Rationale: Dedham teachers present at outside conferences to share their vast experience, showcase our successful 1:1 implementation results, and share our knowledge. In addition, teachers also attend MassCue and the Medfield Digital Learning Day to collaborate, share knowledge and learn from districts in Massachusetts.
Characteristics: Usually the presentations are created using Google slides and shared with all conference participants. Most recently, at the MassCue conference in the fall 2017, the two conference presentations were created using Google sites. The intent is to create presentations which incorporate the educational technology strategies used in classrooms.
Pros: Everyone gains from sharing their knowledge. Teachers gain experience presenting and showcase all the great educational technology used in the Dedham Public Schools. While attending conferences, we deepen our understanding, increase our capacity, and share this information within our district.
Cons: Teachers are not in their classroom while at a conference.
Struggles: The biggest struggle is going to a conference and not being able to use some of the tools mainly because of Dedham's commitment to safeguarding student data and privacy. Dedham is conservative and vets all applications prior to use with students to ensure educational value and maintenance of student data privacy.
Rewards: Increased teacher educational technology knowledge which assists teachers in creating engaging and personalized classrooms.
This year 12 Dedham staff members presented at seven different sessions at MassCue, Massachusetts "leading organization for educators using technology in education." During the two day conference, a total of 44 Dedham Educators attended (the second most in Massachusetts). Kim Taylor, principal at the ECEC presented with Kristen Cannon, Instructional Coach discussing their experience and the impact of technology transformation in their new school. The ECEC team of Bridget O'Leary, Art teacher, Kristen Cannon Instructional Coach, and Vicky Castagnola, Library Media Specialist told the story of their STEM to STEAM to STREAM collaboration at the ECEC.
Dedham High School (DHS) Science Teacher Christine Casali took everyone on a magical journey, in her VR dress, as her alter ego, Miss Frizzle demonstrating her innovative practices with incorporating virtual reality into her classroom. Christine was also the MassCue Social Media Ambassador during both days of the event. The team of Michael Medeiros, DHS History teacher, and Alice Johnson, DHS Library Media Specialist, shared their collaborative engaging and innovative teaching strategies. In addition, Karen MacKenzie-Sleeman, English Learners teacher, brought a team of her students to present their experience creating a Podcast for an NPR contest as an authentic Language practice.
Dedham Middle School also had student presenters. Sean Bowles’s student team presented their knowledge at the Global Ed Student Showcase about their project Redesigning a City to Combat Sea Level Rise. Sean also teamed up with Shelly Pagnotta, Science Teacher to share their tips and tricks for successful technology-supported PBL.
Ken Toomey, Greenlodge, 5th-grade teacher and FUSE Massachusetts Coordinator teamed up with Meg Smallidge, Project Manager, Highlander Institute to present Teachers as Change Agents: The Power of Collaborative Coaching. Ken was a FUSE fellow, during the 2018-2019 school year as part of the first Massachusetts FUSE ohort. This experience was transformative for Ken and also for Dedham as he has implemented effective strategies in his classroom (more to come). During this presentation, Ken was able to share his experience.
Judy Foley, Technology Integrator, Prek-12 teamed up with Grace Magley, Director of Digital Learning, Natick Public Schools to discuss the experiences of both districts in their journeys to keeping student data private and the strategies they use for procuring educational technology resources.
Please see the MassCue 2019 Presenters document to view all the Dedham Presentations.
October 19 and 20, 2016
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
45 Dedham educators and administrators attended the 2016 MassCUE annual technology conference which focuses on creating global connections and enhancing blended and digital learning. This collaborative professional development event allows educators and administrators across New England to come together to share best practices to increase student engagement and learning.
A cross section of teachers from across the district, in all seven schools, attended the event. As a follow up, these same teachers shared what they learned through a variety of professional development opportunities held within each of the schools. For example, the high school presented a teacher-driven professional development on November 30, 2016. This blended professional development consisted of eight recorded sessions. During this one hour after school professional development, teachers chose from two of the eight sessions. In addition, they also have access to all the content for future reference. This curated PD is also shared on our educational technology website and with the other schools in the district so that everyone benefits from the experience. Similarly, Dedham Middle School offered their follow up professional development on November 9, 2016. Teachers were able to drop into workshops developed by teachers who attended MassCue. Greenlodge Elementary School shared these resources during their after school one hour PD on November 9. On December 14, the ECEC teachers gathered to share their MassCue experience and participated in a hands on workshop.