Innovate@BVSD 2017

BVSD’s annual professional learning and innovation showcase, Innovate@BVSD, was held on June 7th and 8th. The event was organized by the IT EdTech and Innovation teams. Over 200 attendees including teachers, administrators, students, and parents participated in workshop sessions led by specialists and BVSD educators. Presenters shared strategies for purposefully integrating maker education, design and computational thinking, and technology tools into instructional practices to empower student voice and choice.

Keynotes

Attendees were inspired by Dr. Scott McLeod, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver and BVSD parent, during the opening keynote. Dr. McLeod shared with attendees the “4 Big Shifts” that are present in schools that foster deeper student learning and engagement.

On day two, Heather Lister, Educational Consultant for Mackin and Teacher Librarian, kicked off the Pop-up Maker Expo with a conversation about the benefits of Maker Education to engage students in authentic learning via hands-on tinkering, exploring, and making.

Pop-up Maker Expo This year’s event included a Pop-up Maker Expo, a dynamic, kid and family-friendly event for educators, students, and parents to connect with members of the Maker community and learn about the resources they provide to help students make beyond the school walls and school day. The event featured over 25 organizations and vendors that support BVSD’s maker ecosystem.

Furniture and Innovation Gallery This year’s Furniture Expo included an Innovation Gallery featuring architectural firms that have designed our Bond schools. Workshops were conducted in classrooms outfitted with flexible and versatile furnishings. Attendees experienced first-hand the benefits of innovative, collaborative spaces and considered how they can combine flexible seating and layouts to create agile and student-centered learning spaces.

Innovate@BVSD directly supports the BVSD Success Effect in developing talent and partnerships that fuel innovation, discovery, and exploration for all members of the BVSD learning community.

If you were not able to attend the event, check out the Daily Camera article about Innovate@BVSD 2017, search for the hashtag #innovatebvsd on Twitter to review event highlights, and visit our website for session resources.

Stay tuned for location and dates for Innovate@BVSD 2018.