Nipmuc Regional High School presents
Innovating Authentic Learning:
21st Century Learning Conferences
It's an exciting time for schools as we explore innovative programs that help us move beyond traditional measures of success to create learning experiences that inspire. The focus of today's session is to support this work through a collaborative day of learning.
The goals of today's session are to:
As we get ready to begin, we encourage you to explore this website and share your ideas with other participants. We look forward to working and learning together during this workshop!
But first, introductions! In order get to know the other educators and students in the room, we ask that you get up and introduce yourself to someone that you have not met. We'll provide a prompt and then let you know when to switch to meet another workshop attendee.
The goals of today's session are to:
- build a shared sense of urgency and excitement to evolve our schools to become places of modern learning
- to explore the model of 21st Century Learning Conferences as a way to promote authentic learning experiences
- to learn and apply practical strategies that can be used in your own schools
- to adapt the 21st Century Learning Conference model to meet the interests, needs, and opportunities at your school.
As we get ready to begin, we encourage you to explore this website and share your ideas with other participants. We look forward to working and learning together during this workshop!
But first, introductions! In order get to know the other educators and students in the room, we ask that you get up and introduce yourself to someone that you have not met. We'll provide a prompt and then let you know when to switch to meet another workshop attendee.
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Snowball Fight: Defining Authentic Learning
Our first challenge for the day is taking a moment to connect explore the term authentic learning. What better way to tackle this task (especially on a chilly January morning!) than a snowball fight! The steps are simple.
-Take a moment to discuss what authentic learning means to you.
-Next, on your colorful circle of paper, write down one word that comes to mind when you think of authentic learning.
-When you’ve written your word, crumple up the paper and throw it to someone across the room.
-Find someone else’s “snowball”, unwrap it, and write a question you have about the word that’s written there.
After a few rounds of our snowball fight, we'll ask everyone to take a moment to share something they are curious about related to authentic learning by using the digital poll below.
Choose a question on your "snowball" to represent our curiosities about authentic learning. Add your question to the Mentimeter board below (putting the main word in all CAPS).
-Take a moment to discuss what authentic learning means to you.
-Next, on your colorful circle of paper, write down one word that comes to mind when you think of authentic learning.
-When you’ve written your word, crumple up the paper and throw it to someone across the room.
-Find someone else’s “snowball”, unwrap it, and write a question you have about the word that’s written there.
After a few rounds of our snowball fight, we'll ask everyone to take a moment to share something they are curious about related to authentic learning by using the digital poll below.
Choose a question on your "snowball" to represent our curiosities about authentic learning. Add your question to the Mentimeter board below (putting the main word in all CAPS).
Now that we have collaborated to explore authentic learning, take a minute to consider the amount of time dedicated to learning opportunities in your school community. Click on the poll below to share the percentage of time students are engaged in authentic learning experiences.
What is a 21st Century Learning Conference
21st Century Learning Conferences are one of the ways that our school increases opportunities for authentic learning. They are full-day learning events that are modeled after professional conferences but offered for students. They provide students and teachers with the chance to pursue their passions, connect with community, and create powerful moments of learning. Click below to learn more about the conferences.