Presenter: JoAnn Delaney Location: Hershey, PA USA @jdelaneyJoAnn
Presentation Title: Genius Hour Passion Projects
Presentation Description: Genius Hour Passion Projects started with a pep talk from Kid President and 95 Hershey MS 6th grade students. The plan… What if students could learn whatever they wanted? What questions would students want to find out? What impact would students have on the world? Students were called to action to share their genius!
Presentation Description: Mister C shares and discusses the importance of Grabbing the MIC and using music in the classroom and discusses tips and tricks of music integration.
Presenter: Paul Allison Location: New York City, NY @paulallison
Presentation Title: A Key to Interest-Based Learning
Presentation Description: When we introduce Youth Voices to students we tell them: “We mean it! We really do want you to find your own area of inquiry, your own niche of expertise, exploration, and excitement. What are you already good at? What do you dream about, wonder over, and want to inquire into? What are you passionate about? That’s what good research is really about. Starting with 10 self and 10 world questions is a great way to begin!” http://youthvoices.net/questions
Next, we tell students: “Over time, along with your teacher and your peers you will be able to identify the “generative themes” (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Chapter 3, pp. 96 & 97) that begin to bubble up in your writing. This type of really free, habitual freewriting is an important first step — and ongoing, underground spring — that allows your projects and essays to become “a practice in catalyzing passion and creativity,” not just another school assignment. Once you begin to write into an area of inquiry, your can take your next step “by finding niche learning communities that each kid might want to be a part of and build on that.” (John Seely Brown. Lecture, 1.18.05) Helping you to create and find these niches is what “creating discussions” in a school-based social network such as Youth Voices is all about.: http://youthvoices.net/freewriting
In this video, Paul Allison puts the “10 self/10 world questions” assignment into the context of the larger goals of Youth Voices, where we encourage students to allow their passions to brush up against disciplinary inquiry.
Learn more about this key to interest-based learning.
Presenter: Jennifer Bloomingdale Location: Schuylerville, New York, United States @Bloomingedu
Presentation Title: Connected Learning Through Google Apps
Presentation Description: This presentation will focus on specific how-to’s of Google Apps that support Connected Learning for teachers and students. Learn which features of Google Apps help students create, collaborate and share their work.
Presenter: Joy Kirr Location: Elk Grove Village, IL @joykirr
Presentation Title: Passion-Based Learning
Presentation Description: What IS “passion-based learning?” It goes by many names, but it is authentic, student-driven time given during school hours. It is used to engage students in their learning, and let them know that their interests and inquiries matter. Once you start, you will find it permeates the rest of your teaching hours.
“About Me” bio: I currently teach 7th grade English Language Arts in a suburb of Chicago. I was first a special education teacher working with deaf & hard-of-hearing students, and next became a reading specialist and National Board Certified. I’m on my 20th year of teaching, but it’s always like my first!
Kevin Hodgson, keynoter for the Games and Gamification strand of this year’s conference, has developed this two-part game to nudge us all forward into sharing and engagement around this year’s conference.
This teaser video previews Michele Haiken’s upcoming K12 Online session “Moving From ‘Some Study I Used to Know’ to Inquisitive Learning with Genius Hour & Passion Projects.”
This month of October, many educators around the world will be celebrating Connected Educator Month.
This is a month full of activities, like the K12 Online Conference, to establish or deepen our online connections with others. Many of us have found that being “connected” has made our teaching and learning practices deeper and more rewarding, and that’s what this month is all about.
If you are new to Connected Educator Month, how can you participate? Here are a few ways.
If you know a teacher or administrator who isn’t yet “connected,” help them take one small step to get started. Perhaps watch a K12 Online conference session with them and then share what you learn via social media or a blog.
If you aren’t on Twitter, join! (We are on Twitter @k12online.)
Watch the CEM calendar for lots of great events, and take part in a few that resonate with you.
Tell others about the K12 Online Conference, and consider organizing a local viewing party or incorporating our videos into your formal professional development.
