NxtGen Learning Lab
(a.k.a. Alligator Wrestling)
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Normally, it takes an entire IT department or dedicated staff member to setup, configure, maintain, upgrade, update, and deploy a server to help run a Learning Management System--in 2012 out of desperation I attended the fantastic nxtGEN summer workshops offered by the Illinois Institute of Technology's School of Applied Technology for high school(!) students, which I had announced to my students and realized I needed to go! That begin a serendipitous journey where I formed a friendship and partnership with Professor Jeremy Hajek, Professor Louis McHugh, and a few other great staff members where we have offered now nxtGEN workshops for teachers in CPS and across Chicagoland, and we also run 3 production pilot Moodle servers at www.ActiveLearning.info , www.LearningCentral.info , and www.PhysicsCentral.info serving teachers not only here in the Midwest, but also out in Colorado, Massachusetts, Newfoundland, and British Columbia as well !
Deploying a new server can feel like wrestling with an alligator at times--sometimes you get bitten bad, but eventually you come out on top (or so I've been told)!
Ultimately, having our own pilot production servers has enabled rapid prototyping and agile development in a unique R&D situation--normally, changes in a system would be implemented at a much slower pace, but since we have a tight feedback loop between teachers, developers, and the systems administrator, we are able to quickly change configuration systems, deploy new plugins, and constantly improve our platform! What doesn't kill you truly makes you come out stronger!!! :)
Jim Kieken, Deputy Director at Illinois Fire Institute--my eLearning hero! Jim is literally saving lives by leveraging Moodle to reduce costs and deliver effective paramedic and firefighter training. First met Jim at WiMoodleMoot12, picture is at SLATE 2013 Midwest Moodle Moot.
Bill Kane, Science Teacher extraordinaire from Lockport Township at NxtGen Workshop--amazing teacher to work with and is now serving as Lockport's Moodle admin! Here Bill is sharing with me his own "Golden Honey", which he harvested from his own bees--a many of many talents!
Lockport Township teacher's presenting at NSTA 2015 @ McCormick Place, Chicago. It was fun to see how they have leveraged Moodle to promote flipped, mastery learning in their District to effectively blend, differentiate, and support students who work at different paces but can all work towards mastery of each unit's objectives! Super proud of seeing what these guys have done!
Swung by a classroom one day to help out a fellow colleague, and saw their bulletin board....
Loved how the technology we have implemented is integrated into the classroom environment to support and enhance student learning--especially for a freshman science class where students are still getting used to the high school environment!
Often after a hands-on laboratory activity, we will have a low-stakes, formative assessment "lab quiz" to help connect the tactile experiences of the science laboratory to the concepts and ideas of each objective with instant feedback, dynamic questioning, and encouraging making mistakes in order to uncover common misconceptions and help our students construct knowledge, meaning, and understanding--innovation@work!!!
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