Recently I had a fantastic session with fellow BC colleagues from Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools as we worked together to frame their collaborative inquiry focus this year on connectedness, engagement and belonging. Despite the unique challenges we face in sharing and collaborating virtually, with over 80 teachers at five settings, it was an amazing partnership, one in which I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with during their action research this year. This dynamic group and the various PLCs involved are doing some amazing things. Stay tuned to hear more!
ISTE20 LIVE: Inquiry in a Chromebook-Infused Classroom
I am looking forward to presenting at ISTE20 LIVE with Holly Clark as we combine our passions and expertise in an interactive session titled Inquiry in a Chromebook-Infused Classroom! Discover how inquiry can become a driving force in a Chromebook classroom. Get an overview of how to create meaningful learning experiences that put students at the center of their learning and deconstruct the differences between personalized and individualized instruction. Please consider joining us! Register here and participate in this PD from the comfort of your home.
Roland Park K-8 Magnet School Book Club
Teachers at Roland Park K-8 Magnet School, an IB school in Tampa Florida, are engaging in an Inquiry Mindset book club. I am looking forward to tuning in to their learning and see where this takes them.
Did you know we have a free book club guide that’s over 20 pages full of rich collaborative questions for situations just like this? Find it at my website in the Exclusive Content area.
3Ps in a Pod Podcast & the Arizona K12 Center
Recently I was a guest on the #3Ps in a Pod Podcast hosted by the Arizona K12 Center (shout outs to Mary and Angelia!), an amazing organization offering training programs and opportunities to AZ teachers. I was a guest along with Kass Minor as we shared our joint passion for inquiry. The episode is a bit of time away from dropping but I wanted to share my deepest gratitude to the Arizona K12 Center for bringing me on as a guest. Selfishly it was fantastic to ping ideas off of Kass and learn from her expertise and experience. Also, the Arizona K12 Center is doing some amazing things. I am constantly impressed with the direction they are going and the impact they have on AZ teachers. We have a special partnership in the works, one in which I am so excited to share more about…but you all will have to wait a bit longer for the announcement. Stay tuned!
Reimagine Washington Webinar
Recently I was hosted by Reimagine Washington and Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman to share my passion for inquiry with this great group of educators. I am continuously thankful for the direction schools are taking towards inquiry, student agency and equity. The more I share and connect with teachers around the world, the more I observe this unwavering truth: the ways in which kids learn are changing. Happy to be a part of a school of thinking that supports this change. Thank you for having me Reimagine Washington!
International School of Basel Partnership
One of my partnerships this year is with the International School of Basel in supporting them in their inquiry implementation with a specific focus on student-centred assessment frameworks, or evidencing as I like to call it. Assessment can have negative connotation, one that suggests comparing students to one another, reducing their learning to a percentage or a letter grade. Evidencing suggests that we are actively engaging our learners in the process of gathering learning evidence to guide our next steps and help them do this on their own. Essentially we are aiming to enrich our understanding of evidencing with a lens on empowering learners at ISB. Stay tuned for some of the resources used in this work.
Blended Digital Ed Conference 2020
I am looking forward to the Blended Digital Ed Conference 2020, an engaging virtual event for BC educators! Have a look and please consider joining us. From the website:
Sessions will vary greatly from new apps and tools to strategies and teaching practices that will engage your learners in news ways.
A truly inclusive event – this one day professional development opportunity will have something for everyone in K-12 BC education: from the new and experimenting, to the full-time and confident users. Technology in the education realm has completely changed the experiences of both educators and students – it is now both our everyday normal, as well as the most powerful new tool on the planet. Educators will come together on the October 23rd, 2020 PSA day, online, to share their experiences, tools, tricks, tips, and strategies on utilizing and implementing technology into our practice, classrooms, and schools.
Registration includes an engaging, and timely relevant keynote by Trevor MacKenzie, a variety of amazing sessions; one-year membership to the BCEDL PSA (optional add-on for non-BCTF members); access to community and sponsor vendors; door prizes…and so much more!
In partnership with the BCEDL, BCTF, BlendEdBC, Navigate NIDES, Comox Valley Schools, Canadian eLearning Network, and Canvas.
Korea International School Partnership
This year I am supporting Korea International School in their implementation of inquiry. In a combination of async and sync sessions we are slowly moving towards deepening our understanding of inquiry language, processes and frameworks whilst nurturing the conditions for mentorship and collaboration to thrive amongst the staff. If we want inquiry for our kiddos we must strive for inquiry for ourselves. This sync session was a special one!
Looking forward to sharing more from this partnership throughout the year.
