{"data":{"ID":1011,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1572642519,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"How might we make school life more reflective of real life?","Handle":"how_might_we_make_school_life_more_reflective_of_real_life","ShortDescription":"Deep and authentic learning requires teachers to know their students\u2019 interests and passions and customize learning experiences through real-world, relevant work. Join our conversation to engage in thinking routines, conversation prompts, and protocols to experience and plan for more authentic teaching and learning at your school.","Description":"While we have innovated the role of a teacher from the \u201csage on the stage\u201d to a facilitator of learning, research in neuroscience and reports from the World Economic Forum point us to an even more exciting role for teachers today- teachers as activators and networkers. During this conversation, we will start with questions such as \u201cHow might we engage with experts in our communities to give students real-world feedback on projects based on real-world learning?\u201d and  \u201cHow might we incorporate expeditionary learning into projects to make learning more robust and contextual?\u201d We believe that the most valuable coaching we can provide as facilitators is to support teachers in setting the conditions for learners to choose their pathways of learning. In order to model student-centered learning, we as presenters will prepare a series of questions and prompts that can be taken a multitude of ways by the learner. Modeling and using tools such as 4-Corners, Empathy Interviews, and User Map from Mount Vernon\u2019s newest Design Thinking Field Guide, we will discover together what learners are curious and passionate about at all ages- from 0 to 99.\r\n\r\nWe will then work through how to do the same with our students, layering in our experiences with 21st-century habits of mind and preparing for competency-based learning. Finally, we will review case studies of real examples from early childhood\/elementary, middle school, and high school to prime the pump for individualized next steps for each member of the group.","Link":["https:\/\/mountvernonschool.org\/"],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"Prior to the conversation, we will create a dedicated Instagram group to archive our ideas and inspire future collaborations. \r\n\r\nWe will practice using a variety of design thinking and visible thinking routines like Four Corners, User maps, and Adventure Grid. We will experiment with conversation protocols like Havard Graduate School of Education\u2019s \u201ccarousel brainstorming,\u201d the engageNY discussion protocol \u201cBack to Back, Front to Front,\u201d and the National School Reform Faculty \u201cConnections\u201d protocol to discover our own curiosities and passions. \r\n\r\nWe believe in catering to all types of thinkers and contributors, so we will offer opportunities nestled in the latest neuroscience research around thinking independently before speaking, pairing into smaller groups, and closing with whole-group share outs. We will employ \u201cthree before me\u201d conversational practice as well, showcasing when to verbally contribute to a conversation and when to lean back as a listener to allow others a turn to speak. \r\n\r\nOur collaborative group will end our session with reflective practice using Padlet, discussing how the thinking tools we experienced together might inform project work for the current students in a class. Knowing that EduCon is in January gives us time to employ these strategies now, not waiting until the next school year!","Presenter":["Nicole Martin","Shelley Searcy","and Alex Blumencranz"],"PresenterAffiliation":["Mount Vernon Presbyterian School"],"PresenterEmail":["nmartin@mountvernonschool.org","ssearcy@mountvernonschool.org","ablumencranz@mountvernonschool.org"],"ScheduleSlotID":137,"ScheduleLocationID":21,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":"Authenticity is a topic we have wrestled with for several years at Mount Vernon, and we are thrilled to be considered to continue the conversation with others from around the country at EduCon.","LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":9}}