2019 Wyoming Innovations in Learning

In Wyoming, GIS professionals and Professional Land Surveyors have a passion for their work, yet they recognize the lack of understanding for the work they do and a need for more people seeking these professions in the future. In collaboration with the Wyoming Board of Education, Professional Land Surveyors of Wyoming, University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Wyoming Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and WYGEO, an outreach effort is underway that will pilot an opportunity for professionals in these fields to visit 3rd – 12th grade classrooms and facilitate learning opportunities utilizing a web-based GeoInquiry interactive map and GeoSpectrum lesson plans currently in development. These lessons support Wyoming state standards in math, science, technology, and social studies and offer authentic opportunities for students to participate in real-world activities that utilize STEM initiatives. This session will include an introduction to the map and current lesson plans, suggestions for implementing these tools in different grade levels and contents, time for participants to explore the map and plans, and an opportunity to provide feedback on this outreach effort. Participants, please bring a laptop, if possible.

This year, we created online professional development courses for teachers delivered entirely through Canvas. Learn about our journey of transitioning the delivery of professional development from face-to-face to online. We will demonstrate how we prepared for and designed these courses, including expectations and templates and receiving feedback from participants. We will also share tips and tricks we learned, including techniques for course design and participant engagement.

Upon completion of this session attendees will be able to:
1. Begin the process of transitioning from F2F to online teaching and learning.
2. Redesign their current PD courses into a more blended and/or online approach.
3. Learn techniques for course design.

In this hands-on session, attendees will first experience a digital escape room. Then, attendees will learn how to create a digital escape room that they can use in their own classrooms, as well as some ideas for implementation.

Upon completion of this session attendees will be able to:
1. Identify a lesson to use with a digital escape room.
2. Create a digital escape room.
3. Experience a digital escape room, just as students would experience it in the classroom.

Attendees will get a hands-on session using two of Adobe’s apps. You will learn how Adobe Spark and Adobe Post can help you and your students create stunning videos and posters. You will have time to create your own projects and play with the apps. The possibilities of these apps are only limited to your students’ imaginations. The best part is you can introduce them to another way to demonstrate their learning and have presentation pieces ready for any audience. We will also discuss practical ideas that you can start using in your classroom when you get back!

Upon completion of the session attendees will be able to:
1. Create a video using Adobe Spark.
2. Create a poster using Adobe Post.
3. Come away with ideas about how they can use it in their classrooms.

This fast-paced, high energy session will introduce attendees to 26 STEM tools, resources, and concepts. Participants will see how two STEM/Technology facilitators incorporate apps, robots, websites, and 21st century best practices in their STEM labs and how they encourage teachers in their buildings to use the same tools.

1. Select STEM & technology resources that best match their educational goals.
2. Transform current lessons to STEM lessons using the resources presented.
3. Inspire creativity by introducing students to a variety of engaging tools.

Come join us in learning about shifts in science teaching and learning! Since the adoption of Wyoming’s new science standards in 2016, teachers are being asked to re-evaluate what science teaching and learning looks like, sounds like, and feels like. In providing professional development for in-service and pre-service teachers, we have found success in the use of natural phenomena, or observable events, alongside reflective practice as a strategy of introducing/framing units, creating more engagement and buy-in from students. The use of this strategy leads to student questions, which are used to drive the instruction. As a result, students experience higher levels of engagement and connection in the instructional units. Participants will spend the session engaging in this practice with the facilitators, focused specifically on Wyoming-centric phenomena.

Upon completion of this session, participants will have gained personal understanding regarding:
1. Phenomena-based instruction
2. Place-based (Wyoming-centric) instruction within science teaching
3. Fundamental ways that science teaching and learning is changing in light of the new science standards

Data is everywhere—the numbers and information that is collected, analyzed and used to determine what ads pop-up in your Facebook, where to build a new business, and more! Data literacy is critical—being able to read and write effectively with data will help as you work with students, patrons and in your personal life. This interactive session will explore data conversations, real life examples and more. Bring your device to follow along!

1. Recognize the role that data plays in today's world
2. Identify the skills necessary to read and write effectively with data
3. Discuss the implications of data literacy among multiple perspectives like data privacy, personal data management and Big Data

For session material click here.

Are you thinking about adding a makerspace to your learning space? Or do you have one but want to extend it to the next level? “The Kickstart Guide to Making Great Makerspaces” by Laura Fleming provides a framework for guiding you through the process of establishing and refining a makerspace in your school. This session will help you learn how to develop ongoing, open-ended exploration, increase engagement and support learning for everyone. Explore how maker activities can build community, promote creativity and spark new opportunities for teaching and learning. Learn how adding customizable and flexible maker activities to your learning space can help increase engagement and support learning. Experience a true makerspace in this hands-on make-and-take session. As one makerspace participant said “I felt smart, and empowered, and capable, and I need my students to feel this way, too.”—don’t miss the opportunity to learn more!

1. Develop and refine their understanding makerspaces and the considerations for implementing one in their learning spaces.
2. Build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions
3. Establish a plan for creating a makerspace in their learning spaces

For session material click here.

Participants in this session will experience the approach, and leave with ideas and tools to utilize and work through the difficult question of how to fit it all in. Utilizing Carol Dwek's Growth Mindset work, focusing on our Why, and discussing best practices to cultivate a community in which learners can take risks will be focused on. Additionally, tools for partnering with families and increasing the school to home connection will also be highlighted.

Attendees will make a digital "mood ring" using some basic coding and a TI-84 or TI-Nspire calculator. No experience in coding required. Attendees will walk away with step by step directions and resources for similar activities. This activity could be used in either middle school or high school programming courses.

Upon completion of the session attendees will be able to:
1. use introductory programming skills to write If then statements and loops to collect data and make decisions.

Do you listen to podcasts? Have you ever thought about creating podcasts with your students? This hands on course allows you to create your own podcast to share with students and staff. Attendees will get lesson ideas as well as templates to make your podcast fail proof in the classroom.

Attendees will walk away having made their own podcast and have several lesson ideas to bring back to their classrooms.

Attendees will explore different ways to engage students in STEM activities. In this hands-on session we will practice designing video games with Bloxels, coding with Dash/Dot robots, birding activities and health/ wellness activities.

Upon completion of this session attendees will have a foundation to be able to engage students in a variety of STEM activities using different technologies.

Attendees will learn how Recluse School students embarked on a STEM journey and are collaborating with an engineer who works at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory. Industry and higher education are increasingly motivated to cultivate new generations of STEM students. Primary and secondary teachers may also tap into this unique learning experience with STEM experts to help build strong strategies for successful learning outcomes. Session attendees will learn how to team with STEM professionals to create a learning environment that will spark enthusiasm and propel students toward a deeper exploration of global collaboration.

Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:
Create a toolbox of ideas to use in planning their own collaborative STEM initiatives.
Set expectations with professionals and prepare them for meaningful interactions.
Prepare students to be receptive, inquisitive, prepared and engaged.

This session is designed for content area teachers who struggle with the “English” aspect of reading and writing within their content area. I constantly have teachers asking me ways to incorporate writing and reading comprehension skills in their classroom that would not take up an enormous amount of time in terms of presentation, production and grading. Technology today has given teachers a plethora of ways to engage students in writing that isn't "traditional." Strategies to use SnapChat and Twitter to assess writing and reading comprehension will be explored. In addition, I will have some short, but effective tools for teaching vocabulary in context that I know many science and social studies teachers would find beneficial.

Use SnapChat to assess writing and reading comprehension; Use Twitter and #Hashtags to assess reading comprehension; Learn 1-3 strategies to assess an "English" teacher skill in the content area classroom.

Attendees will discuss and react to data gathered from surveys of blended courses (live and distance students in the same synchronous class) at Eastern Wyoming College. Distance students participated in the classes via Zoom video conferencing.
 
Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:
1. Articulate actual and predicted pros & cons of blending distance students via video conference within a ground-based course
2. Anticipate student perception of their learning experience in a blended course
3. Anticipate student satisfaction with instructor communication in a blended course