BLC16

Are you new to BLC? Join us for an early morning look at BLC16 with presenters Lainie Rowell and Sara Wilkie! 

Using the Power of Storytelling to Foster Self-Directed Learners & Purposeful Journeys 

For nearly two decades, twin brothers and co-founders of Boston-based media/interactive development firm FableVision Peter H. Reynolds and Paul A. Reynolds have created and shared stories that have helped inspire learning, creativity, and courage to lead self-directed, meaningful life journeys. With books and films that have been celebrated around the globe, Peter landed the Association of American Publishers’ 2013 Visionary award for making such a "positive impact on the lives and endeavors of those throughout the learning resource community."

What makes the Reynolds' brand of storytelling so powerful? As American Psychologist Jerome Bruner (2002) explains, "metaphorically rich, morally instructive narratives teach us who we are and who we can become.” The brothers will share how the power of story can provide transformational change in students' (and teachers') lives - whether it is inspire self-directed learning (The North Star), courage needed for learning & self-expression (The Dot), resilience in the face of struggles (Ish), flexibility and growth mindset (Sky Color), embracing others with differences (The Blue Shoe, I’m Here), adaptive expertise, creativity and innovation (Going Places.) The brother’s talk will be interspersed with a sampling of their books and animated films, all of which can be brought into one's practice - often with enduring, life-changing results. 

Key to the Reynolds mission, they will also encourage every participant and their students to discover and capture their own stories - and share them using a host of powerful new tools for creative self-expression and publishing. And most importantly, the Peter and Paul will challenge everyone to “make your mark matter!” In a modern world where we create and broadcast media from home and school, or digitally fabricate anything from toys to guns with new 3D printers - positive scaffolding of these powerful new creation tools is essential. Attendees will be given the challenge to provide the learners in their care with guidance and encouragement to use their creativity and human potential to move the world to a better place.

By engaging students in problem and project based learning, impacting their emotions, causing them to question and think about controversial topics, and presenting content in the form of visuals and stories, research shows that students more often retain content and turn it into personal knowledge. By infusing the information literacy skill set as the common thread across the content areas, students have the foundation they need to succeed. Learn how the team of classroom teacher, teacher librarian, and technology teacher can work together to create and teach lessons that intertwine these literacies.

Ted has completed an extensive 2015-2016 school-year trip, going to all fifty states.  He will talk about what he observed: 

What’s working?

What isn’t,?

What it will take to accelerate the pace of progress and change in our schools? 

Ted will discuss his nine-month “No State Left Behind” tour. You can preview his travels on his website:

http://www.edu21c.com/blog/

The first five days of school can prepare students to "learn how to learn" and yield achievement dividends all year.   By preparing students to own  their learning and to manage tools and networks that will support them throughout the school year, we better prepare them for academic success.   Web literacy, student as tutorial designer, self assessment, peer to peer support and more will be  covered. A culture of empowered learning can help save teachers valuable time and inspire students.

 

Today’s digital classroom seeks to combine rich literacy instruction with 21st century tools to engage students in meaningful learning experiences. New devices invite students to read beyond the text and use multimedia--images, video, infographics--to add layers to their thinking. In this new learning landscape, we rethink what it means to “read” and craft lessons that explicitly teach students to analyze a photo, closely read a video clip and read the world. We’ll investigate new entry points for all learners and share ideas for empowering students to author their own messages as content creators in this participatory digital culture. 

Are you ready to facilitate the building of a society of learners as you go beyond the four components of STEM? This is a must attend session for those wanting to fit Project Based Learning, 21st Century Skill Acquisition, and NETS into their STEM initiatives. Participants will be introduced to the idea of STEM and integrating the Arts (STEAM) and including the Maker’s Movement (STEAMIE) Michael, a facilitator at the National STEM Academy in Washington DC, STEM/PBL Facilitator for BIE, and STEMBL workshop designer for Discovery will share with you a multitude of STEAMIE ideas. Learn about great resources as you take a tour of web sites promoting STEM education. See firsthand examples of ways to include a Makers Program for all students in just about any environment. Turn up the heat on any STEM education effort. It really is time to get STEMTASTIC

Articulating vision and mission, managing change, and aligning technology to primary curricular goals are emphasized. We will explore the “leader as a role model” concept and look at various professional development opportunities, such as joining a global professional community.

Computer Science has become a ‘hot topic’ these days. Why? Because the study of computer science can lead to high-skill, high-wage, high demand careers. From President Obama to your local board of education, there have been calls to make computer science and coding available to all students of all ages and across all demographics: Computer Science for All. In a recent legislative session, Connecticut lawmakers mandated that K-12 schools include Computer Science in their curriculum - and other states have enacted similar mandates. But what does that mean? How are teachers who are not computer programmers supposed to learn the skills needed to teach their students coding? Don’t be intimidated - there are tons of online resources that can help you provide meaningful activities, learn along with your students, and have fun!

This presentation will demonstrate resources that make computer science accessible and fun. Teachers will leave with a wealth of free or inexpensive resources for including computer science, computational thinking and coding activities into their classrooms. 

Back by popular demand, on Thursday, July 21 at 7:30, Alan will once again host Global Networking in the Georgian Room. 

Join us for this fun-filled, action-packed Speed Networking event with educators from all over the world. Our Global Bell will go off every three minutes, and you will meet another educator. For the past few years, many participants listed our Global Speed Networking Event as one of the highlights of BLC due to the many personal connections they made with creative educators.

Super yummy refreshments will be served!!

Bring your dancin' shoes and your sweet tooth and join us for an evening of camraderie, music and dessert. Our host, Alan November, will be in the photo booth for pictures with attendees, and we will all enjoy socializing with both old and new friends.
 

In a connected world, learners can collaborate, interact with experts, perform research and produce creative works! During this session we will examine using technology to transform learning. Gain knowledge as well as practical strategies to lead by example and integrate these tools and resources in meaningful, effective ways. This session includes hands-on experiences and time to work with your team to design an activity that redefines learning.

Uncovering information through inquiry is essential. Before students perform a search it is important that they have good questions… after all it is good questions that lead to answers. Better yet, answer lead to deeper questions. It’s more than a cycle it’s an inquiry spiral! Learn techniques and employ technology that will engage today’s student to inquire and question with skill, develop and use today’s pre-search technologies, and engage in self-regulated research and evaluation. Best of all, walk away with free resources and tools in order to further sustain the learning process. (Mike was featured involving informational searches using Google advanced search techniques by Alan November in his latest book "Who owns the Learning")

This workshop is based on Alan’s New York Times best selling book, “Who Owns the Learning” and a powerful new 6 step model of designing transformational learning experiences. If the answer is no to all 6 questions chances are very good that the assignment has not leveraged the power of technology.

1. Did the assignment build capacity for critical thinking on the web?
2. Did the assignment develop new lines of enquiry?
3. Are there opportunities to broaden the perspective of the conversation with authentic audiences from around the world?
4. Is there an opportunity for students to publish – across various media with capacity for continuous feedback?
5. Is there an opportunity for students to create a contribution (purposeful work)?
6. Does the assignment provide “best in the world” examples of content and skill?

Additional topics can include building collaborative classrooms, teaching students to self assess and a range of quality teacher feedback strategies.