Innovation Archives - Page 2 of 10

Design Thinking Posted on: June 15, 2016

Fuse 2016: Coaching Design Thinking

Fuse 2016: Coaching Design Thinking The annual MVIFI Fuse Conference at Mount Vernon kicked off to a strong start this morning with the DT 101 Flash Lab. I am excited to be serving as a design thinking coach and member of the Flight Crew (yes! this means I get a new badge) for the third consecutive year. Things I Like Most About Fuse – Getting inspired by the passion, commitment, and hard work of my colleagues (see Bo, Meghan, Jim, James, TJ, and Trey) (not to mention all of the fabulous coaches, faculty, and students) – Getting more laps with […]

A Full Day

A Full Day Started the day with a fantastic Middle School Admin Team Retreat, followed by an incredible Maker session where I learned about the Studio(i) experience, designed and printed using the laser cutter, and earned a badge! It was a fantastic turn out and professional learning event considering it is summer time. Next, I went to training session for this week’s Fuse conference with the fantastic Red Team followed by a fun team dinner at Village Burger. Finally, I ended the day by reading to each of my children and going for a night walk and swim. Blessed.

eportfolio / student led conferences / Technology Posted on: March 29, 2016March 28, 2016

Students Take the Lead – Spring 2016

Students Take the Lead – Spring 2016 On Wednesday, February 17, students took the lead for the second time this year with student led conferences. In the fall, students shared their goals with parents and teachers. This time, students ran the show from start to finish. Introducing parents and teachers to one another, the students showcased 5 demonstrations chosen from their e-portfolios.

Drones / Technology Posted on: March 28, 2016March 30, 2016

Drone Review: Syma X5C Explorer

Drone Review: Syma X5C Explorer Upon the recommendation of some of our 7th Grade students, I purchased a drone for $40 that was delivered surprisingly on Easter Sunday. The Syma X5C Explorer is the perfect drone for beginners and those prone to rooftop crashing. I was amazed to discover the nearly indestructible design of this little drone. After bouncing it off the pavement a dozen times, the Syma drone operates just as well as its first flight. Lightweight, inexpensive, and still very precise, the Syma is easy to charge through your computer usb port. The remote control requires 4 AA batteries, and it […]

Design Thinking / Drones Posted on: March 19, 2016March 19, 2016

Drones: Gateway to Learning, Design, and Impact

Drones: Gateway to Learning, Design, and Impact Drones provide a gateway to learning many practical and helpful uses for human-centered problem solving, as well as simple fun and curiosity. Here are a few ideas to consider… Paint Your House Advertise your product/company with a flying drone billboard Ambulance Drone for Medical Emergencies Submarine Periscope Save the lives of African babies with HIV testing Drone Racing is the Sport of the Future Search for Lost Dogs Monitor Marine Reserves and Spot Illegal Fishing Droneport for Africa A Robot That Flies Like A Bird Find the Best Waves for Surfing Safely Avoid […]

Badging / Learning Measures / Professional Learning Posted on: January 31, 2016

The Power of the Scoreboard & Accountability

The Power of the Scoreboard & Accountability Badging interest exploded with the faculty program’s initial launch in August. After months of plateauing, another spike occurred when we measured progress in December and January through a series of infographics and charts. We teased prizes, but as of yet, we have not even specified what those prizes might be. Therefore, it isn’t clear whether the hope of winning prizes has any impact. The scoreboard, and the accountability that comes with it, seems to be the driving force behind this second surge in badges earned. Perhaps accountability coupled with time of year? Badges […]

Learning / Learning Progressions / R & D Posted on: January 26, 2016January 26, 2016

Learning Progressions

Learning Progressions Today, the Social Studies research and design team met after school. After a 10 minute introduction and demo slam (check out Google Earth for geography, history, current events exploration), we split up into our respective divisions and choose our own adventures. The middle school team collaborated on writing a learning progression for 5th Graders using primary sources. It was a fun activity for me. I felt stretched, creative, frustrated, and accomplished at different points throughout the process. My colleagues felt the same, but we all stuck with it and the result is a very solid, first attempt at […]

Maker Movement / Technology Posted on: January 22, 2016

Maker Wars: 3D Printer Comes to Life Thanks to Students

Maker Wars: 3D Printer Comes to Life Thanks to Students A few weeks ago, 3 students approached me and asked if they could use our 3D Printer. “Of course!,” I said, not knowing that the printer wasn’t actually working. The students identified the necessary part and purchased it. They repaired the machine and it has been buzzing ever since, cranking out some cool, preliminary calibration products. How might we encourage our students’ passions and create greater access to maker technology and curriculum? Resources: What is the Maker movement and why should you care? Mount Vernon students use 3D […]

Badging / Faculty Meetings / Learning Measures Posted on: January 20, 2016

What Does This Badge Get Me?

Badges Earned (1/20/16)Create bar charts What Does This Badge Get Me? Continuing to explore how a badging system can be used to communicate and measure learning, we conducted an analysis of each individual and team’s progress. There are 11 possible badges that any individual can earn including: Blogger, Clear Touch, Drone, Folio, Innovative Formative Assessment, Innovative Technology Integration, Presenter, Summer Learning, Teaching Through Art, Twitter Chat Moderator, Create Your Own Badge. The Summer Grant badge was omitted because not everyone had the opportunity to earn it (only 8 grants were awarded last summer). Some badges afford the opportunity for multiple […]

eportfolio / Innovation / Maker Movement / Technology / Video Posted on: January 14, 2016January 14, 2016

Students Want Access

Students Want Access The past couple of mornings, I’ve received several unexpected student visitors to my office. My desk is covered in papers, my nose buried in a laptop while diligently working to accomplish a variety of projects, but thankfully I know when to put all of the ‘important stuff’ on hold. What’s more important than taking the time to listen and talk to a passionate and curious learner? One student came in to show me the BB-8 robot he got for Christmas. He just walked right in, opened up the box, placed the robot on the floor, and showed […]