“Understanding Learning”
Keynote Message: Bea McGarvey: Author & Consultant, MCL National Alliance
Quality Instruction/Learning requires that learning facilitators/teachers operate from an explicit understanding of how learning happens. Could you name the systems of learning? The job of learning facilitators is to understand what makes for healthy systems of learning and what to do when one of the learner’s systems of learning is unhealthy. That’s the basis for quality instruction.In her keynote, Bea McGarvey will provide you with a common language or model of those systems of learning. Click here for materials
Breakout Sessions
Wednesday, July 31st 12:45 – 1:45
“Building Capacity (Coaching & Consulting)” Bea McGarvey: Consultant & Author — Room: 301
There are several strategies a school might use to build capacity with all stakeholders. Bea will review the variety of resources, aligned with the 8 MCL Interdependent Components, available through the MCL National Alliance and help school and district leaders problem solve how they might provide flexibility and choice within their professional development plan. (Shifting the Mindset, Skilled Leadership, Customizing Structures) — Click here for materials
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“Quality Instruction: Developing & Using Learning Progressions: One Strategy, Multiple Benefits” Jessica Melcher: Windham Primary — Room 302
School Research indicates that teacher clarity and student self-efficacy are critical components to academic success. During this highly interactive session, participants will engage in professional conversations, guided practice, and feedback protocols to enhance understanding and skills related to development and implementation of learning progressions. Attendees will also learn how our daily practices and language impact learner orientations, and how to make small shifts to ensure a positive impact on student self efficacy and mindset. Participants will also have the opportunity to access a bank of supporting resources, including design and implementation guides, examples, templates, and a list of professional texts. (Quality Instruction) Click here for materials
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“Designing Engaging Learning Experiences That Integrate Content Knowledge, Critical Thinking, & Habits of Mind: A “Make & Take” Work Session” Elizabeth Firnkes & Crystal Priest: Cornville Regional Charter School (Overman Academy) — Chorus Room
In this “Make & Take” session learning facilitators/teachers and school leaders, who use learning progressions to design learning opportunities that meet their learners where they are in their learning, will demonstrate how they plan and implement their lessons and projects. We will share artifacts and facilitate small group discussions among participants who will work together to design their own learning opportunities. (Quality Instruction, Motivating Learning Opportunities) Click here for materials
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Wednesday, July 31st 2:00 – 3:00
“Quality Instruction: Using Critical Thinking to Deepen Understanding of Content Knowledge” Linda Laughlin: Executive Director Maine Cohort for Customized Learning — Room 301
When learners struggle to learn, and educators diagnose “why”, how often do we consider the role that critical thinking skills play in that struggle? Our future-focused learner outcomes must include a set of critical thinking skills as essential expectations to live our lives as successful citizens. In addition, many of our most recent national and state standards require a higher level of rigor. Consequently, we need to better understand the critical thinking skills necessary to learn content knowledge at a deeper level and make a commitment to explicitly teach those skills to our learners. In this session, we will discuss how teachers can integrate explicit critical thinking instruction and build a culture that accommodates the development and use of higher-level thinking skills. (Quality Instruction, Motivating Learning Opportunities, Varied Evidence of Learning) Click here for materials
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“Building Capacity with our Learning Facilitators: Creating Flexible Learning Opportunities” Howie Tuttle & Heather Wilson, RSU 12 — Room 302
In this seminar, you will learn how RSU 12 has designed flexible learning paths for adult learners to help build capacity and to model the kind of learning experiences we want to design for our young learners. We will discuss learning menus and flipped learning models of staff development, the challenges encountered, and some of the ways we’ve overcome them. There will be time for participants to share their own ideas for building capacity with staff, especially in light of staff turn over. (Shifting the Mindset, Skilled Leadership) Click here for materials
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“Tracking Learning Progress on the Pathway to Proficiency” Susan Martin: Cornville Regional Charter School — Chorus Room
As facilitators, we are pretty in tune with our learner’s individual journeys towards proficiency, but are they? We know that when learners are aware of their learning targets and what they need to do to show proficiency, they build self efficacy that is intrinsically motivating and meaningful. In this session, we will explore different tools for tracking learner progress with a focus on sharing the load of tracking progress with learners themselves. We will look at learner friendly tools for our youngest learners all the way up through. You will leave the session with some examples of tools you can use to track learner progress and a deeper understanding of the importance behind engaging learners in this aspect of learning. (Quality Instruction, Varied Evidence of Learning, Motivating Learning Opportunities) Click here for materials
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“Create an Ideal Learning Experience” Kyle Rhoads & Rebecca Miller: Windham Primary School — Room 314
Participants will experience a planning process to revise or create a learning activity that reflects the elements of the Ideal Learning Experience. The Windham Primary School teachers used this planning process this past year during faculty time to revise, create, or plan learning activities based on the Ideal Learning Experience. Participants will learn a process to use with future planning. Through this seminar, participants will revise, create, or plan learning activities to put into action. (Quality Instruction, Motivating Learning Opportunities, Varied Evidence of Learning, Transformational Technology) Click here for materials
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Thursday, August 1st 9:00 – 10:00
“Providing Voice & Choice in the Classroom With Learning Menus or Choice Boards” Theresa Hartz & Chad Moore: Manheim Central Middle School — Room 301
Learn how to take your existing curriculum and give your learners a voice in the classroom. Create lessons that provide learners with choice that best fits their learning styles. (Quality Instruction, Motivating Learning Opportunities) Click here for materials
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“Using Jumprope’s Learner Management System and Education Modified to Understand Learner Needs, Support Flexible Grouping, and Meet Learners Where They Are.” Deb Taylor & Dede Dearnley, RSU 12 — Room 302
In this seminar, we will look at how the Jumprope reporting tool can be used to record evidence of learning. We will explore ways that the information can be viewed and sorted to inform grouping and scheduling. In addition, we will demonstrate how Education Modified, a tool that can be used within Jumprope, can provide information to help provide timely and effective support of learner’s needs. (Transformational Technology) Click here for materials
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“Using Empower’s Learner Management System to Customize Learning” Elizabeth Firnkes, Cornville Regional Charter School (Overman Academy) — Chorus Room
Participants will see a demonstration of how the Empower Learner Management System is used to customize learning and will engage in a conversation among teachers & administrators who have been using Empower for several years. (Transformational Technology) Click here for materials
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“A Process for Creating Your School’s Core Values” Diana Jordan & Laura Record: Windham Primary School — Room 314
As Windham Primary School has strived to customize the learning for learners, we have created school core values that drive how we operate as a school community. Through the description of our journey, summit participants will learn an approach to collaboratively develop their own school core values and create shared definitions of those values. (Skilled Leadership) Click here for materials
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Thursday, August 1st 10:15 – 11:15
“Tracking Learning Progress on the Pathway to Proficiency” Susan Martin: Cornville Regional Charter School — 301
As facilitators, we are pretty in tune with our learner’s individual journeys towards proficiency, but are they? We know that when learners are aware of their learning targets and what they need to do to show proficiency, they build self efficacy that is intrinsically motivating and meaningful. In this session, we will explore different tools for tracking learner progress with a focus on sharing the load of tracking progress with learners themselves. We will look at learner friendly tools for our youngest learners all the way up through. You will leave the session with some examples of tools you can use to track learner progress and a deeper understanding of the importance behind engaging learners in this aspect of learning. (Quality Instruction, Varied Evidence of Learning, Motivating Learning Opportunities) Click here for materials
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“Designing Engaging Learning Experiences That Integrate Content Knowledge, Critical Thinking, & Habits of Mind: A “Make & Take” Work Session” Elizabeth Firnkes & Crystal Priest: Cornville Regional Charter School (Overman Academy) — Chorus Room
In this “Make & Take” session learning facilitators/teachers and school leaders, who use learning progressions to design learning opportunities that meet their learners where they are in their learning, will demonstrate how they plan and implement their lessons and projects. We will share artifacts and facilitate small group discussions among participants who will work together to design their own learning opportunities. (Quality Instruction, Motivating Learning Opportunities) Click here for materials
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“Quality Instruction: Using Critical Thinking to Deepen Understanding of Content Knowledge” Linda Laughlin: Executive Director Maine Cohort for Customized Learning — Room 302
When learners struggle to learn, and educators diagnose “why”, how often do we consider the role that critical thinking skills play in that struggle? Our future-focused learner outcomes must include a set of critical thinking skills as essential expectations to live our lives as successful citizens. In addition, many of our most recent national and state standards require a higher level of rigor. Consequently, we need to better understand the critical thinking skills necessary to learn content knowledge at a deeper level and make a commitment to explicitly teach those skills to our learners. In this session, we will discuss how teachers can integrate explicit critical thinking instruction and build a culture that accommodates the development and use of higher-level thinking skills. (Quality Instruction, Motivating Learning Opportunities, Varied Evidence of Learning) Click here for materials
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“Next-Step Rubrics: Engaging Learners in Self-Assessment, Goal-Setting and Reflection” Kristen Gould, MSAD 6 — Room 314
In this session, participants will be exposed to a variety of teaching and learning strategies as they discover the many benefits of implementing next-step rubrics. We will provide an introduction to the tool, overview of pertinent research, and plenty of time to engage in conversation, exploration of examples, and guided practice. This dynamic session will inspire, while providing the support and resources to turn your enthusiasm into action. (Shifting the Mindset, Quality Instruction, Varied Evidences of Learning) Click here for materials