Events for 2011-2012
Welcome to the Independent Curriculum Group’s Conferences and Roundtables for 2011-12. We hope that you will find one or more to be of interest. Please check here again as we add additional events for 2012.
ICG is a catalyst of important change coming to education in America. Schools are re-designing the learning process and re-thinking the roles of teacher and learner. Students are memorizing less and creating more. They’re managing projects, designing experiments, making connections across disciplines, and engaging the world outside school. Schools are devoting more of their advanced courses to in-depth inquiry, and fewer of them to preparation for standardized tests.
ICG events are divided into two broad categories. Our conferences typically host between 50 and 300 teachers, administrators, and other stake-holders. Innovation Roundtables are limited to approximately 15 participants and intended for academic administrators and department heads. All are designed to help schools move forward with the exciting work of institutional change.
I hope to see you at an ICG event in 2011-12.
Sincerely,
Bruce G. Hammond
Executive Director
INNOVATION ROUNDTABLES
This year’s ICG Innovation Roundtables will be devoted to classroom assessment of “21st Century” skills. Traditionally, teachers developed classroom assessments with an eye toward student mastery of course subject matter. More recently, many schools have initiated institution-wide discussions about aligning classroom assessments more closely with school mission. In 2011-12, schools in six cities nationwide are participating in ICG’s National Assessment Project, in which they share classroom assessments of Critical Inquiry, Creative Problem-Solving, Oral Communication, and Collaboration. The Roundtables, moderated by Bruce G. Hammond, will offer insights from the project and examples of cutting-edge assessments across a variety of academic disciplines. Roundtable participants will be asked to bring at least one assessment from their own schools for discussion with the group. The Assessment Project, and the Roundtables, provide a forum for schools to share their best thinking about the next generation of assessments.
| Date: | |
| Location: | Wednesday, January 11, The Seven Hills School (Cincinnati, OH) -- REGISTER NOW Friday, January 20, La Jolla Country Day School (La Jolla, CA) -- REGISTER NOW Wednesday, February 1, Saint Mary's School (Raleigh, NC) -- REGISTER NOW Friday, February 3, Conservatory Prep Senior High School (Davies, FL) -- REGISTER NOW Friday, February 10, Shattuck - St. Mary's School (Faribault, MN) -- REGISTER NOW |
| Details: | Registration Fee: $125.00 Roundtables begin with an informal welcoming reception at approximately 8:30 a.m., followed by the program from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Enrollment is limited to approximately 15 participants. Lunch will be provided. |
RE-IMAGINING SCHOOL
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School and the Independent Curriculum Group cordially invite you to Re-Imagining School on Tuesday, January 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to discuss the exciting changes coming to independent education. Re-Imagining School will explore how educators are re-designing the learning process and re-thinking the roles of teacher and learner. Sessions will offer big-picture thinking and practical insight about today’s most important trends.
| Date: | January 3, 2012 |
| Location: | St. Stephen's Episcopal School Austin, TX |
| Details: | Keynote Address William Powers, Jr., President, University of Texas at Austin Confirmed Sessions Interdisciplinary Teaching and Assessment in the Upper School Teachers from Episcopal School of Dallas will facilitate a discussion of interdisciplinary projects and courses that feature integrated learning and authentic assessment, with primary emphasis on grades 9-12. Also included will be an overview of ESD’s new approach to professional learning communities. The session will be interactive and attendees will be encouraged to share practices from their schools. Antonia Moran, English Teacher, Episcopal School of Dallas (Dallas, TX) Elaine Murphy, Curriculum Coordinator and English Department Chair, Episcopal School of Dallas Tolly Salz, English Teacher, Episcopal School of Dallas Varying Viewpoints From A Flipped Classroom This session will offer an inside look at how Oakridge School implemented inverted classroom instruction in multiple disciplines. The flipped classroom allows students to access the vast resources of the digital world in their study time while reserving classes for deeper delving and synthesis. This session will include perspectives of students, teachers, parents, and administrators, as well as “best practices” and “worst mistakes” in using Web 2.0 tools. Jason Kern, Technology Director, Oakridge School (Arlington, TX) Mike Cobb, Head of Middle School, Oakridge School Technology and Student-Centered Assessments How do we create learner-centered classrooms? How do we engage our students so that they can hardly wait until the next class? This session will offer innovative strategies to move our students from consumers of information to creators of knowledge. Topics will include the characteristics of authentic assessments, how to create performance task assessments, and TPACK: A framework for meaningful integration of technology. Dolores Gende, Director of Instructional Technology, Parish Episcopal School (Dallas, TX) A Successful Interdisciplinary, Interactive, and Cross-Divisional Project This session will describe a collaboration between students in grades 3 and 4 with those in a 10th grade Ancient Civilizations class to create history projects about the Age of Exploration. Topics will include aspects of project-based learning, use of Web 2.0 technologies, and how to record student reflection in a web-based content area. Angela Wainright, Upper School History Teacher, Kinkaid School (Houston, TX) CeCelia O'Connell, 3rd Grade Teacher, Kinkaid School Cindy Stanley, 4th Grade Teacher, Kinkaid School Interdisciplinary Teaching -- All the Disciplines! -- in the 8th Grade A team of middle-school teachers from St. John's will discuss two interdisciplinary courses in the 8th grade that feature teachers from English, Fine Arts, History, and Technology. One, the 8th Grade Fine Arts Independent Study Project, matches mentor teachers with students who propose semester-long creative writing projects. The other, Storytelling 2.0, employs age-old storytelling traditions, public speaking skills, and audio/video technology. Rosie Beniretto, History Teacher, St. John’s School (Houston, TX) Sharon Fabriz, Coordinator of Curriculum for Middle School, St. John’s School Lori MacConnell, Technology Integration Coordinator, St. John’s School Bill McDonald, Fine Arts Chair, St. John’s School Personal Learning Networks and the Future of Learning This session will describe how Personal Learning Networks can help educators access the tools and the master-craftsmen/women who can help them grow as educators. What are Personal Learning Networks? Why should I have one? How can I get started? The presenter is a consultant for Powerful Learning Practice and has keynoted on related topics at the AIMS Technology Retreat. Larry Kahn, Chief Technology Officer, Kinkaid School (Houston, TX) Service Learning Trips in Independent Schools St. Stephen’s Episcopal School has offered community service-related projects in a number of countries, including construction and sponsorship of a school in rural Haiti, child development work in El Salvador, and development and educational work in Nicaraugua. Come find out what’s involved in planning a successful trip, and why such trips are important. Phillip Doig, Spanish Teacher, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (Austin, TX) Johnny Wilson, Science Teacher, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Teaching History Through Film and World Cinema This session will examine two advanced history courses taught through the viewing of popular film. Students find such courses both engaging and challenging; in addition to understanding the film as a work of art, students must construct an intellectual bridge between the film text and the historical/cultural period of its making. The session will include a short clip of Rebel Without A Cause to demonstrate the various levels of inquiry in history through film. Ron Briley, Assistant Head of School and History Teacher, Sandia Preparatory School (Albuquerque, NM) From Enemy to Asset: Cell Phones in the Classroom Cell phones have replaced note-passing as the biggest distraction in the classroom. Schools have tried to attack the problem with blanket bans or restrictive policies. But what if instead of viewing cell phones as the enemy, we use them as teaching tools? Most students have more computing power in their pocket than was used by NASA to send men to the moon. This session will explore innovative classroom uses for cell phones. Jennifer Lockett, Upper School History Teacher, Trinity Valley School (Fort Worth, TX) Interdisciplinary Teaching and Student-Centered Inquiry in Math and English An experienced teacher-administrator talks about interdisciplinary teaching, individualized instruction, and student responsibility in English and AP Calculus. Topics will include coordinating Calculus BC with AP Physics, and how English teachers can use the process of asking questions to prompt students to reach across disciplines. Dwight Raulston, Director of Curriculum, St. John’s School (Houston, TX) Innovations in the Teaching of Foreign Language This session will explore the latest in language curriculum, including best practices from around the globe and integration of Web 2.0 technology. Topics will include performance-based instruction and assessment, vertical and horizontal design, and examples of particularly useful online resources. Monica Daucourt, Chair of Foreign Language, Cistercian Preparatory School (Irving, TX) Lisa Hallee, French teacher, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (Austin, TX) Rethinking College Counseling It was once conventional wisdom not to engage ninth and tenth graders because we wanted them to "just focus on school and their extracurriculars.” But increased media attention on college admissions means that if we don't get our message out early, students and parents end up stressed and with bad information! Join a discussion of innovative ways to engage younger students. Marie Bigham, Director of College Counseling, The Greenhill School (Dallas, TX) Laura Ross, Director of College Counseling, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (Austin, TX) Carol Wasden, Director of College Counseling, The Hockaday School (Dallas, TX) All one-day conferences will begin with an informal welcoming reception at approximately 8:30 a.m. The program will be offered from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Registration Fees $125.00, Non-Member Institution $50.00, Member Institution $150.00, On-Site When four or more people register from the same non-member institution, a 25% discount will be applied to all registrations. REGISTER NOW (Deadline Extended) |
Serious About Change
Today’s schools are in a slow-motion revolution. Contemporary research has discredited many of the practices that prevail in our schools, but the status quo of centuries is difficult to dislodge.
“Serious About Change” will bring together a small group of heads and other academic administrators who are serious about aligning program with modern-day understanding of the student mind. How are schools promoting emphasis on “21st Century” skills? How are they using local resources to create real-world experiences? How are schools meshing students’ academic, extracurricular, and non-academic lives? Participants will discuss these and other issues in roundtable format, with attendance limited to 15 persons.
| Date: | Friday, October 28, 2011 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
| Location: | Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, Thailand |
| Details: | REGISTRATION CLOSED |