Announcing the 1st Inspired Learning Convention

May 10, 2018

Nipmuc Regional High School
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​CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Inspired Learning Project team is pleased to announce the first annual Inspired Learning Convention at Nipmuc Regional High School on Thursday, May 10th, 2018 from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM. The purpose of the Inspired Learning Convention is to share inspiring project plans and facilitate conversations on how they can be implemented in different school contexts.  This day-long PD event is geared toward teachers and administrators interested in bringing relevant, authentic learning experiences that learners will remember throughout their lifetime back to their classrooms and school communities.

​Join passionate and inspired educators from across New England as we share resources and ideas that transform learning.  Attendees will leave the event with access to all the lessons and/or projects presented at this convention, so they can be brought back to their respective schools and districts and shared with their colleagues.

Our goal is to build a network of educators committed to sharing practices that make learning modern, relevant, and meaningful for students. We hope that you will join us.

The Inspired Learning Convention registration fee is only $75/per person which includes coffee, pastries, and lunch.  Teams are encouraged!  See form below to register.
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Conventions are to discuss and engage. Unlike conferences, conventions are built to support dialogue and conversation. Conventions are a place for talking, networking, and sharing your thoughts and ideas surrounding a common interest. There may still be speakers at conventions, but there should also be much more talking on a face-to-face level. Conventions are designed for attendees to engage with each other, while conferences focus on engaging the attendee with the speaker. (SpinGo, August 21, 2015)

Inspired Learning Convention Overview

Morning Blend
Keynote​

Our morning blend session features a mix of coffee & thought provoking ideas. We'll start by getting acquainted over a cup of joe before our opening keynote new ideas for for increasing opportunities for inspired learning. EdTech Teacher's Beth Holland will share insights for sustaining innovation through building a community of connected educators. We'll wrap up the morning session with some reflections on our learning and goals for the day.

Round Table Project Discussions

Participants will hear from educators who have brought inspired learning moments to life in their classroom. They'll share their process, resources, and how to navigate common challenges in the process. In these dialogue-oriented sessions, participants will ask clarifying or procedural questions as they thinking about bringing these projects to their own schools.

Round table sessions are choice-based and are held multiple times, so that participants can learn about several projects over the course of the convention. 

 Connected Learning
​Lunch

Often times we 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.

​Building Playful Assesments

Opening Keynote​

Beth Holland, of EdTechTeacher and EdWeek, will open our convention with a talk on sustaining innovation through building a community of connected educators. She’s share research and strategies to help creative teachers “find the others” and grow their network of collaborators.

Inspired Learning Round Table Sessions
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The proposal process is now closed. Thank you to all the educators from who submitted a proposal to share their inspiring learning project. 

​Proposals were reviewed ensure they incorporate several aspects of Inspired Learning & McLeod's 4 Shifts, which include, but are not limited to:
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1. Deep Inquiry: Students go beyond rote memorization to investigate questions, apply knowledge & create projects for an outside audience
   
   
2. Student Agency: Students choose the content of what they are learning/role in the project /medium for sharing understanding 
   
   
3. Authentic & Engaging Work: The projects represent products that have value and meaning both inside and outside of the school
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4. Purposeful Use of Technology: Technology serves, not drives, the project unless the product is technology oriented

All accepted proposals will provide a lesson or project guide will shared with attendees in addition to a short presentation that will help participants visualize implementation. 

​A schedule of events will be posted soon.

Playful Assessment with MIT Teaching Systems Lab
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We'll spend the afternoon re-thinking assessments with YJ Kim and Louisa Rosenheck of the MIT Teaching System Lab.  Together we'll play Metarubric, a game designed to help us re-imagine rubric design better assess our students' creative work and also aligns with our beliefs about learning.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN