Building Learning Communities

MA and Iowa have been linked through the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council in both states and despite the differences there are many similar challenges: how to work with K-12, Higher Education, Business and Industry and Legislators. Reinventing unnecessarily wastes valuable and scarce intellectual and other resources.
Come and learn about: Leadership, Planning, Models for STEM Development

* Student Self-Assessment
* Preparing Teachers to give a Range of Quality Feedback
* Professional Development leading to Successful Systemic Change
* Leader as Role Mode

Technology integration in schools is finally seeing a shift from resource acquisition to a focus on educational outcomes and skill development. However, these gradual changes are a far cry from the digital revolution that is occurring outside of the education system. Leading complex change is increasingly difficult in the twenty-first century and it may often feel like an overwhelming or impossible task. This workshop will explore the application of supportive theory, research, and practice in leading/managing technological change at a school level. Effectively leading change in the modern, digital educational system requires openness and flexibility, considerations for the distribution of leadership, and the effective management of resistance. More importantly, it begins with a foundation that supports student engagement, collaboration, active learning, and exploration. Technology by itself is not an initiative.

Using the Influencer framework, professional learning experiences can be planned so implementation occurs. During the session, the framework will be shared, and you will have opportunity to think through a plan for successful implementation of learning.

Ensure that your students have a greater stake in their own learning by including them in planning and task design. We will explore the power of student input in everyday lessons, projects, and overall campus culture. Components such as, building a student consult team, key questioning strategies, and thoughtful use of relevant social media will lay the groundwork for a truly student centered learning experience. Through stories of student and teacher success, participants will leave ready to revolutionize the way they plan through including our most valuable resource, the students.

Teaching young children to code is not just for the technology classroom it is for every classroom. In this workshop we will answer all the following questions and more.
Why code in the elementary school? What are the benefits, drawbacks, and connections to Common Core? What do I need to know to get started? What are the available resources for different age groups and multiple technology platforms? Can you program without using a computer or tablet? What are unplugged lessons and how do I implement them? What do kids that are coding really think about coding?

Face it. Some of your teachers simply have no desire to be on Twitter—even if you explain all the resources that can be found there. I get it! However as an administrator, technology coordinator or curriculum coach, you still have a responsibility to help your staff continue their learning and to keep them informed about the latest news and resources in their fields. In this session, learn how you can take the relevant articles and resources you find on Twitter (and in other places), and easily create customized, digestible, electronic learning magazines for free using Flipboard. These can easily be shared with teachers, parents or other specific groups.

Educators bear a vital responsibility and face countless challenges, yet they often receive inadequate support to improve their skills and their students’ learning. Too often, their professional development options tend to be limited, ineffective, inaccessible, inefficient and irrelevant. Stemming from the teacher quality movement and the latest research on adult learning, a powerful new approach has emerged, Blended (online/onsite), job-embedded professional development.

Teaching young children to code is not just for the technology classroom it is for every classroom. In this workshop we will answer all the following questions and more. 
Why code in the elementary school? What are the benefits, drawbacks, and connections to Common Core? What do I need to know to get started? What are the available resources for different age groups and multiple technology platforms? Can you program without using a computer or tablet? What are unplugged lessons and how do I implement them? What do kids that are coding really think about coding?