Listen and learn: Edtalk 
Streaming Session
Recorded Session
This session is based on site visits to 35+ innovative, 'deeper learning' elementary schools. Most deeper learning schools share an emphasis on applied creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving; high levels of student agency, control, ownership, voice, and choice; opportunities to engage in authentic, real-world work in local and global communities; and robust technology infusion. In this workshop we will learn from these innovative schools about what deeper learning leaders and teachers do, what support structures they put into place to support robust learning and instruction, and how they maintain the motivation and courage necessary for this complex work... all while building students' foundational knowledge and skills!
Workshop emphases will include:
1. Living the Vision
2. Authenticity and Agency in Learning
3. Trusting Teachers as Creative Professionals
4. Openness to New Approaches and Tools
5. Over-Communicating Change
6. Restlessness Toward Equity
7. Courage to Live Outside the Norm
We will unpack these components through the use of specific examples from innovative inquiry- and problem-based learning schools around the world. We will engage in multiple iterative cycles in which we examine an example school and then connect specific instructional practices, leadership behaviors, and support structures to desired learner and school outcomes. We will do 4-6 cycles on different topics, depending on pace of conversation.
Please bring a computing device and be prepared to be very actively engaged!
5 minutes - session introduction / small group formation
75 minutes - discussion of provided school examples; dissection of key instructional practices, leadership behaviors, and support structures; participant discussion and ideation around local systems and action steps
10 minutes - wrap-up
McLeod, S., & Shareski, D. (2-18). Different schools for a different world. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree. Available at bit.ly/mcleodshareski
McLeod, S., & Graber, J. (2019). Harnessing technology for deeper learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree. Available at bit.ly/mcleodgraber
Richardson, J. W., Bathon, J., & McLeod, S. (2021). Leadership for deeper learning. New York, NY: Routledge. Available at bit.ly/Leadership4DL
McLeod, S. (2022). Before using school technology, know your edtech purpose. Available at https://www.iste.org/explore/using-school-technology-know-your-edtech-purpose
McLeod, S. (2023-present). Deeper learning in elementary and middle schools. [ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECT]
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