Are you striving to foster curiosity, forge connections and community, and empower student contribution with the use of technology? Now, post-pandemic, many educators realize learning experiences must be student-centered, designed intentionally with educational technology to meet students where they are, and promote rigorous academics. In this strand, we will explore the Community-Engaged Learning Framework developed by CommunityShare.
Curiosity
Participants dive into the fascinating world of brain science and its implications for teaching and learning. We will explore how the brain processes information, and how this knowledge and inquiry based strategies can be harnessed to enhance student engagement and facilitate deeper learning experiences.
Community
Participants explore the importance of relationship-building in cultivating a positive classroom community and fostering strong connections with students, their families, and the wider community. Participants will learn how to forge partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and community members to infuse real-world relevance into their teaching. Participants will harness the power of technology to dissolve the boundaries of the classroom and connect students with the world outside.
Contribution
Participants focus on creating teacher and student websites to enhance communication, collaboration, and community engagement. Participants will be inspired to look for the genius in each student while promoting student agency and independence to contribute to the classroom, school, and wider community. By bridging the gap between classroom learning and the community, we can foster authentic connections and motivate students to become active contributors to society.
By connecting hearts and minds, we can create learning environments where students thrive, curiosity flourishes, and communities are positively impacted.
Facilitated by Sara Mora and TBD
5 Objectives
- Investigate inquiry-based learning by engaging in technology-integrated activities that foster curiosity and encourage participants to reflect on how these strategies could be implemented in their classroom.
- Explore the connections between brain science and effective teaching strategies, enabling participants to understand how the brain learns and apply this knowledge to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Develop a plan to create a positive classroom culture utilizing the power of relationships and practical strategies which support student well-being and academic success.
- Apply strategies for bringing the community into the classroom, fostering meaningful partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and community members to enrich the learning experiences of students and create authentic connections between classroom learning and real-world contexts.
- Create interactive websites that facilitate communication, collaboration, and community contribution, enabling participants to effectively utilize technology as a tool for enhancing student learning, and extending the classroom beyond its physical boundaries.
We know how hard it is to engage students these days. This strand is dedicated to the idea that everyone loves games! Games and challenges engage students in learning in so many ways. In Gamify Learning, we will define what it means to add elements of gameplay in the classroom to increase engagement. You’ll learn simple ways to embed problem solving, differentiation, and competition into daily lessons, like adding student-centered activities to help students master content and learn social skills. Learn to transform traditional lessons into enhanced learning experiences where students are provided choice and invited to explore and practice content in new and meaningful ways.
The activities and content in this strand are designed for grades 3 and up.
Facilitated by Nancy Pratt and Jill Felty
5 Objectives
- Experience gamification first hand and learn about the many benefits it has for student-centered learning.
- Explore resources appropriate for gamification and identify ones that are compatible with your grade level/content area tier 1 instruction.
- Apply effective techniques for targeted gamification and understand the value of gamification in student engagement.
- Create experiences for students that are standards-based and fun.
- Collect a treasure trove of resources to use when creating gamification in your classroom.
Captivate your class with video and effective slide design, create an efficient workflow for you and your students, and more with Google’s education tools. Whether you’re a Google rookie or expert, you’ll expand your skill set with Chrome, Search, Google Drive, Google Classroom, Gmail, Calendar, Keep, Docs, Slides, Drawings, Forms, Sheets, Sites, and YouTube. In addition to becoming more proficient with the tools, you’ll learn how to apply practical and creative ideas that can give your classroom a boost.
Each day of Get Google Certified features practical topics that prepare you for the Google Certified Educator Level 1 exam. Campers will have the option to explore the expanded Googleverse at their own pace through a blended model, with plenty of opportunities to communicate, collaborate, create, and think critically.
You have the option of taking the Google Certified Educator Level 1 (or 2 even) exam during camp. The exam is 180 minutes and requires you to pay $10 by credit card. If you pass the exam, you get a digital badge, certificate, and proof that you understand and can apply the fundamentals of Google Workspace for Education tools. Even if you choose not to take the certification test, you’ll leave with the fundamental knowledge and skills to integrate Google tools into your practice.
Facilitated by Paul West and Mark Osman
5 Objectives:
- Explore ways to engage learners creatively through the use of Docs, Slides, Drawings and more.
- Identify best practices for YouTube in the classroom.
- Determine effective methods of collecting and using data.
- Utilize important features of Google Drive and Google Classroom to help keep you and your students organized.
- Learn all the ins and outs of Google’s productivity tools so you can develop a more efficient workflow for various classroom scenarios.
Attention all educators! Whether you consider yourself a digital newbie or a seasoned multimedia-creating professional, this class is for you. If you are looking to continually expand your skillset, Canva is the tool for you! In this class, we will dive deep into the various creative mediums that will help you as an educator to enhance your teaching and student engagement by creating innovative and engaging educational materials.
Each day will combine hands-on exercises, live demonstrations, and collaborative sessions to ensure practical learning and application of Canva's functionalities. You will discover how to make digital stickers, videos, social media posts, posters, and much more! With your free Canva educator account, you will have all the tools that you need to get you and your students to create beautiful projects that can be shared throughout the school year.
Facilitated by Joel Wisser and Michael Bailey
5 Objectives:
- Mastering Canva's Tools: Learn how to navigate Canva's interface, mastering tools and features essential for engaging content creation.
- Designing Engaging Posters: Learn techniques, tricks, and tips to craft visually appealing posters that effectively convey educational information and engage students.
- Video Creation: Understand the process of designing educational videos using Canva, integrating multimedia elements for enhanced learning experiences.
- Collaborative Projects: Explore collaborative features within Canva, enabling educators to work together and share resources.
- Integrated AI: Use the newest AI tools in Canva to help create and enhance your classroom’s Canva creations.
As you journey through new and notable tech destinations, you'll explore a variety of free online tools that you and your students can use right away to improve learning outcomes.
Each day, you'll embark on new digital adventures that are both fun and educational. You'll see how to help students create visual evidence of their learning, experience tools that engage students and connect them with the real world, and learn how to safely and ethically use AI in student learning.
This digital learning adventure is designed to help you become a more effective educator by providing you with the tools and resources you need to use technology to improve student learning. You'll have fun along the way, and you'll create digital souvenirs that you can use to share your learning with others.
Facilitated by Jennifer Lane and Michelle Aron
5 Objectives
- Learn how to use various digital tools to create visually appealing presentations, infographics, and other visuals that can help students demonstrate their understanding of a topic.
- Explore tools that can be used to create interactive quizzes, games, and other activities that engage students and keep them motivated.
- Learn how to use digital tools that connect students with the real world and help them see the relevance of what they're learning.
- Learn how to use AI tools in a safe and ethical way to support student learning. You'll also learn about the potential risks of AI and how to mitigate those risks
- Create a variety of digital artifacts that you can share with your colleagues, such as student work samples, presentations, and lesson plans.
