2015 Inspired Learning Conference

Inspired Learning Conference - Teachers Leading Best Practices

Littleton Public Schools was proud, for the 7th time, to host the Inspired Learning Conference on April 25th, 2015.   Teachers from Littleton Public Schools as well as Weld District 6, Falcon District 49, Weld Re-8, Academy 20, Brighton 27J, Denver Public Schools and Douglas County Schools were leading and sharing best practices. We were excited to have 4 school board members and our new Superintendent Brian Ewert attend and address the conference participants..

Sessions covered a range of topics:  Virtual Exit Slips, Student Conferencing, Formative Assessment, Google Classroom, Blogging, Personalized Learning, Gamification, Flipped Classroom, Student Feedback, Getting Started and more.  We are fortunate to have active professional colleagues who take a Saturday to learn and share with others.

This year we combined a traditional conference (pre-planned sessions) with an EdCamp strand that Chris Moore and Nate Ubowski guided.  See schedule of sessions here.  This open discussion gave everyone a platform to share their experiences/success/struggles and was a great addition to the conference.

I would like to thank the following individuals who helped support/organize this event.

Our fabulous School Board Members, our current Superintendent Scott Murphy, and new Superintendent Brian Ewert, Mark Lindstone - CIO, Mike Porter - Director of Technology, Patty Turner - Director of Learning Services, Randy Stall - Instructional Technology Specialist

Amy McIntosh, Penny Potts and Erin Gonshor for co-leading the Inspired Writing Cohort and helping prepare these teachers to present at this conference.

Arapahoe for the use of their facilities

MORE CONFERENCE PHOTOS - CLICK HERE

Showcase: 2015 Innovation Avenue

Innovation Avenue was April 11th at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center

Innovation Avenue is Littleton’s yearly student showcase that occurs before the LPS Foundation Spirit Dinner.  This year the Spirit dinner was sold out with over 550 in attendance.  This was a great crowd to showcase the work happening in Littleton Public Schools classrooms.  We once again had a group of nearly 100 students and teachers proudly showcasing how technology supports the content standards they are learning.

Kindergartners confidently walking the crowd showing off their iPad project.

High school students explained the construction process of building a prosthetic foot for a duck and more... 

Middle school showcased the Middle School STEM programs and more...

A wonderful night for Littleton Public Schools. We are so thankful to have students and teachers that take time on a Saturday to share with the Littleton community their expertise and great work happening in LPS classrooms.

MORE photos of the evening

Showcase: Blogging: Writing about what you read.

Blogging: Writing about what you read.

Writing about what you are reading is a great way to share with others your thinking about a book or topic.  Writing in an online format allows you to share with an even larger audience.  Jill Maxey a teacher at Franklin Elementary School has a successful and authentic way this is happening for her students.

Jill’s last two book blogs have focused on historical fiction.  She has had three main purposes:

• dig deeper into the text
• better understanding of setting ( historical events - great depression )
• increase audience along with parent / student conversation

Last years 4th graders participated in a blog around the book Watsons Go To Birmingham.  

This past year her now 5th graders have just started participating in a blog around the book Bud Not Buddy.  

So far this years parents are participating in high numbers, which brings great conversation and skills of how to disagree with someone in a respectful way. Even your mom or another parent :-)

see below

Kris ( parent ) AddyD ( student )

Here is how Jill got parents involved.  Parent Invitation Letter to Blog

This letter outline was initially created by Penny Potts another amazing teacher at Franklin that also blogs with her students.

To add another layer, Jill also has a Gifted and Talented blog where GT students respond to topics about their emotional health in learning.. Fear of Failure, Peer Pressure, Do Overs, Self-Esteem….  Check It Out at

Think About It! http://thinkaboutitfranklin.blogspot.com/

Consider blogging in your classroom. Here are some Littleton blogging resources.

Franklin Elementary School

Showcase: Student Feedback

Student Feedback: Exemplars / Writing Conferences / Student Generated Tutorials
New to 5th Grade this year Betsy Sise is already leading and sharing out how she uses a Chrome Extension called SnagIt to give student feedback.  She was initially introduced to SnagIt at the Boulder Google Summit this past fall and started using SnagIt to create video tutorials for directions, how to's and student exemplars. After sharing this with the Littleton Inspired Writing Cohort and having conversations with other teachers in this cohort she moved from tutorials and student exemplars to student writing conferences.

Student Exemplar Example using SnagIt: 40 Book Blog

Betsy uses SnagIt videos for her advanced students to set goals and guide their work so they can self-pace and continue to grow.  She uses SnagIt with her struggling students by recording her sit down writing conference with them.  This allows students to go back and listen to the conference again, remember the focus area and review their goal for the writing piece.

Betsy is already thinking ahead of these great practices and is providing students voice by giving them the opportunity to lead by creating their own video tutorials on their topic of choice.  

Continue to check back with Ms. Sise's website at Runyon Elementary to see this great work continuing to develop over the year.

Runyon Elementary

Showcase: Authentic Student Work

All of our LPS buildings do great work.  This is the first of many posts to showcase our amazing LPS students and teachers that help guide them.

Authentic student work

Online Student Newsletter: Twain Times - January Edition
Just started this month, the Student Newsletter at Twain has begun with a Bang!  Initiated by students and guided by Laura McKone, this newsletter has everything to become a success.   Student authors are including opportunities for the entire Twain student body to feel like they have a voice.  Art Contests, Recipes, Student and Teacher Spotlights, Writing Contests and more.  

They even have a Debate section.  Their first Debate Topic was "Is technology taking over?".  They had persuasive writing pieces included that supported both sides of the topic, just like professional journals.  These future journalists understand how to connect and give voice to their audience.  Good Luck and I can't wait for the February Edition!










Online Student Morning Announcements: BLOG
Started in 2008 Twain has been creating daily Student Morning Announcements.  These announcements are led by students.  They highlight teachers, events, issues and give different students each day the opportunity to gain leadership and speaking skills.  Led by Liz Aucone this is one of the student led activities that really defines Twain.
Amazing! 

Twain Elementary

2013 Inspired Learning Conference

The 2013 Inspired Learning Conference went off without a hitch.  Over one hundred educators from Littleton Public Schools and surrounding districts came on a beautiful Saturday to learn and share more about how technology can enhance/extend content.







Website: https://sites.google.com/a/lps.k12.co.us/inspired-learning-conference-spring-2013/

Presentations ranged from using Google Sites to improve parent communication to Flipping the Classroom, Edmodo, iPads, Pinterest and many more.  Sessions focused on how technology increases audience, collaboration, feedback, and the use of multiple modalities to reach all learners.

Inspired Learning Cohort 2012- 2013

The majority of our presenters came from our Inspired Learning Cohort from the 2012-2013 school year.  These teachers came from 3rd-12th grade classrooms and taught science or social studies.  Their year cohort involved 45+ hours collaborating with their peers, reflecting on blogs and increasing their integration of technology where it added value to the content standards.




Thank you to:

LPS Foundation: Beth Best and Linda Hasting for welcoming our Inspired Learning Conference attendees and presenters.  We are lucky to have them in our LPS community.  Their commitment to students and teachers in Littleton Public Schools is invaluable.

Presenters: We are continually impressed with the professionalism of our teachers.  Taking time on the weekend to come and share your expertise and knowledge is exceptional.

Backchannel Moderators: Thank you to Tammy Falcone and Melissa Toland for moderating our CoverIt Live backchannel during the conference.

More Photos:

Innovation Avenue

Innovation Avenue - April 6th, 2013   @ Denver Marriot Tech Center

Innovation Avenue is Littleton’s yearly event during our LPS Foundation Silent Auction that precedes the Spirit Dinner.

The Spirit dinner is LPS Foundations big fundraiser of the year.  

LPS Foundation Article: Spirit Celebration Success

Innovation Avenue 2013 was another amazing year of Littleton students and teachers.  Nearly 100 students and teachers proudly showcased their use of technology in classrooms.

Second graders confidently walking the crowd showing off their Pen Pal project using Google Docs with kids from other LPS schools. As well as iPad apps and resources that support their learning goals.

Upper elementary showing off their robotics, blogging and flipping of the classroom.  

Middle school showcasing Google Maps integration with their literature studies as well as digital portfolios embedding with student photos using Picasa.

High Schools all impressed with their tech ed departments, iPad integration, 21st Century writing in language arts and much more.

A wonderful night for Littleton Public Schools.  We again thank all of our students and teachers for their time and sharing of their expertise.

More photos from the evening:

Showcase: The Flipped Classroom

One of the goals of the LPS Instructional Technology blog is to continue to showcase the great work being done in Littleton Public School classrooms. So I am thrilled to share with you some great work being done at Franklin Elementary School. A team of 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teachers are Flipping their Math classes.

One post is not enough to really cover this topic, but feel free to contact these teachers or comment on this post to ask questions.

Below is a short post from Sara Tierney a 4th/5th grade teacher at Franklin about what Flipping looks like at Franklin Elementary in addition to resources to continue learning about a Flipped classroom.

• Franklin Math Google Site used for Flipping
• Franklin Flipping Our Classroom BLOG

WHAT IS A FLIPPED CLASSROOM?

By Sara Tierney ( 4th/5th grade teacher at Franklin Elementary in Littleton Public Schools, CO ) (In conjunction with Tracy McCandless, Sheryl Goutell, Neil Heimbigner, Alberta Maybee and Jill Maxey)

Photo by http://edudemic.com/2011/12/15-flipped-classrooms/

A flipped classroom is not when the teachers put the desks on the ceiling! No, instead ‘flipped learning’ is when students get their instruction or traditional lecture (usually through a video but not always) at home and do their ‘homework (independent practice)’ at school. Flipped learning allows for the teacher to have more time working with students in small groups, a large group or one-on-one. By attaining the instruction outside of the classroom first,  more time can be spent in class answering questions, challenging ideas and differentiating among the students.

• Franklin Math Google Site used for Flipping
• Flipping Our Classroom BLOG

A Flipped Classroom at Franklin IS:	A Flipped Classroom at Franklin IS NOT:
a method to have more time spent conferring side by side with kids and less time lecturing in front of them.	all about the videos! It can be done without using videos.
so helpful when students are absent b/c they get the same instruction their peers had!	a means to end the use of teachers in school. The most important part of flipping is what happens in the classroom when teachers are having more time to work with kids. Just watching videos is NOT FLIPPING!
a way for students to pause, rewind and rewatch teachers teach so they can learn at their own pace. They can even watch the videos weeks or months later to review.	“the end all be all” of instruction. It is one method that I believe has met the needs of my learners and increased achievement.
a powerful instructional practice for teachers that are frustrated with lack of time working with kids.	easy. Creating the videos/information prior to each day’s lesson can be time-consuming and uncomfortable. Your teaching will be viewed by students and possibly parents and other teachers.
an amazing tool for teachers working together. Creating and reflecting on videos as well as discussions of best-practice makes for better teachers and teammates.	easier for kids. Students at our school have to take notes as they watch the videos, summarizing the focus then do the independent work in class and finish class by doing an exit slip (1 or 2 questions based on the learning goal). They have to be very responsible and organized!
perfect for teachers that talk too much (like me!). Making videos forces me to get to the point and focus my teaching to 10 minutes or less, helping all students identify the learning goal and stay engaged.	necessarily cheap. I use Camtasia to create my videos. I love Camtasia but it costs around $150 to purchase.

Use already made videos
Learn Zillion
Khan Academy

MathTrain.tv

Learn About the Flipped Classroom
Flipped Learning Classroom

The Flipped Class Network: Collaborate with other teachers getting started or further along the process

Articles:

The Flipped Classroom: Myths vs. Reality

Blogs to follow

• Jonathan Bergmann at www.flipped-learning.com
• Aaron Sams at chemicalsams.blogspot.com
• Ramsey Musallam at flipteaching.com
• Greg Green at www.flippedhighschool.com
• Brian Bennet at www.brianbennett.org
• Crystal Kirsh  at flippingwithkirch.blogspot.com
• Graham Jonhnson at flippingmath.wordpress.com
• Corbitt Simons at edfive.org

Franklin Team that is Flipping
Tracy McCandless - 3rd/4th grade teacher
(tmccandless@lps.k12.co.us) - class webpage
Sara Tierney - 4th/5th grade teacher
(stierney@lps.k12.co.us) - class webpage
Sheryl Goutell - 5th grade teacher
(sgoutell@lps.k12.co.us) - class webpage
Neil Heimbigner - 5th grade teacher
(nheimbigner@lps.k12.co.us) - class webpage
Alberta Maybee - 5th grade teacher
(amaybee@lps.k12.co.us) - class webpage
Jill Maxey - Gifted and Talented Teacher 
(jmaxey@lps.k12.co.us) - class webpage

Share your thoughts about Flipping the Classroom

Are you a student in a flipped classroom?  

• How is it going?  What do you like about it? What are the downsides?

Are you a teacher thinking about flipping?

• What questions do you have?  
• What successes/struggles have you faced?  

Feel free to contact Sara Tierney (stierney@lps.k12.co.us) or Sheryl Goutell (sgoutell@lps.k12.co.us)  if you wish to come observe a Flipped Classroom in action.