Inspired Learning Convention 2020: Full Schedule

8:55am PST

Highly Engaging Lessons Using Dash and Dot Robots!

No prior knowledge needed! Come learn about Dash and Dot Robots and how students can be inspired to interact with them though the use of code while connecting to your classroom curriculum.

Audience: Elementary

MURSD Innovative Elements: Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

Session Resources

Speakers

Katie Jordan

Elementary Technology Specialist, MURSD - Clough

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 9:25am PST
Room G219

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience Elementary
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

8:55am PST

Inspiring Stories about Proficiency Based Learning with ASSISTments from WPI

In this session, you will hear about four Math teachers and how their use of ASSISTments inspired them to change their teaching to allow students to show mathematical understanding in new and innovative ways. See how the use of ASSISTments allowed these teachers to find new ways to reach their students. The presentation will also cover the four steps of a proven homework routine and how ASSISTments plays a role in providing the feedback & reports to facilitate its implementation. Leave with the knowledge and understanding of how to implement ASSISTments in your own classroom.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

Speakers

Dawn Peterson

Director of Content and Partnerships, The ASSISTments Foundation

Dawn started her career in education as a Math teacher in a small town in Massachusetts. For 14 years, she served as an 8th-grade teacher and was an early (very early) adopter of ASSISTments, which she used in her own classroom for about 10 years. ASSISTments made such an impact on... Read More →

ASSISTments Presentation Summary pdf

Teacher Cheat Sheet pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 9:25am PST
Room G217

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

8:55am PST

Reimagining Assessment thru Student Choice

In this session, we will reimagine assessment by way of student agency. Can you take a unit of study and offer 3 different types of assessment and let students choose who they would like to demonstrate mastery? Possible student benefits are increased success in demonstrating mastery and a reduction in assessment anxiety. Courtney Leja and Amy Gilchrist of the Nipmuc Math Department will be leading this discussion, providing a specific example of this assessment reimagining in action with a Geometry Unit on Right Triangles.
This reimagining example can be applied to many disciplines.

Audience: Middle, High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Student Agency

Speakers

Courtney Leja

Teacher, Nipmuc

Amy Gilchrist

Teacher, Nipmuc Regional High School

Student Agency in Assessment docx

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 9:25am PST
Room G215

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience High, Middle
Subject Student Agency

8:55am PST

Classroom Podcasting 101

Limited Capacity filling up

Podcasting has made a huge resurgence in the last couple of years largely due to the proliferation of tools that make it easy for anyone to record, edit, and publish podcasts. This presentation features a look at a few of the tools that students can use to create and publish podcasts. More importantly, this presentation will provide you with ideas for podcasts that students can record with their classmates, teachers, and families.

Speakers

Richard Byrne

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room B340

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience High, Middle, All Levels
Subject Purposeful Use of Technology, Authentic & Engaging Work, Deep Inquiry, Student Agency

8:55am PST

Collaborative Problem-Solving for Every Student: One High School's Journey

In 2010 a team of teachers and administrators from the Reading Public Schools saw Dr. Tony Wagner speak at an event at Olin College. The event, and Wagner's book The Global Achievement Gap, inspired them to think about how they might provide a collaborative and authentic problem-solving experience to every student at Reading Memorial High School. Since 2011, every junior in the school has taken part in their annual Real World Problem Solving (RWPS) exercise. The ten-year journey of RWPS at RMHS is filled with lessons about the challenges and rewards of bringing collaborative problem-solving to scale at a large high school.

Audience: Middle, High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Deep Inquiry, Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments

Speakers

Michael McSweeney

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room G214

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience Middle, High
Subject Deep Inquiry, Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments

8:55am PST

Mindfulness Strategies for the Classroom

You will learn a variety of deep breathing, positive self-talk and visualization strategies that can be used in your personal life and in your classroom to help your students become aware of themselves, those around them and to regulate their emotions.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Flexible Learning Environments

Speakers

Olivia Hendricks

Spanish Immersion 3rd grade teacher and coordinator, Mendon-Upton Regional

I am a third grade Spanish Immersion teacher with a passion to educate others. I have a large interest in learning about and sharing information on social-emotional learning as I see that it plays a monumental role in our students' wellbeing and academic success.

Inspired Learning Convention 2020 pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room B241

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Flexible Learning Environments

8:55am PST

Shadowspect: Geometry & Game-Based Learning

Limited Capacity seats available

In this 60-minute session, we will explore how game-based assessments can inform our decision making in the classroom! At MIT's Playful Journey Lab, we’ve developed Shadowspect, a geometry game that measures students’ spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills by requiring them to create 3D models that match silhouettes from different angles. After playing the game, we’ll brainstorm about the potential for such environments to provide insights into students’ diverse learning processes, and how that could inform personalized instruction and feedback to students. This session is open to all teachers, regardless of subject area or age group – in fact, we’d welcome having a very diverse set of participants.

Speakers

Aditi Parekh

Raha Moussavi

Senior Learning Designer, MIT Playful Journey Lab

Leslie Coles

Project Manager, MIT Playful Journey Lab

I am a Project Manager for the MIT Playful Journey Lab and also Executive Director & Co-Founder of Moms as Mentors, a non-profit that gives moms and other important adults in girls' lives the tools and opportunities to foster girls' confidence.

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room B235

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience High, Middle
Subject Purposeful Use of Technology, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

8:55am PST

Storytelling with Augmented Reality

Firsthand experience is one of the most powerful ways to learn. With augmented reality, students can experience just about anything they can imagine. Join us to explore augmented reality apps on iPad that help students connect their learning to the world in new ways. We will be creating our own learning experiences to showcase knowledge transfer of topics and creative stories. iPad devices will be provided for attendees.

Speakers

Matt Brooks

Education Leadership Executive, Apple

ar in edu lesson ideas pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room B334

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

8:55am PST

The Gradeless Classroom

The graded work gets passed back and the problems begin immediately. Confusion. Surprise. Dejection. Comparison. Anger. Ambivalence. Papers go in folders to never be seen again, or in the wastebasket (if not now, later). The high achievers pull out their calculators or refresh their online gradebook. Student mindsets fixate upon these results and, as much as we strain towards risk-tasking, inquiry, and growth, the necessity of the grade pushes back.

The gradeless classroom presents an alternative: an environment where work gets passed back ungraded and the benefits begin immediately. Inquiry. Communication. Reflection. Revision. Papers go in folders to be tweaked, or in portfolios to demonstrate outcomes. The high achievers don't find affirmation in As, and the struggling students aren't failing, forever failing. Students don't compare scores on their online gradebook--there's little or nothing there. The necessity of the grade is replaced by the necessity to demonstrate proficiency and the challenge to demonstrate growth.

Sound good?

In this workshop, we will discuss the ways in which early adopters in our district are already switching to gradeless models, the challenges we have faced, and the benefits we and our students have enjoyed.

Open to all educators K-12, best for middle and high school teachers who are looking to shift their grading practice.

Audience: Middle, High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

Speakers

Chris Evans

Teacher, Nipmuc Regional High School

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room B240

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience High, Middle
Subject Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

8:55am PST

The Mindful Teacher: Mindfulness Strategies for Self-Regulation to Prevent Burnout

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

In this lesson you will learn and practice a few mindfulness techniques, like mindfulness of the breath, of the body, and of emotions, as well as pointers on how to cultivate certain attitudes that will help you become the anchor of self-regulation, inside and out of your classroom environment.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Deep Inquiry, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

Speakers

Esther Willinski

3rd grade teacher, Henry P. Clough Elementary

I'm the third grade Spanish Immersion teacher at Clough. I've worked in the district for 14 years. I am passionate about engaging my students in innovative ways of learning and investigation. I love incorporating mindfulness practice as part of my regular class schedule. I would love... Read More →

The Mindful Teacher (1) pdf

The Mindful Teacher pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room B238

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Deep Inquiry, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

8:55am PST

Using Cubelets and Sphero Robotics to Enhance Science/Technology Curriculum

We will discuss how Cubelets and Spheros have been used in third and fourth-grade classrooms to enhance the Science Curriculum. Participants will have a chance to build with the Cubelets and access the online curriculum. We will also practice coding with Spheros to see how they can be integrated into a pre-K through 4 curricula.

Audience: Elementary

MURSD Innovative Elements: Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

Speakers

Amy Henderson

Elementary Teacher, Inclusion/Co-Teaching Mentor, Memorial Elementary School

Debby Coyle

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room B239

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience Elementary
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

8:55am PST

Using Performance Assessments for Student Learning

In partnership with the Massachusetts Consortium of Innovative Education Assessments (MCIEA), the Milford Public Schools have been exploring alternative ways to measure student success. Members of the Stacy Middle School and MCIEA coaches will share their progress after two years. They will also discuss plans of scaling the work up in the school, implications of teaching, learning and student engagement and how the work fits into the district's strategic plan.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Deep Inquiry, Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

Speakers

Charlie Brown

Center for Collaborative Education

Alissa Holland

Instructional Coach & QPA Development Team District Co-Leader, Stacy Middle School, Milford Public Schools, Milford, MA

Daniel Cote

6th Grade Social Studies Teacher & QPA Development Team District Co-Leader, Stacy Middle School, Milford Public Schools, Milford, MA

Craig Consigli

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Milford Public Schools

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 10:00am PST
Room B236

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

8:55am PST

Beyond Fake News: Media Literacy Practices for Every Classroom

Limited Capacity filling up

Media literacy is more important now than ever, but what is it really, and what can it look like in the connected classroom? In this session, explore fun, engaging, and essential media literacy practices, applicable to any content area. Let's make sure that our students are informed consumers and critical creators!

Audience: Middle, High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Deep Inquiry, Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work

Speakers

Michelle Ciccone

Technology Integration Specialist, Foxborough Public Schools

Michelle Ciccone is an educator, curriculum developer, and researcher passionate about digital literacy, media literacy, and digital citizenship. She is currently the Technology Integration Specialist at Foxborough High School in Foxborough, Massachusetts. In this position, Michelle... Read More →

Beyond Fake News Inspired Learning Workshop pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 8:55am - 11:15am PST
Room B242

90-Minute Diving Deeper Workshop

9:30am PST

Humanities: Integrating History, Literature and the Arts

This 30-minute session will outline how we created our humanities program to help students synthesize history, literature, film, music and art using a co-teaching model. We will review how to develop student agency in a project-based model where students respond to big-picture essential questions connecting source material. Strategies for discussion and development of cross-curricular content will be discussed, as well as methods for continued expansion and adaption of curriculum as a program develops.

Audience: Middle, High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work

Speakers

Breanne MacArthur

Hamilton-Wenham High School

Humanities Inspired Learning pptx

HUMANITIES Integrating History, Literature and the Arts! Page Guide pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 9:30am - 10:00am PST
Room G220

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience High, Middle
Subject Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work

9:30am PST

Implementing Wilson Fundations in Your Classroom (K-2)

Limited Capacity filling up

Learn about the Wilson Fundations program and how to implement the program within your K-2 classroom. We will explain what strategies are taught to reinforce phonics skills, fluency, writing skills, sight word recognition, and vocabulary in this multi-sensory, research-based structured language program.

Audience: Elementary

MURSD Innovative Elements: Deep Inquiry, Authentic & Engaging Work, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

Speakers

Hannah Ward

1st & 2nd Grade Special Education Teacher, Memorial Elementary School

Renee Carlson

Reading Specialist, Mendon-Upton Regional School District

Kindergarten Fundations Scope and Sequence docx

First Grade Fundations Scope and Sequence docx

Second Grade Fundations Scope and Sequence docx

Fundations Presentation pptx

Tuesday March 3, 2020 9:30am - 10:00am PST
Room G216

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience Elementary
Subject Deep Inquiry, Authentic & Engaging Work, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

9:30am PST

Inspired Learning Planning Session

Limited Capacity seats available

Did you see and hear something today that provided you with a spark of inspiration? Are you looking for some collaborative time with colleagues and school teams to immediately put those ideas into action? This Inspired Learning Planning Session is for you. In this session, you will be given time and prompts to think about your ideas for future inspiring lessons and projects. This session will provide you with the needed time to process and reflect upon all that you have learned through the keynote and morning or afternoon sessions.

Before the end of the Inspired Learning Planning session, you will write a short reflection or idea you want to try in your practice in the months ahead on the chart paper provided.

This session will be a balance of time to reflect, plan, and collaborate mixed with opportunities to be ignited by new inspirations from others. We will meet in the auditorium to begin and then multiple spaces will be available for the collaborative work time.

Speakers

David Quinn

Director of Tech and Integration, Mendon - Upton Regional School District

Dave Quinn is the Director of Technology Integration for the Mendon-Upton Regional School District in Massachusetts. He works directly with teachers and students in grades K-12 to reimagine learning experiences through the meaningful use of technology. He recently earned his doctorate... Read More →

Tuesday March 3, 2020 9:30am - 10:00am PST

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Deep Inquiry, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection, Purposeful Use of Technology, Student Agency

9:30am PST

One Child, One Teacher, One Book and One Pen can Change the World.

In this session you will learn how one book inspired a group of 4th graders to host their very own Community Soup Social to raise awareness and make a difference in their town. Participants will see first hand how using picture books as mentor texts can spark curiosity and promote inquiry in the classroom. This simple, but meaningful routine of reading one picture book a day empowered students to do something in their community that would make a difference. An authentic Project Based learning adventure began with one book. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” -Margaret Mead

Audience: Elementary, Middle

MURSD Innovative Elements: Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work

Speakers

Brenda Webster

Educator grade 5, Miscoe Hill Middle School

28 year veteran who feels like a first year teacher every year. I dabble with, but am no expert at: #classroombookaday, Flexible Srating, Genius Hour/Passion Projects, Online Student Portfolios using See Saw, Student-Led conferences, The LAUNCH Cycle (Aj Juliani), classroom Twitter... Read More →

Tuesday March 3, 2020 9:30am - 10:00am PST
Room G213

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience Elementary, Middle
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Student Agency

9:30am PST

To Flip or Not to Flip?

Is flipping (delivering new instruction outside of class in videos and doing the "homework" in class) the way of the future or just another educational fad? Is it right for you? What's the workload? Come have a candid conversation about the pros and cons of flipping and decide for yourself!

PLEASE BRING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH HEADPHONES SO YOU CAN INDEPENDENTLY WATCH A VIDEO

Audience: Middle, High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Student Agency, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments

Speakers

Robert Sutton

Math Teacher, Ayer-Shirley Regional High School

I've been teaching for 14 years, and have dabbled in making videos, kahoots, google surveys, desmos explorations, and whatever else I can do to keep things fresh.

Flipping the Classroom mp4

Flipping the Classroom PPT pdf

Flipping the Classroom Guided Notes pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 9:30am - 10:00am PST
Room G218

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience High, Middle
Subject Flexible Learning Environments, Purposeful Use of Technology, Student Agency

9:30am PST

Virtual Field Trips

Limited Capacity seats available

I would like to share using Google Expeditions to take students on virtual field trips. These field trips can enhance the students' learning of the science, social studies and ELA curriculum. These field trips allow students to experience first hand some of the places they only read about in books.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Student Agency, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments

Speakers

Leigh-ann Evans

4th Grade Teacher, Memorial Elementary School

Tuesday March 3, 2020 9:30am - 10:00am PST
Room B237

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Student Agency, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments

10:10am PST

Engaging Activities to Enhance Learning in ELA

Limited Capacity filling up

In this session, we will share a variety of materials and activities to promote the five components of literacy. These materials and activities are samples of materials that Tutors are using to target specific skills during the RTI block. These can easily be incorporated into the elementary classroom teachers' ELA block.

Audience: Elementary

MURSD Innovative Elements: Authentic & Engaging Work

Speakers

Cheryl Creighton

Renee Carlson

Reading Specialist, Mendon-Upton Regional School District

Liz Elliot

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 10:40am PST
Room G215

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience Elementary
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work

10:10am PST

Integrating SEL in the Classroom: Successes, Challenges, and Inspiration

Many teachers have expressed an interest in learning practical, concrete SEL strategies that they can integrate into their classroom.

Join us for a discussion-based share out of best practices for integrating SEL. Our hope is that teachers will bring both strategies and questions, and leave with inspiration to continue this important work.

Audience: Middle, High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Authentic & Engaging Work, Flexible Learning Environments

Speakers

Kerry Fagan

School Counselor, Nipmuc Regional High School

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 10:40am PST
Room G219

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience High, Middle
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Flexible Learning Environments

10:10am PST

Boost Your Brain!

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Experience how movement-based activities, such as Brain Gym, can be used in your teaching so that students can be more focused, organized, and relieve stress related to learning. These movements balance and integrate the whole-brain to help a student take the greatest advantage of learning opportunities available to them.

Audience: Elementary
MURSD Innovative Elements: Flexible Learning Environments

Speakers

Carolyn Harp

Occupational Therapist, Mendon-Upton Regional School District

Mindy Martin

Boost Your Brain (1) pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 11:15am PST
PDC

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience Elementary
Subject Flexible Learning Environments

10:10am PST

Breakout EDU

Limited Capacity filling up

Breakout EDU is an immersive learning game platform. Participants will be engaged in an academically-focused escape room activity where they will use critical thinking to solve a series of challenging puzzles in order to open the locked box. This is applicable to all grade levels and all subject matters including team building. Breakout EDU has games in the arts, career & technical fields, computer science, languages, library, math, physical education, science, social studies, and team development.

Audience: All Levels
MURSD Innovative Elements: Authentic & Engaging Work

Speakers

Mary Ellen Kennedy

Teacher, Mursd

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 11:15am PST
Room G309

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work

10:10am PST

Building an Inspired Learning Day

Inspired Learning Days, formerly known as 21st Century Learning Conferences, are days where we throw away the traditional schedule, and with the help of professional community partners, organize a day of meaningful learning for our students. The day is designed to connect the learning that takes place every day in our classrooms to authentic learning experiences that will help our students develop the skills necessary for future success. All sessions that students take part in are centered around MURSD’s Portrait of a Learner competencies, helping them to become global citizens, solution seekers, mindful learners, effective communicators, skillful collaborators, and inspired innovators. In this session, we will discuss how to coordinate, organize, and plan a successful Inspired Learning Day.

The Inspired Learning Day website can be found here.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Deep Inquiry, Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

Speakers

Leigh-ann Ramsey

Career, Community, & Innovations Coordinator, Nipmuc Regional High School

Our Design Process (2) png

Inspired Learning Day Planning pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 11:15am PST
Room B139

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Deep Inquiry, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection, Purposeful Use of Technology, Student Agency

10:10am PST

Capturing the Moment with Clips

Get an in-depth look at the Clips app that makes it quick and fun for anyone to create expressive videos on iPad. Learn powerful tips and tricks for getting the most out of Clips, and discover the infinite possibilities for storytelling, demonstrating learning, and more. iPad devices will be provided for attendees.

Speakers

Matt Brooks

Education Leadership Executive, Apple

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 11:15am PST
Room B334

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Purposeful Use of Technology, Authentic & Engaging Work

10:10am PST

Is There Anybody Out There?

Students in a 5th-grade classroom are using digital tools to share their voice with the world through blogging and podcasting. Giving choice and voice provides students with an opportunity to reach a global audience, sharing their passions with the world. Students go through the writing process, working collaboratively and creatively with others. The ownership and pride students have when seeing their projects come to life is electric!

Session Resources

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

Speakers

Rayna Freedman

Educator, Mansfield Schools

Rayna Freedman teaches at the Jordan/Jackson Elementary School in Mansfield, MA. She has taught grades 3-5 and is an ITS. She is working on her doctorate through Northeastern as she hopes to change the field of education some day. Rayna is President of the MassCUE Board of Directors... Read More →

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 11:15am PST
Room B236

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection, Purposeful Use of Technology, Student Agency

10:10am PST

Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners

In this session, we will present the research that supports the importance of differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners in the classroom. We will also provide specific examples of this in practice. Finally, we will provide teachers with the opportunity to collaborate and brainstorm how they can differentiate a lesson to meet diverse needs.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

Speakers

Amy Henderson

Elementary Teacher, Inclusion/Co-Teaching Mentor, Memorial Elementary School

Kim Lopes

Grade 3 Teacher, Memorial Elementary School

Education for All Differentiation PD 2020 pdf

DCAP 2017 pdf

CQFFqOvUkAE2BlE jpg

Differentiated Planning Graphic Organizer pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 11:15am PST
Room B237

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

10:10am PST

Worlds Are Colliding! AR, VR, and Mixed Reality in Education

This research-based presentation offers an overview of what augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are, how it has been used in education for the last two decades, and how you can use it today. Through live demonstrations and hands-on trials, attendees will come away with a working understanding of how to use these immersive technologies in their schools.

Speakers

Richard Byrne

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:10am - 11:15am PST
Room B340

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

10:45am PST

From CSI to Mock Trials: Interdisciplinary Learning

The science and history departments have worked together to plan a multi-step interdisciplinary project. The science department plans out a crime that is committed in the school, with the help of faculty volunteers and sets up an actual crime scene for students to work in. Students will work as CSI investigators and police detectives to gather all of the physical evidence and decide who they are going to charge with the crime. Students in AP United States History classes then use this information to run a mock trial in an attempt to gain justice for the "victims" of the crimes.

Audience: High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Deep Inquiry, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments

Speakers

Matt Merten

Teacher

Chrissy Manzella

Teacher, Nipmuc Regional High School

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:45am - 11:15am PST
Room G214

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience High
Subject Deep Inquiry, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology, Flexible Learning Environments

10:45am PST

Inspired Learning Planning Session

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

David Quinn

Director of Tech and Integration, Mendon - Upton Regional School District

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:45am - 11:15am PST

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Deep Inquiry, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection, Purposeful Use of Technology, Student Agency

10:45am PST

Real World Experience for Career Development: How to Plan a Job Shadow Day

Shadowing a professional out in the field is the best way for students to gain experience and insight into career opportunities. But, what skills do they need beforehand? Where should they go? How can you facilitate reflection upon completion? Join a discussion with Nipmuc counselors and teachers who have embedded a career development programming into existing curriculum and executed a Job Shadow Day for all sophomores.

Audience: Middle, High

MURSD Innovative Elements: Authentic & Engaging Work

Speakers

Julie Ahmed-Jussaume

Teacher, Nipmuc Regional High School

I'm a Spanish teacher at Nipmuc Regional High School! I love languages, traveling, learning about culture and being a mom to my two children!

Chelsea LeMaire

Teacher, Nipmuc Regional High School

Kendra Swenson

Teacher, Nipmuc Regional High School

Meredith Hefez

School Counselor, Nipmuc Regional High School

Job Shadow Planning pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:45am - 11:15am PST
Room G216

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience High, Middle
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work

10:45am PST

Story Telling Through Coding

You will learn how to use Scratch Jr., a coding application for kids. You will also learn about incorporating literacy skills into your coding lessons for students to create stories and make them come to life.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Deep Inquiry, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

Speakers

Olivia Hendricks

Spanish Immersion 3rd grade teacher and coordinator, Mendon-Upton Regional

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:45am - 11:15am PST
Room G218

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Deep Inquiry, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

10:45am PST

Students in the Spotlight = Inspired Experiences in Your Classroom!

Limited Capacity filling up

Take a risk and let your students share something special about themselves with their classmates and you will be inspired. Our students took this opportunity and truly rose to the occasion by sharing a talent, ability or skill that we knew very little about. Some of the student-led sessions that were offered were Irish Step Dancing, Speaking Portuguese, Jewish Heritage, Playing Chess, Cooking, Taking a Slap shot in Hockey, and many more. We decided to try something new and put the spotlight on the students and in the end we had no regrets. Instead we were truly impressed with the level of responsibility that the students showed up with and how well they interacted with their classmates to share more about themselves and their uniqueness.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work, Flexible Learning Environments

Speakers

Brenda Webster

Educator grade 5, Miscoe Hill Middle School

Lauren Lajoie

5th grade teacher, Miscoe Hill Middle School

Inspired Learning Day Game Plan (1) pdf

Tuesday March 3, 2020 10:45am - 11:15am PST
Room G220

30-Minute Roundtable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Student Agency, Flexible Learning Environments

11:15am PST

Keynote

Tuesday March 3, 2020 11:15am - 12:05pm PST

12:05pm PST

Lunch

We often have project ideas swirling in our heads but lack a critical friend or colleague to help turn our ideas into action. The Connected Learning Lunch is a time to share your "half-baked" ideas with educators at your grade level or content area. It's also an opportunity to find potential partners for designing projects to connecting students across content areas, grades, school districts and even state lines.

Tuesday March 3, 2020 12:05pm - 12:40pm PST
Cafeteria

12:45pm PST

Biomedical Innovation Pathways

Shepherd Hill Regional High School has recently partnered with Project Lead the Way, Mass STEM Hub, and local industry to create innovation pathways in advanced manufacturing and biomedical science. Presenters Karin Lebeau and Tom Courtemanche will provide an overview of the biomedical science program at Shepherd Hill, creating student opportunities to get exposure in the field and using vernier probeware to explore human physiology. Participants will also have an opportunity to conduct a lab activity with Vernier equipment.

Speakers

Karin Lebeau

SHRHS

Has taught at Shepherd Hill Regional HS for 8 years, 6 with PLTW. She teaches PBS and HBS and uses her previous in a research lab to connect the curriculum to the work of biomedical researchers. She loves working with students to solve real-world problems, complete hands-on labs... Read More →

Tuesday March 3, 2020 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST
Room B239

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience High
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Deep Inquiry, Purposeful Use of Technology

12:45pm PST

Wakelet Up and Learn a Cool New Tool

Limited Capacity seats available

Come to this hands-on session to learn about this new tool that is taking the internet by Wakelet Wave. Wakelet has been described as the Swiss Army Knife for Tech. It was designed as a curation tool but is so much more! Learn how it can be used to create lessons, be used as a blog, backchannel and so much more.
Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

Speakers

Colleen Terrill

Director of Instructional Technology, Seekonk Public Schools

Colleen Terrill is the Director of Instructional Technology for the Seekonk Public Schools. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for MassCUE and co-chair of the Influence and Advocacy committee. Colleen recently earned the METAA CTO certificate. You can follow her on Twitter... Read More →

Tuesday March 3, 2020 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST
Room B237

60-Minute Hands-On Rountable Discussion

Audience All Levels
Subject Purposeful Use of Technology, Student Agency

12:45pm PST

Building Engagement through Maker Education

Limited Capacity seats available

In this workshop, participants will engage in a design challenge that builds empathy, perseverance, collaboration, and critical thinking skills. We will then discuss ways to modify this challenge to meet specific educational goals, and how to apply this knowledge to STEAM challenges in general. Topics will include how to differentiate maker projects to meet the needs of diverse learners from pre-k through 12th grade, how to adapt these activities to meet curricular standards in areas ranging from early literacy to advanced science, how to convert a design challenge into a long-term project-based learning experience, and how to incorporate digital fabrication tools and other technology to enhance student prototypes. Upon completion of this workshop, participants should feel empowered to incorporate design thinking and maker education into their classrooms.

Speakers

Colleen Larionoff

Innovation Coordinator, Dwight-Englewood School

Tuesday March 3, 2020 12:45pm - 2:15pm PST
Room G219

90-Minute Diving Deeper Workshop

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Deep Inquiry, Purposeful Use of Technology, Student Agency, Flexible Learning Environments, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection

12:45pm PST

Electronics in Makerspaces

Limited Capacity seats available

Makerspaces can be what you make them. So make them places where kids can learn some logic and programming skills through hands-on electronics projects. Come to this hands-on session to learn how you and your students can develop some simple electronics projects. You’ll be introduced to some projects that you can do without any prior experience and without spending a lot of money on materials. Learn the basics of Arduino and more in this session.

Speakers

Richard Byrne

Tuesday March 3, 2020 12:45pm - 2:15pm PST
Room B340

90-Minute Diving Deeper Workshop

Audience High, Middle
Subject Deep Inquiry, Purposeful Use of Technology, Authentic & Engaging Work

12:45pm PST

Exploring AI Ethics through Your Global Competence

Limited Capacity seats available

This professional development opportunity is intended to provide K-12 teachers with the latest information on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics and AI Human Factor and to explore these topics through the “lenses” of global competence, cultural differences, intercultural communication, collaboration, and global team-work.
Please, join this PD workshop to:

Learn more about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Factor· Understand the concept of artificial intelligence and the examples of AI applications in automotive engineering (self-driving cars), health care/medicine and AI in educational foundations;
Enhance your cultural competency and intercultural communication skills by learning more about the implications of AI ethics from different cultural perspectives
Examine the potential impacts of AI applications on ethics from a global multicultural perspective and on global collaboration in education in general
To learn about the experience of K-12 teachers in the US, France, Mexico, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, The Netherlands and Norway bringing Artificial Intelligence to their classrooms since 2018

Speakers

Larisa Schelkin

NASA GLOBE Partner/Teaching Faculty UNITAR Global Diplomacy Fellowship New York/Global STEM Education Center, Inc

Larisa K. Schelkin CEO, President and Founder, Global STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education Center, Inc. 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation; She is President and Founder of the Global STEM Education Consulting, LLC. Larisa Schelkin is the author of the Global STEM... Read More →

Tuesday March 3, 2020 12:45pm - 2:15pm PST
Room G214

90-Minute Diving Deeper Workshop

12:45pm PST

Mathematics as a Second Language: Teaching Problem-solving, Including Word Problems

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Every mathematics idea has three components: linguistic, conceptual and procedural. Mathematics is a language first; it is truly a second language. It has its own alphabet, symbols, vocabulary, syntax, and grammar. Numeric and operational symbols are its alphabet; number and symbol combinations are its words and expressions. Equations and mathematical expressions are the sentences of this language. Proficiency in this language –its acquisition, understanding, and use is demanded by a technological society. Acquiring proficiency in mathematics and solving mathematics word problems means learning this language well. It is a second language for most children and for some it might even be a third or a fourth language.

To learn this new language, one has to acquire its vocabulary, syntax, and its rules of translation. Some children have difficulty in mathematics because of its language. This is true not just for dyslexics, but for many others. In this workshop, we will focus on: • The development of the language of mathematics—vocabulary, syntax, and translation from English to Math and from Math to English. • How language effects conceptualization of mathematical ideas and applications, particularly word problem solving? • How to help children feel confident about the language of mathematics?

Best for ES and MS math teachers.

Speakers

Professor Mahesh Sharma

Founder, Center for Teaching/Learning of Mathematics

Tuesday March 3, 2020 12:45pm - 2:15pm PST
PDC

90-Minute Diving Deeper Workshop

Audience All Levels
Subject Deep Inquiry, Growth Through Feedback and Reflection, Authentic & Engaging Work

12:45pm PST

Mobile Media to Capture Process, Product, Performance, and Practices

Limited Capacity seats available

Want to make student thinking and learning visible? This session focuses on Clips, Apple’s simple and powerful video editor and Quik mobile app. If you are looking for slam-dunk classroom video creation tools (that kids can use!), check out this session and leave with your own project with graphics, music, text, animated stickers and emojis. iPads will be available for use.

Audience: All Levels

MURSD Innovative Elements: Student Agency, Authentic & Engaging Work, Purposeful Use of Technology

Speakers

Jed Stefanowicz

Digital Learning Coach, Old Post Road Elementary, Wapole

As a Digital Learning Coach in Walpole, Massachusetts, Jed Stefanowicz provides job-embedded professional development and instructional coaching for academic technology. Through conferences, workshops, and coaching, Jed aims to engage and build staff/student digital learning capacity... Read More →

Tuesday March 3, 2020 12:45pm - 2:15pm PST
Room G218

90-Minute Diving Deeper Workshop

Audience All Levels
Subject Authentic & Engaging Work, Student Agency, Purposeful Use of Technology

12:45pm PST

Opening Hearts and Minds Through Storytelling

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Learn the storytelling strategies and techniques used by award-winning teacher, bestselling author, and Moth storytelling champion Matthew Dicks. In this session, you will learn the practices Matthew has used to bridge the gap between him and his students and establish meaningful, lifelong connections with kids. Through the use of storytelling, Matt has improved student learning, increased motivation, and become a supremely trusted adult for all students and even his fellow teachers. Through simple strategies and fun activities, you, too, can begin using storytelling in your classroom to great effect and tell your stories of Inspired Learning.

Best for

Speakers