Leading Future Learning 2016

How do you engage a school community’s members (students, parents, faculty and administrators) to integrate social media to support healthy identity development and build a strong, diverse school community identity online? Participants in this session will gain insight into the role of social media use at the middle school level.

In this session, we will explain and explore the philosophy around our school’s responsible use policy and how it supports adolescent growth and identity development. We will share specific examples of the challenges and opportunities experienced by our community as we have integrated social media. This session will also address our approach to parent education and partnership. Presentation link

Co-Presenters:
- Lisa Iaccarino, Dean of Students/MS English, Worcester Academy
-Worcester Academy students: Naomi and Brian

What is design thinking? How can it be implemented in the classroom? The design thinking methodology is composed of five stages that bring student-centered project design, iteration and creative problem solving to the classroom. Design thinking has been described as a human-centered approach to problem-solving and supports students in defining relevant and authentic problems for inquiry, research, and solution-based project development. This workshop is recommended for all levels and all disciplines. Participants will leave with a better understanding of design thinking and how it can be implemented in the classroom. An example middle school science project will be shared. Presentation link

Social Media: An Empowering Tool for Educators

In today’s world students are saturated with social media. Their parents are on it. Their siblings are on it. Some of them use it. Many have their own YouTube channels. Rather than fear students using these sites I say embrace them and teach students how to use them by modeling best practices starting at the elementary level. Digital citizenship is a challenging skill for educators to teach. However our youngest students need to develop these skills since social media is swiftly becoming an engaging learning and teaching tool in education. It is also a wonderful way to build your classroom community and connect with parents.

I created a classroom social media policy and hashtags for each student. We use Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to share our learning with the global community we have connected with. We have also been exploring padlet as a learning tool. This session will show educators various ways to incorporate digital citizenship skills into lessons using social media. Educators will be encouraged to create their own accounts on sites and explore their district social media policy. They will learn about the Global Read Aloud, instagram scavenger hunts, an exciting way to do literature circles for 21st century learning, and how to use various social media sites to impact learners. We will also share best practices and discuss strategize hurdles that might get in our way. Curriculum drives instruction and technology tools. Why not seek ways to empower learners with the tools they are using every day?

http://bit.ly/1Mcgn2f

Participants will learn from experienced school leaders who actively use social media to move their schools forward. Participants will examine the real-world potential and pitfalls of social media in contemporary secondary school settings.
Outline:
1. Welcome & Introductions
2. Each panelist shares 5 minute anecdote about how using Twitter impacted your handling of a school issue. (Backchanelled by moderator/other panelists)
3. Questions from audience (backchanelled by one of us)
4. Hands on demo to Focus on How do we educate our stakeholders on Social Media? each panelist (or in pairs) introduces and leads a demonstration of a key Twitter utility/function/skill
5. Exit ticket: tweet takeaways on a certain #hashtag

Co-Presenters: 
-Tom Bresnahan, Assistant Principal, Millbury Memorial Junior-Senior High School
-Bill Burkhead, Principal, Monomoy Regional High School
-Bill Chaplin, Assistant Principal, King Philip Regional High School
-Brian McCann, Principal, Joseph Case High School