{"success":true,"data":[{"ID":789,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1509584538,"CreatorID":4735,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"Curiosity and the Stories We Tell","Handle":"curiosity_and_the_stories_we_tell","ShortDescription":"What is the story of what happens in our classrooms? If curiosity is the foundation of engagement, what steps can we take to foster it in our students? In ourselves? In our professional communities and contexts? In this conversation, we\u2019ll make plans to inspire curiosity and then discuss how we\u2019ll share those stories of curiosity with others.","Description":"When we get students engaged in our classrooms, they take ownership of their learning and of their stories of their learning and, perhaps, their lives. The same may be true for us individually and in our professional contexts and communities. What can we do next week to begin this process? What could our goals be for our students using their curiosity to begin crafting the story of their learning? How can we go further and find concrete ways to kindle the curiosity in ourselves for our work? And then, how can we engage in that work with others in our professional context? Curiosity helps rejuvenate our energy and look at old challenges with new eyes.\r\n\tBut finding ways to stoke curiosity is only part of the important work we do. We also must reclaim our voices and expertise as professionals in education. One of the ways we can do that is by sharing our students\u2019 stories of their learning and then sharing our own stories of our practice and profession. We\u2019ll conclude our session with ways we can make the results of our intentional curiosity work more public. What tools can we use? Who do we want to reach and what message do we want to share about education as educators? What are the best ways we can advocate for our students and our profession?","Link":[],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"The conversations will be structured using a democratic conversation style similar to World Caf\u00e9, with different tables hosting the different conversations about curiosity, with a share out of ideas, and return to conversations briefly to synthesize anything heard. The second round will focus on the second set of questions, with different tables hosting the different conversations about how we can take back the narrative of education in public and share the platform with students. Chart paper for doodling or capturing ideas will be in place and participants will be encouraged to move around as they wish to be part of different conversations within the space. At the end of each of the two rounds, we\u2019ll harvest the best ideas with individuals writing their plans on stickies that we can post in the room. Images of those final harvest posters, as well as those captured on the chart paper on tables, can be posted online. Participants will also be invited to engage with online participants in a Google Doc if there are online participants who would like to join us.","Presenter":["Jennifer Ansbach"],"PresenterAffiliation":["Manchester Township High School"],"PresenterEmail":["jansbach@yahoo.com"],"ScheduleSlotID":93,"ScheduleLocationID":5,"SubmitterID":4735,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":7},{"ID":750,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1509504626,"CreatorID":4735,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"Teaching in the \"Age of Trump\"","Handle":"teaching_in_the-age_of_trump","ShortDescription":"Donald Trump\u2019s presidency means my US History students pay far more attention than usual. Opportunities abound for teaching about checks and balances, human rights, and the role of America in today\u2019s world.  Our conversation will consider what it means to \u201cteach Trump\u201d in a fair and balanced way.","Description":"I will share some of what I have done in my classroom as my students and I make our way through discussions of modern US history.  I look forward to having all participants share our experiences as we teach in the \"Age of Trump.\"  One topic of discussion will include the concept of teacher bias and teacher responsibility.  I teach in a reasonably liberal area of North Carolina, and I worry about some of my more conservative students who may feel off-put by some of their classmates' comments and the general feeling when politics comes up. Also, I am sure some of my biases about current policy come out in my teaching in both subtle and not so subtle ways. Is it appropriate for teachers to let students know their position on issues, such as admitting Syrian refugees and on whether transgender soldiers should be allowed to serve in the military? Does that answer change if students ask for your opinion? We'll talk about these sorts of questions and consider our own teaching practices and challenges as we navigate these uncharted waters.","Link":[],"Audience":["High School","Middle School"],"Practice":"I'll share some of what I've done in my classroom, and then we will give each participant about 15 minutes to reflect in writing about a variety of questions. We'll share first in small groups (via Google Docs) and then have each group report back to the larger group. We'll then merge our Google Docs and have a large-group discussion where I'll take notes and facilitate conversation. At the end of the 90 minutes, we will have created a collaborative document that shares best practices and our thoughts\/questions\/concerns as we approach civic education in the challenging times we live in today.","Presenter":["Steve Goldberg"],"PresenterAffiliation":["Research Triangle High School"],"PresenterEmail":["mrgoldberg@gmail.com"],"ScheduleSlotID":94,"ScheduleLocationID":5,"SubmitterID":4735,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":7},{"ID":822,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1516682020,"CreatorID":4735,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"Supporting Learner Agency Amidst Control","Handle":"supporting_learner_agency_amidst_control","ShortDescription":"As much as we all wish for widespread change and schools to be vastly different, some of us still work in schools that seem to operate behind a wall of tradition. For this conversation, we'd like to discuss ways to help others in places of power see beyond doing what we've always done.","Description":"","Link":[],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"Things we would like to discuss\r\nHow might we bring creative practices into the classroom that lie outside the realm of traditional practices\r\nHow do we change perceptions of learning?\r\nWhy should schools be different if \u201cthey work\u201d?","Presenter":["Rafranz Davis","Knikole Taylor"],"PresenterAffiliation":[],"PresenterEmail":["rafranz11@gmail.com"],"ScheduleSlotID":95,"ScheduleLocationID":5,"SubmitterID":4735,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":7},{"ID":760,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1509557767,"CreatorID":4735,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"Driving Curricular Shifts from the Inside-out","Handle":"driving_curricular_shifts_from_the_inside-out","ShortDescription":"We are at a pivotal time in education.  We are changing the way that teachers teach and students learn.  This vision is not always clear and supported by all parties involved.  This conversation focuses on how we can make that curricular shift in a K-12 setting even when others do not see it.  We will share our journey, successes, and pitfalls.","Description":"As 3 classroom teachers working in the Schuylkill Valley School DIstrict in Berks County, PA we each independently identified areas that needed development in our schools\u2019 curriculum and program offerings.  Often working in relative isolation, we advocated for the change we wanted to see in our specific schools.  As a small school district with one building at each level (elementary, middle school, high school) we do not have a curriculum coordinator or even an assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum.  In essence we had no one person to review all aspects of our K-12 program and make necessary (or even recommended) systemic changes.  As a result, the change process in our district almost always begins with committed individuals who advocate for programs they feel are beneficial to kids and enhance learning.  We are an example of this process and we want to share our journey so far, discuss the importance of finding those who are willing to lead these curricular shifts, get ideas from conversation participants regarding how they effect change in their schools, and focus on the importance of leadership in the process.  We will share our successes, identify remaining hurdles, ask for suggestions and common experience as we move forward, and relate some of our fortuitous breaks, such as unforeseen and perhaps unlikely advocates, as we each pursue the educational initiatives we champion.","Link":[],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"Our session will begin with a general conversation about curricular shifts that we see in education.  We will then share our journey and ask participants to share in small and large group discussions.  We will end with a Q\/A session and a Skype session with at least one of our \"unlikely advocates.\"","Presenter":["Mary Kate Raytek","Tod Witman","(Howard Emerson)"],"PresenterAffiliation":["3 classroom teachers currently on special assignment in the Schuylkill Valley School District","Leesport","PA.  Discovery teacher","STEAM teacher","Tech Integration Coach"],"PresenterEmail":["MIvins@schuylkillvalley.org","TWitman@schuylkillvalley.org"],"ScheduleSlotID":96,"ScheduleLocationID":5,"SubmitterID":4735,"AdditionalComments":"Our third presenter, Howard Emerson, will likely not be able to attend in person but will add commentary via Skype depending on schedule.  \r\n\r\nWe are new to this so feel free to recommend modifications.","LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":7}],"conditions":{"Status":"Accepted","ConferenceID":7,"ScheduleLocationID":5},"total":4,"limit":false,"offset":false}