Best of Innovative Education Colorado (InnEdCo) For BVSD, Part 2

Best of Innovative Education Colorado (InnEdCo) For BVSD, Part 2

A few weeks ago you read the top 5 experiences at the InnEdCo conference held at Copper Mountain Resort, June 2014. Today we have the remaining top 10

6. iPiccy -  This free image editor gives professionals and novices alike the ability to create amazing and fun images. Whether you need an app to touch up a few snapshots or want to create an educational poster. No registration required, so check it out!

7. PiktoChart - Add oomph to your infographics! Piktochart can create a truly great looking infographic. The selection of premade imagery available is impressive, from backgrounds to basic shapes to themed clip art from all kinds of topics. Check it out now!

8. Connections to our BVSD Mission and Vision and strategic planning - BVSD leadership was highlighted at the keynote. By sharing via the conference and social media, Twitter, Google Plus, etc., we attract leaders and teachers to BVSD. By attending the conference, we highlight the importance of learning and professional development as stated in our strategic plan, mission and vision. Every session at the InnEdCo conference connected to the teacher effectiveness standards in BVSD, not just the technology integration standard. BVSD had 20 different teachers/leaders present at Innovative Education Colorado compared to only 3 people from BVSD presenting in 2011. Very exciting!

9. Connections and face-to-face collaboration with colleagues across Colorado - Educators are always making connections, whether face-to-face or online. Our great state of Colorado has very active Professional Learning Networks that are being used to collaborate and share resources. InnEdCo provides people the opportunity to meet like-minded educators with the same passions and aspirations. This year at InnEdCo was no different! And the connections don’t stop when the conference ends—check out #InnEdCo and #InnEdCo14 on Twitter for continued conversations.

Regina Hoskins,

Southern Hills Middle School

10. The Power of Social Media for Leaders - Any social media tool should enhance your face-to-face meetings and communication with stakeholders (families, students, staff and community). Don’t rely solely on technology to communicate. Whether you are a leader in your district, building, or classroom this presentation will give you key ideas on how to use social media as a tool to enhance your “two-way” communication. Check it out!

Social Media for Leaders presentation

Best of Innovative Education Colorado for BVSD, Part 1

Best of Innovative Education Colorado For BVSD, Part 1

Now that students are back in school, and teachers have set up their classrooms and attended district professional development, it is time to reflect upon the top 10 takeaways from Innovative Education Colorado.

InnEdCo is a four-day conference held in the mountains where teachers and leaders learn about innovative teaching and learning practices that incorporate the use of digital tools in their daily instruction. In the summer of 2011, Boulder Valley School District had as few as three individuals attend. Jump forward to this June, 2014, when over 50 teachers and staff not only attended, but presented sessions and had key leadership roles in the conferences. We are proud of this movement toward learning and sharing!  We hope you can join us next year at InnEdCo! 

Now check out our top 5 takeaways from the conference!

1. Keynote and Leadership by Dr. Yong Zhao  He envisions an educational system that focuses on creativity and entrepreneurial students. By focusing on hands-on learning, incorporating technology, and student-centric classrooms—and not just focusing on test scores—we enable and inspire our children. Dr. Zhao’s books Catching Up or Leading the Way and World Class Learners are inspirational reads.

2.  Keynote video:  http://tinyurl.com/innedco-inspire. The video was shared during Dr. Yong Zhao’s keynote. It highlights the innovation, leadership, and learning in BVSD and surrounding districts. This movie, produced by students at Rock Canyon HS in DCSD, is the epitome of creativity: the students captured video on Monday and produced this final cut for Tuesday’s keynote. Look at what happens when the creative talents of our students meet the technology in their hands.

3. Making IT Happen Award - This honor was given to Kim Butler, the teacher librarian at Birch Elementary. Her principal states,  “Kim is an inspirational team member whose positive attitude encourages students and teachers to try new activities with technology”. A well-deserved award for a leader in libraries, technology, literacy, and innovation.

4. Kahoot! Prepare to amaze your staff and students with this trivia game option! This can be a great option for BYOD schools. It is 100% free with no need for an account, just a game PIN from the main screen and a name. A compelling and oh-so-easy way to engage kids in pre- and formative assessments.

5. Office Scapes - Students thrive in collaborative, flexible learning environments. As we look at creating innovative learning spaces, Office Scapes provided us with two rooms of furniture to investigate and use to create a new flexible learning space. Imagine the possibilities in your classroom and witness it in person in the IT “Copper” training lab!

Stay tuned--

the next blog will reveal the rest of our

Top 10 InnEdCo moments!