2019 Wyoming Innovations in Learning

Canvas is a Learning Management System, or LMS. It is a collaborative platform used to manage online learning—including reporting, resource-sharing, grading, feedback, discussions, content creation, outcomes and tasks. An LMS simplifies teaching and learning by connecting all the digital tools teachers use in one easy place. These training sessions will introduce participants to Canvas as well as provide in-depth training for those more experienced users. Whether you are a faculty member, Canvas Admin, Principal, Technical Support, or an Instructional Designer, there are sessions tailored to all audiences.

Calling All Innovators! In this pre-conference session, participants will explore, unpack, and fall in love with the ISTE Standards for Students. Whether you’re new to using technology in the classroom, or an “old pro” at it, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to dig deep into the standards that put teaching and learning first, technology second, and students right in the center. Join Dr. LeeAnn Lindsey, one of the principal developers of the ISTE Standards for Students (2016) and the ISTE Standards for Educators (2017), as she facilitates this one-of-a-kind workshop for teachers. Participants will walk away energized and inspired to innovate!  

Award winning QuestBots can be used to teach 3-year old how to debug their own code. More complex concepts are great for older users who want to learn core programming and math skill in a fun way. In this workshop we’ll learn how to teach introductory math and programming concepts using robots. We’ll draw and use applications of color patterns, counting, directions; left, right, back and forward, degrees, centimeters, functions, and debugging/troubleshooting. In addition, we’ll design our own maze and navigate our robots all while using blocks. 2 to 3 participants per team will share their experience and present their own design at the end of the workshop. No screens are required for this workshop.

Upon completion of this session attendees will be able to:
1. Use hands-on tools to teach advanced concepts such as robotics, command, parameters, and debugging/troubleshooting.
2. Learn to incorporate robots in their math classes.
3. Draw and learn applications of logic, color pattern, physics, and statistics using robots.

We live in a world that is ever changing and increasingly digital, and that requires us to rethink how we prepare our students for the future. The ISTE Standards for Students were revised in 2016 as a framework to help innovative teachers design digital age teaching and learning experiences. In this session, attendees will explore the ISTE Standards for Students and consider classroom practices that foster 21st century skills. You’re not familiar with the ISTE Standards? Haven’t reviewed them and don’t know where to start? This is the first you’ve heard of them? This introductory session is just for you. Come and dip your toe into the ISTE waters. I promise this water is warm and inviting.

Attendees will explore a novel approach for science assessment in a standards-based learning environment. In this hands-on session we will conduct a short lab (absorption of energy by plant pigment) and discuss results. Following completion of the primary lab, attendees will brainstorm with other “students” and propose questions raised by the lab. Attendees will then use these questions as a base from which to further explore photosynthesis. Materials will be available for attendees to then design and conduct a new experiment to address their questions, applying the skills they have just learned. This structure provides scaffolding for open inquiry learning. This is the technique currently used by our Science Department for differentiating instruction for students, and providing students a format to go above and beyond to attain a score of a 4.

Upon completion of this session attendees will have a new understanding of the benefits of standards based grading, which is focused both on students attaining proficiency in a standard, as well as enabling a more advanced student the opportunity to truly go above and beyond and be challenged in a way they may have never been challenged before. Attendees will have explored from the perspective of a student what it takes to get a 4 using a student-centered learning approach. Lastly, attendees will have a lesson plan that they can use in their classroom.

Learn how to support student success using educational content that is free, diverse, inclusive, equitable, and accessible. Learn helpful tips on how to find high quality OER's and incorporate them into your classroom. Receive hands on guidance to curate, create, revise, and remix a lesson plan of your choosing. Bring one of your own or adopt one from OER Commons.

1. Understand what OER is.
2. Find quality OERs and adapt them to their classroom.
3. Create customized materials for their classroom.

Participants will be provided module outlines designed by practicing classroom teachers. Each module was developed to expose 7-12 grade science or social studies students to introductory coding concepts and skills. In addition, teachers from other curricular areas will gain insight into the opportunities to introduce basic computer science coding principles into any 7-12 class. Throughout the session, we will share successes and challenges of integrating computer science into our core content area classes.

Participants will leave with a step-by-step module appropriate for social studies or science class.
Participants will participate in simple coding activities relevant to any classroom
Participants will participate in a discussion about the relevance and importance of introducing coding concepts at all levels

Attendees will explore Google Expeditions, Skype, and Zoom as tools to travel the world and explore limitless topics with their students. Attendees will also learn about several resources for finding opportunities for interactions with scientists and specialists across the country through Zoom, Skype, and other conferencing tools. Finally, attendees will explore some of the resources available to enrich these virtual field trips and integrate these opportunities into the curriculum.

Upon completion of this session attendees will be able to lead students on a Google Expedition, use Zoom and/or Skype to connect with experts across the country, and choose other learning activities to extend and enrich students' experience with the technology.

Attendees will learn about the Sphero Bolt robot and experience a hands-on standards based challenge that can be used in the classroom right away with Sphero robots.

Upon completion, attendees will:
1. Walk away with new ideas for Physical Computing with Spheros.
2. Have gained hands-on experience with Spheros using a standards driven challenge.
3 Have access to multiple resources for using Spheros in the classroom."

Interactive classroom simulation. Attendees will either participate or observe an augmented reality classroom setting, and then engage in open discussion around current uses of the technology and innovative ideas for future use.

Think outside the box with supplemental instruction. Practice student engagement. Network with peers in a risk free environment.

Attendees will participate in a round table discussion addressing such questions as: What happens when your classroom is taken over by too much technology? When there is no time allowed for teaching? When you find the students and you are bored? When actual learning seems to be declining because the teaching element you want so much has been effectively removed? This session hopes to address these and other questions within a “what happens in the room, stays in the room” atmosphere.

Outcomes: Attendees will be able to: identify situations where technology has taken over the teaching in an inadequate manner, identify ways to re-personalize teaching and learning, and determine ways to frame the technology in a way that motivates students to use it for learning.

So you want to personalize learning for all students but how can you get started? What do you need to know? During this session we will explore the what and how behind learner profiles. Participants will see models of profiles from around the country, leveraging lessons learned from others to create profiles that can transform their instruction from teaching to the middle to reaching all students.

In this session attendees will learn about strategies for student engagement and assessment using interactive video lecture tool, VidGrid, at the University of Wyoming. This approach to delivery of course content and student assessment can be used in strictly online classes, as well as in blended, hybrid, and flipped classrooms. Attendees will learn about best practices for designing and recording interactive video lectures, assessment features, including Canvas LMS Gradebook integration, and accessibility features, such as closed captioning.

Attendees will be able to:
1. learn about best practices in developing and recording interactive video lectures
2. identify potential assessment strategies integrated into video lectures
1. apply accessibility principles to video lectures

Participants will have an opportunity to actively engage in the presentation's focus by using the digital tools and working collaboratively to develop specific strategies for struggling learners. The focus will be placed on the usage of digital tools, differentiation of instruction and assessment and expansion of linguistic abilities.

1. identify reasons why students are struggling.
2. utilize digital tools to help struggling students
3. effectively engage struggling students

Attendees will be guided through a process to design and build an online course in the Canvas LMS that leverages 3rd party learning tools.

Upon completion of the session, attendees will be able to design and implement a semester timeline for student success using 3rd party learning tools. Increase knowledge of integration options that leave faculty more time for coaching and student encouragement.

Attendees will explore using the iPad for student-centered creation. In this hands-on session, we will focus on transforming iPad use from traditional teacher-created tasks to a more student-centered, tech integrated learning experience. Starting with the newest features found within iOS 12 and expanding (as time allows) to easy-to-use apps that can be integrated with “next-day” ease!

BYOD with iOS 12 installed is preferred, however, a limited number of iPads will be available for your use.

Upon the completion of this session attendees will be able to:
1. Explore some of the features of the iOS 12 iPad that allow for student-centered creation
2. Become familiar with multiple creation apps that inspire creativity and independent learning
3. Practice using specific apps to support teaching and learning