Informational Text, Grades 6-12, Grade 8, Item 9
Analyze a case in which two or more text provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.
Writing Grades 6-8, Grade 8, Item 2a-f
Write information/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization and analysis of relevant content.
Presentation Resources: http://empathyblc.wikispaces.com/
The Values Exchange (VX) is a unique web-based thinking environment. The VX community allows students to explore any social issue using 'Facebook-style' technology and powerful social concepts (my feelings, hopes, ideals, equality, law etc). Students eagerly grasp the chance for online debate about situations that really matter to them. Students can post unlimited issues of their own, and explore a comprehensive dashboard of results as soon as they submit their ideas.
This session will explain exactly how teachers can use the Values Exchange Community to enhance their teaching in all areas of the curriculum. In addition, participants will:
understand the background to this thinking environment
how students can best use it
how to set up their own cases for debate
how to engage students in exploring results and interpreting rich meaning from the data
An open and honest conversation with two Flipped Classroom proponents about when flipping a class is appropriate, and when it is not, and how to flip your class effectively. Presenters will demonstrate various ways to easily create video lessons. Presentation will address many common misconceptions and concerns about the Flipped Classroom.
Learn how to:
-Determine what to flip in a classroom
-Decide where in the learning cycle to incorporate a video lesson
-Create a video lesson your students will love that is appropriate for them
-Provide access to instructional videos for all students
-Flip you classroom in an inquiry based and constructivist environment.
During this session, learn how to utilize reading and writing as a means to encourage problem-finding, as a means to encourage service learning, and as a means to encourage literacy. Students in a high school novels course connected, blogged and created authentic projects inspired by their texts. Follow an English teacher’s journey to create a meaningful, rigorous course where technology empowers and homework is a gift you give. Social reading and writing tools will be shared during the session.
Link for presentation: http://bit.ly/erinolson
This interactive workshop will explore and provide examples of best practices in writing instruction, vocabulary instruction, setting expectations and goals, and the integration of new online tools to improve student outcomes in these disciplines. In the 21st century, “new literacy” implies the effective use of online tools such as the ERB Writing Practice Program (WPP) and Word Voyage, an online vocabulary practice program based on Greek and Latin Roots. These will be shown as examples that offer a differentiated, multi-grade approach that meets each student where he or she is with English fundamentals. These programs for the student and teacher offer immediate scoring and suggestions for revision, next step tutorials, exemplars. They also provide instruction in word roots, parts of speech, etymology, spelling, syllables, sentence writing, and grammar. Performance data follows the students through the grades, highlighting areas that need growth. Teachers work on a stream-lined platform that allows them to address the needs of each student.
This workshop will help educators to ensure all learners understand how to apply key lifelong learning skills: planning, questioning, conversing, visualising, emoting and critiquing. These competencies help students became more fluent and creative in designing and producing their media texts where the message must be clear and intentional. Student work uses language, image and sound for self expression, communication and social advocacy.
This framework assists teachers to decide on, and co-develop big ideas with students and to recognise what students bring, not only their prior knowledge but also their misconceptions. It identifies what the intended learning will look like at a particular year level of schooling, and the evidence required for learning to be assessed. This includes the development of formative assessment tasks and providing students with regular feedback.
You will also learn how to tap a Youtube channel and Facebook communication strategy to build a professional community of shared best practice.
Throughout the program we found more teachers started to engage in critical and reflective conversations with colleagues around their learning design and how digital learning tools can be used for student achievement and for them to produce work of quality.
The learning objectives within the Common Core State Standards represent a rigorous application of research, media and higher-order thinking skills, as students develop their capacity to engage in complex text and tasks that have real-world implications.
Essential to this effort are the lifelong learning skills, habits and dispositions that serve as the foundational structure for all learners. Without thoughtful and purposeful attention to these and other requisites we risk our investments of time, money and energy yielding little return – like pouring concrete without proper supports in place.
Join us for a rich discussion focused on the core tools our leaners need to build capacity and develop competencies in discovering meaning, analyzing content, comparing information, synthesizing, applying and sharing their understandings.
Participants will:
- Identify the requisite skills, dispositions and learning habits that support the Common Core
- Consider resources designed to foster student development of foundational tools and structures for learning
- Share critical shifts in the roles of teachers and students in a standards-based learning environment
- Explore how learners are being empowered to extend their thinking, research and learning beyond current boundaries
Presentation Link: http://brainyardworkshop.wikispaces.com/
Placing easy to use digital tools in the hands of our students can lead them to build very creative solutions such as tutorials to help classmates learn. We know that many children prefer to learn from their peers. Giving our students a sense of purpose toward making a contribution to the learning community can be one of the most powerful and effective ways of improving achievement for all students. We have under estimated the capacity of our students to lead and contribute to their learning community.
When we think of people who made the biggest impact in our live, it was not their expertise or accomplishments that provided me us with direction, guidance and reassurance to accomplish our goals; it was their sincere belief in us. They let us know through their words and actions that we mattered.
The children in our lives want that same validation. In fact, every single person you will ever meet shares this common desire. They want to know they matter.
Mattering a universal human need, and it’s one you have the opportunity to satisfy. In this session, we will explore specific and actionable ways to answer “yes” to the following questions:
Do you see me?
Do you hear me?
Do you care about me?
Do I matter to you?
Photography is BEAUTIFUL! I don’t know of many people who don’t LOVE an aspect of photography. Capturing moments, experiences, and stories is such a personal and HUMAN experience. Now, with the ease of use of digital cameras-- anyone can not only make high grade images, but can push the creativity envelope and create new art from a photograph. This workshop will FOCUS on how to make a better picture with what you have on you, we will show you how to explore more creative features available on your camera as well as in post production. Smart phones are dominating this space now and we will share some of our favorite apps for making magical images. We will practice shooting options and even talk about ongoing learning opportunities online. Attend this workshop if you want to learn how to make a better image, learn about enhancing the image, and sharing your art! SEE you there!
In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the award winning "Me, Myself and I" Digital Literacy Project. This fully resourced modular project has been running successfully in classrooms from Grades 5 - 9 in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore the UK, and the USA. Participants will be given access to resources for all 9 modules along with guidance on how to adapt each module to meet local priorities and curriculum requirements. Taking the theme of "Learning as a Journey" the resources have been designed to equip students and teachers with essential skills, knowledge and understanding, along with contemporary strategies and an essential toolkit of key Web 2.0 tools to support learning across all areas of the curriculum. This exciting digital literacy project also focuses on developing self and peer assessment capabilities and student autonomy through the use of personal digital narrative and a range of learning management tools.
This session is sponsored by Learnology.
Welcome to a session that builds on successful past practices and transforms them for today’s digital learner. Integrating appropriate technology into a lesson will make a past “great idea” even better. Educators have a vault of awesome activities that have proven to be successful with students. Learn how to take these perennial gems through an amazing process of reinvention, remixing, and transformation. You will discover how to create new 21st century lessons through a simple but effective ten step method. An included document will show you how to leverage technology while riding a foundation built on content standards and 21st century skills. It will be the best ten steps you take as you transform your school and classroom into a hub of engaged student centered learning. A must attend session that will have you and your students taking that first step.
More slaves exist today than at any point in history. This one-hour interactive presentation will demonstrate how, through the use of free web 2.0 tools, a teacher can still deliver “traditional” curriculum while using social justice and media literacy to increase student engagement and develop empathy. Students will share the multimedia work they produced and explain the connections they found between their fight against modern slavery and their developing communication skills.
Topics will include:
-Wikis
-Google Docs
-Video production tools
-Copyright rules
-YouTube
-Twitter
Presentation Link: http://tinyurl.com/BCDSfightsSlavery
This birds of a feather session is intended to actually build a learning community by providing an opportunity for you to meet with others to share ideas and learn from one another about creative ways you are using iPhone/iPad/iPod apps. This is a moderated session where presentations will be by participants in the room. This is your two minutes of fame to share something cool, leading edge or extremely powerful for learning. Come with something to share and come learn about ways people are using their favourite new apps and build an App learning community at BLC.
Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving… buzz words no longer! To meet the complexities of today’s world, our students need more than skills — they need Habitudes! Successful students, workers, and citizens have identifiable habits and behaviors which allow them to manage emotions, communicate effectively, and sustain themselves as independent and successful lifelong learners. We’ll explore intentional lessons and conversations that nurture and develop these habits and attitudes; the Habitudes that ensure our students’ success far beyond our classrooms.
Alan November challenges us to give students the opportunity to proclaim "stand on our shoulders” by doing work that is valued by others and that peers can build on to transform the world. In promoting “stand on our shoulders” work in your school or district, you want to move from pockets of innovation to sustained innovation.
Hear strategies to use in your search for the Holy Grail—Scaling Up:
• Promote a framework that emphasizes providing students the opportunity to do transformative work (what is transformative work and how does it create a sense of ownership among students);
• Strengthen professional learning networks with an emphasis on teacher-leadership and looking at student work;
• Implement policies that promote digital citizenship rather than just focusing on restricting users [encourage students to bring cell phones & other devices to school for learning, decrease restrictions on access to the internet (including YouTube, Twitter, & Facebook), and remove policy barriers to display of student work & photos on the web]; and
• Provide anytime/anywhere access to the resources of your network through a bring-your-own-technology initiative and a private cloud.
An open and honest conversation with two Flipped Classroom proponents about when flipping a class is appropriate, and when it is not, and how to flip your class effectively. Presenters will demonstrate various ways to easily create video lessons. Presentation will address many common misconceptions and concerns about the Flipped Classroom.
Learn how to:
-Determine what to flip in a classroom
-Decide where in the learning cycle to incorporate a video lesson
-Create a video lesson your students will love that is appropriate for them
-Provide access to instructional videos for all students
-Flip you classroom in an inquiry based and constructivist environment.
Inspired by MIT’s Media Lab, NuVu Studio is an innovation center for middle and high school students where teams build multi-disciplinary, collaborative projects. NuVu nurtures creative problem solving, collaboration, and presentation skills. This session is entirely led by students. Past participants of the program will share their experience, explain the program’s influence on their learning, and demonstrate how the NuVu culture is shaping the everyday curriculum at Beaver Country Day School outside of Boston.
The iPhone, your iPod, and the iPad once were considered NON creative devices because one couldn't really create anything on these devices. Well, ITS NOT TRUE! Not only can you create an unlimited variety of things, I use them as a portable (very) production studios! I can plan, produce, edit, and showcase a move ALL DONE FROM my mobile devices. This WILL REVOLUTIONIZE LEARNING! We will look at the different applications that can make this happen from cool planning tools, to amazing production resources, to powerful editing apps, and finally to our names on a marquee. We will show you how you can make a movie on your iDevice. Bring it! We’ll show you just HOW COOL having a movie studio in your pocket really is.
Ideas for activating your network to not only connect but to create
Our professional networks are brimming with resources and links and it sometimes feels like too much! One of the best ways to narrow the focus is to crowdsource specific content. Networks should not simply be about connecting with fellow educators, we need to activate the huge potential they have and create together!
Learn alongside Tom Barrett who has been spending the last 5 years crowdsourcing resources that support teacher’s professional development as well as inspire engaging learning in the classroom!
- How can I make crowdsourcing a part of how I design materials for teachers and students?
- How do I engage all of my staff to be able to engage in creating resources together?
- How can I filter the vast amount of resources that I see everyday in my online networks? How do I make the most of the resources available?
- What tools can I use to help create resources with other teachers in my district?
Attendees will
- understand how a network can be a powerful tool for co-creation and not just connections;
- reflect on their own creative practices and how crowdsourcing might fit in;
- see real world examples of how crowdsourcing innovations are being applied in sectors beyond the education sector;
- see a range of examples of successfully crowdsourced resources for education.
- take away a range of tools and models to crowdsource unique resources for your classes and schools;
- see crowdsourcing in action!
What happens when bullies use social media?
What happens when a kid, bully or bullied, shoots a video and posts it to YouTube? (The answers aren’t all bad.)
And why is she smiling?
A conversation with educators about cultivating empathy in our students to combat bullying in and out of school in an increasingly digital environment. Participants will leave with a wealth of powerful visual material and discussion starters they can use in their schools with their students. We’ll share ideas to effectively lead these sort of difficult conversations and share resources we can easily access anywhere any time.
[While it’s not required to attend the session it would be a good idea to have a twitter account before arriving at BLC12.]
Presentation link: http://j.mp/DarrenBLC12
This game changing program was developed in order to better serve our students and eliminate the learning obstacles that often stop learning from taking place. This flipped school approach allows an at-risk student to learn in the same type of supportive atmosphere as a more affluent student. Thus creating educational equality in our public schools. By using today’s available software enables local, state and national educators to put the best teacher presentation in front of all students at all times. For the first time, we have the opportunity to take advantage of each teacher’s strength and expertise.
Presentation Links: Greg's website or download his presentation PDF
Fasten your seat belts for the fast and exciting Driving Question; "How can educators integrate Project Based Learning and 21st century skills into STEM education? Even if you only teach just one subject, you can still incorporate STEM and PBL into your classroom. Are you a member of an interdisciplinary team or planning group? ...then it gets even better! Discover dozens of engaging online programs and opportunities that allow STEM and PBL to push your students’ creativity and innovation. The results will be a PBL educational experience that will rev up student engagement and inquiry…full STEM... or should we say... STEAM ahead! View several brief demonstrations of software and take a tour of some amazing web sites. Learn from practicing educator Michael Gorman, who was named STEM Educator of the Year by the Indiana US Air Force Association, an Indiana Teacher of the Year Semi-finalist, a BIE National Faculty Member, and a facilitator for the Siemens Discovery Education National STEM Academy. Walk away with resources that will allow for a real partnership between STEM and PBL! Join Mike in a session that promises to be an exciting PBL entry event giving participants ideas and content they can use tomorrow!
Rich digital content is at the core of the 25 mathematics and science courses that are posted for the free use of all at www.njctl.org, the homepage of the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The courses are comprised of more than 44,000 interactive whiteboard slides, with robust embedded formative assessment questions; homework; class work; assessments; curricula; and pacing guides. These teacher developed resources are all part of CTL’s Progressive Science Initiative (PSI) and Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI): programs designed to support high levels of student achievement in K-12 Common Core mathematics as well as high school physics, chemistry and biology. PSI and PMI share the same core philosophy, pedagogies, assessment strategies and technology. Dr. Goodman, the founder and development leader of PSI-PMI, will be discussing how those have been woven together to create a uniquely successful approach to science and mathematics education.
Realistic fiction offers students the opportunity to learn about people and cultures from around the world. The web provides the authentic connection between students and people from around the world. Using these two resources, lessons can be created that engage and challenge your students to read more and with greater understanding. We will share classroom examples of books used with students and how we connected fiction to the real world. One example is the web site our students created for the novel Mississippi Trial 1955. We will focus on literature appropriate for grade 5 - 9. The concepts can be adapted for all grades.
Common Core Standards:
Informational Text, Grades 6-12, Grade 8, Item 9
Analyze a case in which two or more text provide conflicting information on the same topic and identify where the texts disagree on matters of fact or interpretation.
Writing Grades 6-8, Grade 8, Item 2a-f
Write information/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization and analysis of relevant content.
Presentation Resources: http://empathyblc.wikispaces.com/
When it comes to using technology in the classroom, it is easy to become distracted by the glitz, glimmer and gimmicks of activities high in "cool factor” but lacking in rigor or academic value. How do we design learning experiences that challenge students at their learning edge and draw on or strengthen their repertoire of digital skills and literacies? How do we “locate the learning” in student-created content and projects? How do we avoid the allure of “BLING” (cool tech tools) and focus on the power of “BANG” (meaningful student-owned learning) to effectively “widen the walls” and “raise the ceiling” of our learning environments? (Common Core Capatible)
In this session, participants will explore ways to:
- Apply TPaCK, SAMR and HEAT frameworks as pedagogical lenses when designing lessons strengthened by use of technology.
- Challenge students to find authentic ways to leverage available tools for deeper learning.
- Seek balance over time among content acquisition, lifelong learning skills and the development of tool fluency.
Presentation link: http://bit.ly/bvb12-links
From West Point to HSBC (biggest bank in the world), one of the most valued skills is to understand different cultural perspectives and points of view. If we want our students to be competitive in the global economy, we must challenge them to co-create and present to a worldwide authentic audience. Any classroom can be organized to be a global communications center, and we can design more rigorous and motivating assignments that engage our students to communicate globally with purpose. Expand boundaries of potential and give your students courage to engage with the world.
Rich digital content is at the core of the 25 mathematics and science courses that are posted for the free use of all at www.njctl.org, the homepage of the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The courses are comprised of more than 44,000 interactive whiteboard slides, with robust embedded formative assessment questions; homework; class work; assessments; curricula; and pacing guides. These teacher developed resources are all part of CTL’s Progressive Science Initiative (PSI) and Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI): programs designed to support high levels of student achievement in K-12 Common Core mathematics as well as high school physics, chemistry and biology. PSI and PMI share the same core philosophy, pedagogies, assessment strategies and technology. Dr. Goodman, the founder and development leader of PSI-PMI, will be discussing how those have been woven together to create a uniquely successful approach to science and mathematics education.
Participants will be introduced to the hugely successful United Classrooms Global Collaboration Project, connecting classrooms in the United States with partner classes in Australia. This fully resourced project has been designed to foster high quality, online curriculum-facing collaborations through the development of concrete offline relationships. Attendees will be presented with a starter pack containing the full project overview and all related materials before being offered an opportunity to identify a partner class from a list of Australian schools.
The project creates opportunities for students to:
This session is sponsored by Learnology.
