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.

Medfield Digital Learning Day, 2018

MassCue 2017

Project Based Learning: Melding Curriculum, Library Media, and Technology

Alice Johnson, Library Media Specialist, Dedham High School

Michael Medeiros, Social Studies Teacher, Dedham High School

Medfield Digital Learning Day Presentations 2016 and 2019

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.