Thank you to educators for joining us for Connected Learnings first STEAMcamp. Teachers from different school districts across the region had a chance to collaborate and share resources on how to integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics into their lessons. Session were created by teacher that focused on novel engineering, riddles, grant writing, aquaponics, STEM gardening, and many more. Professionals were also able to build new learning networks with teachers from other school districts. These professional learning networks will be used during the upcoming school year to help teachers to connect and innovate in their classrooms
First of all I’d like to say a special “Thanks” to Kelly Hardy (khardy@color-art.com) and the team at Color Art. They do amazing work and would LOVE to work with you!
Now, about our event:
In an evening that brought together educators, architects, and designers, Connected Learning partnered with local education furniture dealer, Color Art to continue the conversation about the importance of physical space design in schools. The evening was highlighted by Jolene Levin, designer for Norva Nivel. Norva Nivel, who began as an Australian based company, has been now working in the US for the past few years to design furniture that solve the issues in classrooms around movement, flexibility, and choice. This event, like the previous two that Connected Learning has supported this school year, featured active learning through design activities. Participants designed some amazing spaces with the help of Color Art Designers. They presented some incredible ideas based on this design sprint. The event concluded with two local speakers discussing projects that have enhanced schools locally. Jim Brockmann, assistant principal at CBC High School, talked about the genius of their Innovation Commons including pictures of how the space is being used by the young men at CBC. Dr. Robert Dillon discussed his work at Saint Louis Public Schools to enhance their pre-k classrooms to enhance literacy through creative spaces. Both projects showcased how the design process was essential for building momentum for the projects. Color Art and Connected Learning look forward to future events that help to cross-pollinate ideas around design and support innovation throughout the Saint Louis community.
Photos from the event
Schedule
5:30 - Network (15 minutes) - K-12 showroom
5:45 - Speaker 1 - NorvaNivel (20 minutes) - Classroom
6:05 - Design Sprint (30 minutes) - Groups will meet in Various Spaces in Color Art
6:35 - Share Designs (15 minutes) - Classroom
6:50 - Speaker 2 - Jim Brockman (20 minutes) - Classroom
7:10 - Speaker 3 - Dr. Dillon (20 minutes) - Classroom
7:30 - End
Speaker Info
Jolene Levin, NorvaNivel Director
Topic "How Purposeful Space design impacts learner autonomy and engagement"
Bio:
'Jolene is passionate about designing creative and innovative spaces that allows all students' needs to be met for learning success. Since NorvaNivel was founded in Australia in 2010, she has personally partnered with hundreds education leaders to help their schools navigate from traditional teaching and classroom design to create agile learning spaces to support the pedagogy of today and tomorrow. With a view to the direction of education, Jolene creates the vision of learning spaces of the future. She brings with her hundreds of successful case studies and a commitment to improving education in the United States with inclusive learning spaces. She is inspired by her children and transforming the world in which they learn'
Jim Brockman, Assistant Principal and Director of Admission as CBC High School
Topic "Why Innovation? Why Now?"
Bio:
I graduated from the University of Missouri in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree in the Science of Education. I earned my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Lindenwood University in 2009. I have been at CBC for 16 years. I spent the first 5 as a Social Studies Teacher. The next 7 years were spent growing and improving the Admissions Program as the Director of Admissions. The last 4 have been spent in my current role as Assistant Principal for Enrollment Management. During this time, I have been part of several projects and the creation of programs and processes at CBC, both big and small. The latest project was the redesign of the library into the Dunne Family Innovation Commons, an 8,000 square foot space completely dedicated to innovative thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity, and connected learning though experiences that cannot be replicated in the "traditional" classroom setting.
Design Sprint
We will break up into 5-7 small groups. Each group will move to a different area within Color Art and be grouped with one our designers/application specialists with technology to share and create. In our furniture designing software, each designer will have a prebuilt classroom with preselected 'inventory' of furniture (located outside of the classroom to begin) to be placed and arranged in the room. The groups will be able to use whiteboards to sketch out ideas. Each group will be able to watch their classrooms and ideas come to life 3-dimensionally. At the end of the sprint, each designer will send Ashley and I a 2D & 3D of their classroom. We will then gather back in our classroom and share these with the group and have a little time to discuss. I am super excited about the design sprint and the ability to let our guests design in 3D!
A small group of passionate educators gathered in August to begin a journey. Each telling their story of innovation, creativity, change and personal growth. These stories, with the help of Dr. Robert Dillon, have come together to truly highlight our amazing region. Without a publishing company, without pre-sales, without financial support from many foundations, we persisted. Our region's educators deserve to be published, we are so excited to tell their stories!
Order
Volume 1 and 2 are available here. Preorder Volume 3 or the complete series here.
Outline of the event:
10:30 - 11:00 Welcome and networking
11:00 - 12:00 8, 6-minute presentations with a short break in between, TED-style delivered by the authors of Volume 1.
12:00 - 12:15 Throughline of the stories and setting up of the next storyline found in Volume 2 delivered by Dr. Robert Dillon
12:15 - 12:45 Book signing by authors/educators.
Slide Deck from the Event:
Photos From The Event
Makers. Artists. Designers. Entrepreneurs. All have a space in MADE.
We had a great time with educators around our region touring this amazing space, playing on the laser cutter, CNC router, embroidery machine and having fun MAKING together. Learning, light dinner, and drinks were included.
About MADE:
MADE is the place where St. Louis Makers, Artists, Designers, and Entrepreneurs create and collaborate. Our co-founders, Jim McKelvey and Doug Auer (the guys who brought you Third Degree Glass Factory), acted quickly when a makerspace chain went bankrupt in St. Louis, leaving over 500 local makers in the lurch. Our friends at Cortex gave Jim and Doug the tools they needed to get started, literally. We snagged all the machinery from the old place and hustled on out of there. After a year spent rehabbing a 100-year old brick bunker of a building on Delmar, we plugged in our gear, polished up the terrazzo floors, and opened our doors in November 2018. There is work in this world only you can make. Your side hustle, your bright idea, your passion project. MADE is where it’s going to happen. From the ground up. With your own two hands.
We Enjoyed:
Demo on the laser cutter
Demo on CNC router
Demo on the embroidery machine
Create with a hands-on activity
We also:
Toured the amazing space
Learned more about MADE and the thriving Maker community
Walked away with something YOU made
Learned about how you and/or your school can become members of MADE
The 2019 Midwest Global Teaching Dialogue was hosted on Saturday, January 5, 2019 9AM-2PM at the Missouri History Museum. This event aimed to discuss the importance of global competence for 21st century learners and to explore effective practices in global education. The Midwest Global Teaching Dialogue was sponsored by the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and featured area leaders in global education.
Event Outcomes:
an understanding of Sustainable Development Goals and how to inspire students to use your content to solve world problems
a practical guide to begin engaging students in global PBL
hearing from students on the skills they have developed in global education learning about Department of State sponsored teacher and student exchange programs
Effective K-12 Global Education Practices
And much, much more
Special thanks to our event partners:
United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
United Nations Association St. Louis
Session Descriptions:
“Museum Literacy: Bring the World to your Students with Museum Teaching Strategies” The ability to understand museum spaces and artifacts is a learned skill, one that’s vital to the cultivation of lifelong, global learners and to helping students develop a greater empathy for cultures around the world. Museum literacy also helps students connect the skills they learn in the classroom to new subject matters and environments. But many students face barriers when trying to learn in museums. Discover how you can ensure your students are prepared to make the most of a museum visit.
“Sustainable Development Goals: Engaging Students in Solving World Problems” United Nations Association of Saint Louis Board Members Carlos Suarez and Luz Rooney will be holding a workshop about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they play a role in today’s society. From the creation of the post-2015 agenda, and how individuals can contribute toward its progress, this will be an informative session to share information and resources that will inspire our generation to drive progress towards the global goals.
“K-12 Effective Practices in Global Education” Join currently practicing educators as they share their favorite resources in globalizing education. Explore the four avenues of access to globalizing your classroom: content, instructional strategies, assessment and professional learning. Participants will learn how to select and use appropriate technology and media to communicate with diverse audiences and increase cultural understandings to expand opportunities for young people to have meaningful, educational global experiences.
“Learn with the World: Connecting Students in Global Virtual Projects” Want to integrate global interaction into your classroom? Join us for a practical guide to beginning global collaborative virtual projects. Learn how to connect with teachers and students around the world and build cross cultural communication, recognized diverse perspectives and global inquiry skills. Resources, technology tips, and global competency strategies will be shared. Strategies are applicable for K-12 educators in all disciplines.
“Student Panel: Student Exchange Programs and the Importance of Global Education to 21st Learners” Hear from current and former U.S. Department of State sponsored exchange students about the global competencies, aptitudes and perspectives they have developed from their exchange experiences. Students will discuss the application process, how to encourage students to apply and reflect on the value of integrating global competencies into existing best practices.
2019 Midwest Global Teaching Dialogue Schedule
8:30AM-9:00AM Registration and Coffee/Pastries
9:00-9:50 AM Introductions and Keynote Speaker
10:00 -10:50 Session 1
11:00-11:40 Lunch Break
11:50-12:40 Session 2
12:50-1:30 Panel Discussion:
1:30-2:00 Closing Remarks/ Invitation to follow up events
Organizer: Katherine Korte Katkorte@connectedlearningstl.org
Photographer Jacki Saxton
Photographer Jack Goetz
The first annual ChromecampIL (at least in Southern Illinois) was a success! The Alton High School tech department rolled out the red carpet for the educators who showed up from two states and 5 counties. Swag included a BloxelsEDU kit, a Google Mini, a Google Chromecast, and a Chromebook courtesy of Trinity3 Technology. With the help of Mike Wielgus and Adam Geisen from Triad District #2, we were able to make this unconference event one for the books. Be sure to join us on Saturday, March 7, 2020 for ChromecampIL
Special thanks to Matt Derrick, tech director and his team and Elaine Kane, Curriculum Coordinator for making the event special.
Wrap Up
We were so excited to partner with our local Apple representative to bring to life a new event. For years we’ve been putting together the Missouri Summit features Google in Education and it was time for us to honor all of our districts that support Apple Products. We had a call for presenters (which then registered for free) and we built a session board of a myriad of topics around the Apple Ecosystem. We secured our keynote speaker, Rebecca Hare, on Practical Creativity and partnered with Ladue School District to help make the event a premier learning experience for our region. The day was a huge success. See details below and join us next year!
Event Schedule
8:30am - 9:00 Registration
9:00 - 9:10 Welcome
9:10 - 10:10 Keynote
10:10 - 10:30 Break
10:30 - 11:20 Session 1
11:20 - 12:20 Lunch on us :-)
12:20 - 1:10 Session 2
1:20 - 2:10 Session 3
2:20 - 3:00 Wrap
Summit Session Board
Session board hosted in Numbers
Keynote - Rebecca Hare
Practical Creativity
Unlocking the 5 key aspects of creativity in yourself and your students.
Session Descriptions
Jana Gerard Learning Specialist for Educational Technology - Lindenwood University
They gave me these iPads. Now What?
Do you have access to iPads but you aren’t sure what what to do with them? This session will cover the basics of Apple Classroom and using Google and Office apps. We will also look at apps for math, literacy, presentations, and student engagement. At the end of this session you should know the basics of what you can do with those iPads!
Greg Lawrence Director of Technology - Wentzville Schools
Creating In Hand: More Powerful Than You Think
It’s time for our students to create and what’s amazing is the mobile devices they carry around in their pockets (I know you have noticed the white earbuds) can compose music, produce a movie, design a poster, and so much more!!! Come experience and rethink the power of iPad/iPhone and how it can transform learning in our learning spaces. Your students are more powerful than you think!
Don Goble Media Teacher and Speaker - Ladue School District
Six-Word Story, Six Unique Shots: Enhancing Writing Through Multimedia
Explore an activity that brings the writing process to life with digital storytelling. A simple six-word story, created as a video with six unique camera shots, allows students the ability to tell a powerful visual story. This presentation will guide educators through a unique project that addresses the fundamentals of media literacy, filmmaking, and the digital storytelling process.
Robert Dillon Director of Technology - University City School District
Sync Your Digital Space to Support Excellent Instruction
Learning space continue to be digital for more students. It is essential that teachers and leaders think like designers to sync their instructional goals with the digital space that guides the learning. This session with look at core principles that can support this achievement creation for students.
Colleen Skiles Teacher - Troy R-3 School District
HyperKeynote? HyperPages? Hyper What? HyperPages? HyperKeynote?
It does not matter the platform it starts from, what matters is the learning that takes place. The concept behind “hyper” is the increase in critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, connection and real-life engagement. Make any lesson “hyper” with AppleEdu, include multiple platform and application integration, personalize learning, and increase reflection from the learner and the educator. Let's get Hyped!
Sadie Lewis Instructional Innovation Specialist - Mehlville School District
Clips in the Classroom
Video creation doesn't have to be a long process using advanced software. Clips is an iOS app for making and sharing fun videos with text, effects, graphics, and more. Using Clips, students can plan their video and start creating right away - allowing them to focus on content and creation. In this session, attendees will experience video creation in Clips, learn the easy to use tools, and walk away with lesson ideas that can be used in the classroom.
Rob Lamb Teacher - Pattonville School District
Infographic Use and Creation in the Classroom.
In this session we will discuss ways to incorporate infographics into the classroom and also how to successfully create them with Pages and Keynote. This will also include several lesson ideas to help students better understand how to navigate through an infographic and techniques to follow the breadcrumbs back to the source of the information presented to determine its validity. Takeaways will be provided.
Michael McCann Instructional Technology Coach - Wentzville Schools
iPads for Littles
Guide your littlest learners through a creative journey on the iPad. Help students use different types of media to become content creators. In this session, we will utilize different apps that range from easy to use to more complex. Participants will gain insight on how to scaffold a lesson on the iPad as well as differentiate for different learners. Participants will need an iPad with the following: access to the camera and microphone, Clips app, Garageband app, and iMovie app.
Lonni Long ESL Teacher - Troy R-3 School District
Language and Literacy development for Newcomer EL Learners
It is so easy and engaging for students new to the country to use the Ipad to promote English Literacy and Language development. With guidance, students can create books to support their learning of sight words, vocabulary words, and sentence structure.
Stephanie McCreary District Technology Specialist - Pattonville School District
Personalized Publishing: Voice & Choice
See 15+ examples of how students can publish their writing/learning, from podcasts to e-books to videos. Publishing refers to any type of writing OR communication of ideas & information. 90% of the session is hands-on. Choose 1 app you want to explore in this hands-on session. Bring your iPad & headphones. Make sure you are updated to iOS12 and you have the latest version of Keynote and Pages.
Jennifer Orton Innovative Learning Specialist - Knox County R-1 Schools
Stop Searching and Start Creating!
The App Store has thousands of apps to choose from and searching can be time consuming and overwhelming! Stop searching and focus on the Apple apps that come with your iPad! This session will focus on the iPad how you can use Apps such as Keynote, Pages, Numbers, Clips and iMovie to create, learn, and collaborate in your classroom today!
Kristie Lehde Technology Specialist - Ladue School District
Reminders- the unsung hero of organizational tools for teachers and administrators.
Attendees will experience the vast number of options that the Reminders app offers in keeping todo lists organized and easy to maintain. From general todo lists, to being reminded of a list when I walk into a specific place, to alarms reminding of tasks that need completion, and communicating and collaboration todo lists with teammates, will make any educators life more efficient and effective.
Tammy Hasheider District Technology Specialist - Pattonville School District
Everyone Can Create - Posters, Infographics, Movies, Oh my!
When students create, they learn and remember. Using ideas from this session both teachers and students can become creative communicators and innovative designers. This is a hands-on session where you will learn new ways to create professional looking posters, flyers, infographics, and even movies with Keynote, Pages, Quicktime, Photobooth, and iMovie.
Christine Ruder Teacher - Rolla Public Schools & Debbie Fucoloro Teacher - Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
Make Learning a Snap: Using Student Images for Deeper Understanding
Heard of #BookSnaps? Let’s try #LearningSnaps! First, use Keynote to have students create personal learning-mojis. Then, use the learning-mojis with iPad apps such as, Book Creator, SeeSaw, PicCollage, Google Slides, or Padlet, etc. to have your students illustrate their thinking about concepts they are learning in class. Using #LearningSnaps allows students to reflect and share their understanding in an engaging, personalized manner.
Images from the event
From the moment the doors opened at 7:00, the energy was high among the planning team, volunteers, and attendees for a great day of learning at EdCamp St. Louis. That energy only continued to grow throughout the day as educators engaged in conversations and sharing around a wide range of topics in education.
The morning began with a kickoff session with all 350 attendees in the auditorium - complete with a tshirt cannon! Starting as a whole group helps to get everyone on the same page - especially those who are new to edcamp.
Following kickoff, attendees jumped right into developing the days session schedule. In less than 30 minutes, all 20 session posters were full of ideas ranging from student voice to flexible seating, social emotional learning to new tech tools. The day was full of amazing conversations and great sharing as attendees attended four rounds of sessions and collaborated on shared notes documents.
Reflecting on EdCamp St. Louis, I think a huge factor in the success of the day is the volunteers. From the months of planning by a team of volunteers, to the minute-by-minute schedule of the day, to the student volunteers - EdCampSTL wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the volunteers and the attendees who show up, excited to learn and grow!
A small group of passionate educators gathered in August to begin a journey. Each telling their story of innovation, creativity, change and personal growth. These stories, with the help of Dr. Robert Dillon, have come together to truly highlight our amazing region. Without a publishing company, without pre-sales, without financial support from many foundations, we persisted. Our region's educators deserve to be published, we are so excited to tell their stories!
Order
Volume 1 will be on sale now preorder 2, 3 or the complete series here.
Outline of the event:
5:30 - 6:00 Welcome and networking
6:00 - 7:00 8, 6-minute presentations with a short break in between, TED-style delivered by the authors of Volume 1.
7:00 - 7:15 Throughline of the stories and setting up of the next storyline found in Volume 2 delivered by Dr. Robert Dillon
7:15 - 7:45 Book signing by authors/educators.
Slide Deck from the Event:
We were SO LUCKY to get the opportunity to partner with the Black and Brown Teaching Trust to kick off Black History Month by raising a glass to Black and Brown educators!
The purpose of the event was to connect educators of color with each other for a chance to celebrate our roles in public and private education. These educators of all levels had a chance to share their experiences from their career field, build strong professional learning networks and kickback to enjoy some good company. We know It is important for students to be able to see teachers from all different backgrounds and experiences. It is equally important for educators to receive the same perspective. Cheers to our Black and Brown Educators!
Special Thanks to @darionrobinson for letting us collaborate on your vision!
Our organization has been around for three years. We’ve been doing okay, but we recognize the need to do some serious fundraising if we would like to see this mission continue.
Our Goals:
Raise $20,000
Have the event attended by 100+ people
Recognize the impact our organization is having on our region
Provide an experience that mimics our core values
The event was held at Third Degree Glass Factory on 10/4 starting at 6pm. Below are some of the Pre-unGala images:
Run Of Show:
6:15 - Welcome and information on navigating the unGala, Dr. Christopher McGee, Founder & CEO and Julie Lawson, Executive Director
6:45 - Glass Blowing Demo, 3rd Degree Glass Company
7:15 - Welcome from the Board of Directors, Brenda Watt
Keynote Speech, Carey Davis, Head Football Coach, Hazelwood Central High School; former starting fullback, Pittsburgh Steelers
Closing Comments, Dr. Amy Peach
8:30 - Silent Auction closes
Maker Stations
Throughout the evening there were 8 stations for attendees to participate in. These stations encouraged attendees to connect with one another and learn a new concept or skill. The stations below were shared:
Art Bot
Virtual Reality
Artificial Intelligence
Foil boat challenge
Graffiti wall
Makey Makey
LED Creations
Meet Others Scavenger Hunt
Results
130 attendees
$15,654.93 raised
Shared the impact our organization is having on our region from last year’s data:
17 Professional Learning events
43 Hours of Professional Learning
1591 educators attended our events last year
68,413 total hours of professional learning awarded last year
Total savings of $1,562,552.92 to our region’s schools and districts.
Provide an experience that mimics our core values
Innovative set up unlike others have experienced
Connecting and learning were positioned at the core of the event
Thank You!
Board of Directors
Brenda Watt, President
Phyllis Ellison
Dr. Amy Peach
Dr. Basiyr Rodney
Paul Krussel
Brian Wellinghoff
Dr. Donna Jahnke
Founder and CEO
Dr. Chris McGee
Executive Director
Julie Lawson
Leadership Team
Bill Bass
Chuck Baker
Glenn Barnes
Derek Bridges
Chris Campbell
Patrick Dempsey
Robert Dillon
Michael Dragoni
Samuel Fishburn
Mauel S. Herrera
Greg Lawrence
Rob Lamb
Sadie Lewis
Chantell Mason
Lance McClard
Dr. Katrice Noble
Dr. Kacy Seals
Julie Szaj
Matt Weld
Aubresha Young
Emanuel Young
Sponsors
Innovative Technology Education Fund
Missouri State Teachers Association
Stifel Nicolaus
Edge Hill
Interstate Studio
Color Art
Steelcase
Global Hack
Sentient Strategy
Webster University
Silent Auction Sponsors
Bar Method
Bloxels
Blue Iguana
Cannoli’s Restaurant Crest Bowl
Cooper Hawk
Cugino’s Restaurant
Dollhouse
Fitz
FLOAT
Jilly’s
Just Dance
Magic House
Makey Makey
Missouri Botanical Garden
Morgan Ford
Painting with a Twist
Pappy’s/Bogart’s
Pasta House
PBS
Prana Yoga
Raising Cane’s
Event Program
In the last several years, the type of students served in special education classrooms has shifted from students simply needing academic remediation to a larger population of students with emotional disturbances, significant difficulties with executive functioning and regulation, intellectual disabilities, and medical needs. The need for trauma-informed teaching and modification of curriculum is increasing. With Special School District employees spread out all over St. Louis County the opportunities to connect with colleagues are few and far between. The job of a special education service provider presents many unique challenges that make professional collaboration imperative to not only student success but also to staff growth and well-being.
On Saturday, September 8th, Connected Learning, and Jennifer Ferguson hosted the first SPEDcampSTL at Long Elementary from 8:30-12:00. Eighty educators from across St. Louis County, some from Jefferson County, and as far south as Cape Girardeau gathered together to discuss topics such as racial bias and equity in special education, the impact giftedness has on emotional regulation, behavior intervention and modification, parent involvement, language therapy data collection ideas and strategies, music therapy, and staff well-being. Participants connected not only during the three breakout sessions but also virtually through Flipgrid videos in which they reflected on what they hoped to gain from the morning. The event concluded with giveaways from Adam Welcome and Kids Deserve It, Burgess Publishing Company, Boardmaker, and Flipgrid. SPEDcampSTL was a testament to the growing need for professional collaboration in the special education community.
Check out the session board and collaborative notes: http://www.bit.ly/SPEDCamp18
Enjoy some of the media from the day's learning here:
Connected Learning is Partnering with Lindenwood University to offer 1 or 2 College Credit for attending Connected Learning's professional learning events across our region.
Dear Connected Learner,
You can earn one hour of graduate credit from Lindenwood University through your participation in this learning event. In order to earn credit, you will complete the following steps:
1. Visit https://applylu.lindenwood.edu/applicationws.asp, complete the Enrollment Form and pay with your credit card. (Tuition fees are non-refundable)
2. Fully participate in learning activities
3. Complete the assignments and return by the deadline. See attached for additional information
As a Connected Learner, you have access to a student portal and can print out a copy of your unofficial transcript and/or single grade report by logging in, choosing the term FA WS 18 and going to the ‘My Transcripts’ or ‘My Grades’ section. Please follow the link below to login to your portal for the first time. http://www.lindenwood.edu/technology/portal/student.html Or, if you wish to request an official transcript, a transcript will need to be requested through this link http://www.lindenwood.edu/academics/transcript.html.
The attached information will provide you with the requirements to earn one hour of graduate credit. If you have specific information regarding Cooperative Credit, please feel free to contact me at jedler@lindenwood.edu or by phone at 636-949-4612.
2/24
Learning and Leading the culture of IKEA
Educators around the globe are looking into other sectors to better understand how to create something special in our schools and classrooms. Come learn how IKEA makes your experience special and how you can bring that back to your school/classroom.
2/26 - 27
Lee's Summit R-7 Schools would like to invite teachers and administrators to CONNECTMidwest. Participants will experience two full days of interactive, highly relevant professional learning opportunities
2/28 - 3/1
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion conference at Webster University a "Free-mium" conference with BOLD speakers, great insight and inspiring ideas.
3/1
Improv Skills for Educators
Come learn new Improv games, strategies and activities to build community with your colleagues and students! Improv is so much more than comedy. It's learning about discomfort, agreeing and running with an idea, it's truly listening to another person, it's empathy and putting yourself in another person's shoes. You know what else? It's FUN! It'll make you laugh, it'll change how you interact with students.
A multitude of learning around VR and AR and its impact on society to come. Register for this FREE event and check out all the learning
3/6
The New Normal: Reframing Diversity in Tech and Entrepreneurship
You can't innovate without diversity. Period. Yet most proposed solutions to increasing diversity in tech and entrepreneurship falls short. SO what's the solution? Kathryn Finney will address the very real, technological and historic barriers to increasing diversity in an ever-growing sector of tech and entrepreneurship and how companies from start-ups to non-profits can directly address those barriers in creating a "New Normal"
3/10
Learning Space Design Scavenger Hunt
Great design is often elusive, especially to those (like me) who struggle with good design. Learn, discover, grow, and shift your mindset in order to expand your possibilities. Together let's uncover the experiences we want our students to have. When we better understand the experiences we want our students to have we can then design your amazing space. Learn how to bring your instruction to life and find amazing resources to revitalize your space.
3/17
Seeds of Joy
You're met Jill Stratton right here at South. If you enjoyed her, learn even more about bringing JOY into your life. Bringing together evidenced-based research and a lively blend of music, personal stories, and reflection, this workshop is more of a mini-retreat for heart and soul. Come if you're curious, skeptical, hungry, or hopeful and leave with "seeds of joy" and strategies for increasing and sustaining happiness this spring and beyond.
3/31
Chromecamp
Chromecamp is an “unconference,” a free, non-commercial gathering of passionate educators who share an interest in a particular topic – in this case, the Chrome (the browser and OS) and the entire Google Ecosystem. Attendees volunteer to run sessions – conversations, not presentations – on specific topics related to this theme (or not – sessions can also be about social media or other educational concepts, but the emphasis is on Chrome and Google.)
4/14
The Missouri Botanical Garden has an awesome event focused on sustainability just for your school and your students. Check it out!
Resources
Simple steps to starting PBL in your class.
A List of Excellent Student Design Projects for Middle School Creativity
28 question stems to foster critical thinking (TOTALLY TIES TO TEI STANDARD 4)
Need a summer job? Check out the Global Hack position attached.
6 non-education books educators read
Local resource to find out resources across our region. Lit Around the Lou
Great Add-ons for Google Slides
VIDEO: Individualizing assignments in google classroom (great way to differentiate assignments for students.)
6 steps to make your next book study the best one yet
Grants to fund learning in and out of your classroom.
6 Excellent Google Mapping Tools to Develop Students Geo-Literacy
5 Downloadable Vocabulary Activities that Make Words Stick
Articles
Great things happen when you're bored: 5 fascinating things I learned by making myself bored
PLEASE TAKE YOUR HOOD OFF and other microaggressions all teachers commit
Who couldn't use better (or more) sleep? Learn how to fall asleep quicker
The Japanese use of the word "Space" might change how you view the world.
So as future jobs continue to shift, what does it mean for those that struggle academically that working in a grocery store may be a thing of the past? Amazon Go
Teachers as Learners: Moving from Unintentional to Engaged to Empowered - Reminded me, we are either constantly refining our practice around the needs of our students and the world THEY are entering or we are saying their needs are irrelevant.
Twitter is Like Going to the Grocery Store - “Not every idea you encounter on Twitter will go in your shopping cart.” Check out the “10 signs you might be ready to learn using Twitter.”
“If the learning in the classroom is all about what the teacher does, and less about what the students create, then what is the long-term impact that this will have on our students?” How can students take content knowledge learned and create something new with it? Read More.
Sad news about what kids are doing on their 1:1 chromebooks across the world. YIKES!
11th graders poem rocks the world, what could our kids write that shapes their world?
50 blog ideas for educators. Do you blog? Do your students? Why not?
When working alongside our colleagues, if we remember the principles of adult behavior we may have better friends, better colleagues and deeper engagement.
The importance of Deep Fun. Having fun at work is far more than just ping-pong tables, although those are cool too.
The Key Trait that Einstein, Jobs and Divinci had in common. HINT: It's not content knowledge.
For Immediate Release:
Connected Learning Hires New Development/Program Director
ST. LOUIS, MO, October 4, 2017 -- Connected Learning is excited to announce the hiring of new part-time Development/Program Director Julie Lawson. Mrs. Lawson will serve as a community-facing ambassador for Connected Learning as well as a leader within the organization, lending expertise and insight to company-wide initiatives. Her role includes establishing a plan for continued growth, evaluating and analyzing all development efforts and developing appropriate strategies to address challenges, capitalize and expand successes and improve results.
Mrs. Lawson’s career has largely been in the nonprofit sector with some focus on educational initiatives. She recently launched Sentient Strategy, providing consulting to St. Louis, Kansas City and Denver area nonprofits in the areas of leadership development, strategic planning, marketing and related capacity building. She previously worked for FOCUS St. Louis, serving as the Executive Director for the Supreme Court of Missouri Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness (2015-2017), Vice President (2015-2017), and Adjunct Trainer for the Coro Women in Leadership Program (2006-2015). In addition, Mrs. Lawson served as President for the Board at Active Minds Institute, a charter school curriculum development organization.
In Mrs. Lawson’s 20 year career, she has raised more than 20 million dollars in new funds for small nonprofits, served as Executive Director of four nonprofits, and facilitated more than 100 learning workshops/events, primarily in leadership development. CEO, Dr. Christopher McGee shares, “As Connected Learning continues to grow serving thousands of educators across our region, Mrs. Lawson will break new barriers for our organization and for area educators. We will not only continue the excellence of learning and innovation we’ve started here but grow into new strategic ways to best serve our region.”
“Connected Learning is excited to move to a new phase of supporting teachers and schools,” says Dr. Robert Dillon, Director of Innovative Learning at School District of University City and Connected Learning Leadership Team member. “Mrs. Lawson’s focus on enhancing the conversation about modern learning coupled with the incredible leadership team and volunteers of the organization has Connected Learning primed to make a greater impact on change in St. Louis and beyond.”
Mrs. Lawson will begin her new role with Connected Learning on November 1.
About Connected Learning
Connected Learning is a non-profit organization that supports those who desire to learn more, are willing to take risks, and think differently about the problems we face in education today. Connected Learning does this by hosting, sponsoring, and supporting events.
Connected Learning is able to maximize its mission of supporting a deeper level of connected learning through these tasks:
As hosts, Connected Learning plans, develops, and carries out events. This includes our flagship event, edcampSTL, as well as a number of events throughout the year that promote innovation and next practice.
As sponsors, Connected Learning is able to bolster other incredible learning opportunities through donations of our time, talent, and treasures.
As event supporters, we work with individuals planning events to provide logistical advice, ideas, and opportunities to market the event to our incredible network of learners and supporters.
To learn more, go to http://www.connectedlearningstl.org/
Contact:
Dr. Chris R. McGee
Chief Connecting Officer: Connected Learning
chris@connectedlearningstl.org
Events
1/20
Educator Design Sprint - Café & Children’s Area Barnes and Noble Ladue
Don’t miss this free opportunity to practice your space design skills! We’ve partnered with area design expert and Director of Innovative Learning at Unviersity City SD, Dr. Robert Dillon, as well as designers from Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design. Studies have shown that incorporating layout and space design into your education plan enhances student learning. We’ll practice these vital concepts here at our store so you can return to YOUR space with all the needed skills. Join the collaborative design fun! Complimentary coffee & light refreshments will be served.
Sat. Jan 20th 10:30 am to noon - R.S.V.P. or just show up! I'll be there!
Now - March 2nd
It’s time to put your students' imaginations to work, because the Doodle 4 Google contest is now open. This year’s contest is open to K-12 students until March 2 with the theme “What inspires you?" We’ll feature the winning doodle on the Google homepage! Prizes include college scholarships, a behind the scenes experience with the Google Doodle team, and a $50,000 Google for Education technology package for the winner’s school. Submit your doodles!
2/7
Blue Skies discussion group
Looking for thoughtful conversation? Interested in environmental issues and energy? Join our Blue Skies discussion group. Open to K-12 educators, particularly middle and high school science teachers. Learn more
2/10
Darwin Day
Celebrate Charles Darwin's birthday with a free evolution event for K-12 educators. Keynote speaker is Eugenie Scott - an internationally recognized expert on creationism/evolution controversy. Register now
2/9
EdcampSTL Tweet Up
Just before EdcampSTL get together and meet other conference goers and enjoy some light appetizers on us! It's a great time to meet new educators.
2/10
EdcampSTL
The world's largest UNconference. 500+ educators gathered ready to share the awesomeness going on in their schools. Breakfast and Lunch Provided
2/24
Learning and Leading the culture of IKEA
Educators around the globe are looking into other sectors to better understand how to create something special in our schools and classrooms. Come learn how IKEA makes your experience special and how you can bring that back to your school/classroom
2/26 - 27
Lee's Summit R-7 Schools would like to invite teachers and administrators to CONNECTMidwest. Participants will experience two full days of interactive, highly relevant professional learning opportunities
2/28 - 3/1
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion conference at Webster University a "Free-mium" conference with BOLD speakers, great insight and inspiring ideas.
3/1
Improv Skills for Educators
Come learn new Improv games, strategies and activities to build community with your colleagues and students! Improv is so much more than comedy. It's learning about discomfort, agreeing and running with an idea, it's truly listening to another person, it's empathy and putting yourself in another person's shoes. You know what else? It's FUN! It'll make you laugh, it'll change how you interact with students.
A multitude of learning around VR and AR and it's impact on society to come. Register for this FREE event and check out all the learning
4/14
The Missouri Botanical Garden has an awesome event focused on sustainability just for your school and your students. Check it out!
Resources
Check out the New Certification Platform
Our certification platform now includes an updated user interface and several new features for our Google Certified Educator Level 1 and 2 exams. Even if you’ve already taken the exams, you can revisit the exam platform to view your certification history, refer a friend, or download a letter from our team to your principal. Log in here.
Discover your Favorite new Educational YouTube Channel
Looking for a new educational channel for your students in 2018? This YouTube playlist from We Create Edu has videos from dozens of up-and-coming educators. The playlist includes videos on a variety of subjects including biology, pop culture, and history, so there’s something for every type of educator.
YOUTUBE Channel: Applied Digital Skills Youtube Channel . A google for education channel for learning and applying great skills in our schools.
PODCAST: Experiments in Happiness and creativity . A BOLD podcast with the amazing Gretchen Rubin on how to expand your Happiness and Creativity in 2018. A great focus on TEI 5.3
Articles
Google's 17 favorite moments of 2017
ARTICLE: A great article about the modern classroom authored by our very own Bob Dillon.
ARTICLE: What the research says about classroom layout and design.
ARTICLE: We are all math people
POLICY: Are Snow Days a thing of the past? Looks like something cool is happening in Illinois!
TWO ARTICLES: Two recent articles show what the firms have learned about why some employees quit and others stay — and about why some teams flourish and others flounder.
FINAL THOUGHT:
Many of us like to start our year with resolutions. What if we made it simpler than that? What if we chose just one word to guide us through the year? There are some terrific HyperDocs and other Google-related resources that you can use to motivate yourself and your students to stop, reflect, and move forward with intention. They can be used in January at the beginning of a new year - or anytime, really! More here
- Have you chosen a word for 2018?
- Have you tried doing a one word or vision boarding activity to start the new year with your students?
- Do you have any other great activities that you like to use to start a new month, year, term, semester, or season in your classroom?
Glenn and Chris share the story of Connected Learning!
I have been at a "new" job for the past year and have loved the experience thus far. Sharing this experience with now former colleagues has been strange. Strange in the sense that I do not get to see them every day of the school year. Celebrating this change with mentors has been really fun as well. However, there is one mentor who is not present to celebrate my success. His name is Loran Koprowski.
Loran Koprowski and I first encountered one another in 1991 when I was a high school student attending Central Visual & Performing Arts High School. “Mr. K” as we affectionately referred to him was hard to miss. He stood about 6’2″ and had black hair. Always dressed impeccably, he had a kind word for the students he encountered. Mr. K was the assistant principal. Most of us never saw the other APs, unless there was trouble. Mr. K was always front and center. He would learn names, figure out our likes/dislikes, and always made sure to ask how our classes were going. As I was going through this awkward stage of adolescence, Mr. K was always a person I consulted with as I went through the troubles of my home life. He was the person who I could tell anything and everything. Privacy and fidelity were always respected.
When I graduated, he made sure to send me a card and a $20 bill. We remained in contact while I was in school and was very supportive of me becoming a teacher. When I returned to St. Louis and started working at Sumner High School, I found out that Mr. K had a heart attack and was going through the process of recovery. During his recovery and return to administration, he was relocated over to Sumner High. We found ourselves together again, but this time in a role that was different than what we had known. We were colleagues. This didn’t matter. Mr. K was the same positive influence on me. We would talk about life and career goals. We also told jokes and discussed how we could make things better. He was my sounding board and my greatest cheerleader. After 2 years at Sumner, he was transferred over to Clyde C. Miller Career Academy. A few years later, a position opened up for social studies there and he helped facilitate the move for me over there.
Mr. K and I worked together for another three years until he retired in 2010. He and his wife moved to Florida to live out their golden years. We called and emailed from time to time, but our paths would cross once more. In November of 2011, my wife and I adopted out first child, Noah. Noah was born in Tampa. Loran lived about 1 and 1/2 hours south of there. Knowing that we were in the state and awaiting clearance to go home, he invited us down to his house for the day. Julie and I had been stuck in a hotel or a hospital for over a week. We didn’t have family with us to share in the experience, but we had an old friend ready to help us out. We drove down to visit the Koprowski’s and our relationship evolved yet again. From that day forward, we referred to Loran and Debbie Koprowski as Noah’s “Florida Grandparents.” We had lunch, we talked about the “old” days and more important…we talked about life. I was grateful for his generosity that day and even more thankful for his love.
Loran Koprowski, Noah and Glenn Barnes at "Casa Koprowski" North Port, FL (June, 2013)
Our family returned to Florida one more time in 2013 for a vacation. We visited with him once again and had another lunch. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see Loran Koprowski. Loran died in August of 2015 of a heart attack while he was out boating with his wife. When I talked to Debbie, I was absolutely devastated. Loran was a father figure to me and a man I truly respected. He listened to me in adolescence and as a colleague. He allowed me to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. He allowed me take risks as a teacher and challenge the status quo. He encouraged me to continue improving my craft when so many others did not. He made me relaxed with a great sense of humor. Most of all, he taught me that family is everything. Loran was a family man and incredibly loyal to them. I have come to know his wife very well. I have watched his daughter and sons grow up over the course of almost 25 years that I knew him.
Every teacher needs a mentor like that. We need people in our life who can make a connection with us and meet us where we are. Loran Koprowski has a very special place in my heart and it is taking everything in me to get through this post without losing my emotions (I am tearing up thinking about him now). Believe me, there are so many stories I could tell (some still have me cracking up years later). I feel blessed to have made many connections with students, teachers and administrators during my time in SLPS. I hope to be half the person Loran Koprowski was, because in many ways he saved me from myself. He showed me how to do the right things as a leader, as a man, and as a friend. That level of mentoring is vitally important.
Be that mentor. Be that life changing agent for someone. Get to know your people on an intimate level and be sincere. I hope that our paths may cross some day and you can see a little piece of Loran Koprowski when we meet. Thank you, Mr. K!
By: Glenn Barnes
Experience rich environments create the velcro that we need to attach learning.
This is so clear as some students return from a summer full of amazing experiences ready to learn while others return starved of meaningful experiences. They are wilted, and in need of care, support and rebuilding. This second group comes to us with a virtual teflon brain, and it makes it really hard to attach new learning and concepts. We have known for a long time that those with means bolt past those without in the area of life experiences creating an experience gap that is nearly impossible to overcome. This is most evident returning from the summer months. To push back against the velcro versus teflon reality, it is essential to fill our schools with learning experiences that are rich and meaningful. It is essential to surround our students with beauty, caring adults from the community, and opportunities to explore. Let's make this a sticky year for all kids.
By Robert Dillon