Snapshot
Learning in Motion
October 2016 Presentation:
Being an advocate of Howard Gardener’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences and believing that elementary students are not meant to sit still for prolonged periods of time, I am proposing a change in the physical structure/aesthetics of my classroom.
My plan of action is to maximize the learning space in my classroom, while adding zones for learning equipped with technology that will increase student engagement and retention.
In our newly redesigned classroom students will be able to work on any free wall space. The walls in my classroom will be painted with whiteboard paint and will feature dry erase marker bases. In addition, students will have access to flexible seating as an outlet for impulses. I believe flexible seating, along with movement caused by our classroom walls being working areas, will decrease student anxiety and disruptions while increasing engagement.
Our classroom will also feature areas for collaborating with technology. I plan to add materials to my makerspace area for creating 3D printed objects. An area will be designated for student created lessons/podcasts to be made. This area will include a new iPad for students to easily download apps for recording and editing their lessons. Finally, I will create an area for gamification. This area will include an X Box with Kinect and Minecraft.
April 2017 – FIREsummit Presentation:
Inquiry Design Model: Equipping Students for College, Career, and Civic Life
October 2016 Presentation:
Promising Practice Research Question: Will using the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) enable students to become thoughtful problem solvers and confident learners who understand challenging concepts by engaging in compelling and rigorous research?
In this session you will learn about the Inquiry Design Model (IDM), a distinctive approach to creating inquiry units of study that honors teachers’ knowledge and expertise and focuses on the Inquiry Arc of the College, Career and Civic Life (C3) Framework. You will learn to use the IDM blueprint, a one-page representation of the questions, tasks, and resources to design an inquiry that you can take back to your classroom.