Summer 2022 - TCC Series 6.0
Approaches, resources and tools for teaching and learning in K-16+ classrooms.
Educators will learn new ways to use engaging and relevant methods and technologies in these free sessions.
Approaches, resources and tools for teaching and learning in K-16+ classrooms.
Educators will learn new ways to use engaging and relevant methods and technologies in these free sessions.
What magical qualities made these fantasy novels about a British schoolboy appeal so deeply to our American students? This session will examine recent generations of readers and the effect these novels had on their reading habits. We will explore how Harry Potter created a new kind of reader--engaged, passionate, and challenging.
Dr. Cecilia Konchar Farr is Professor of English and Dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts at West Liberty University. Her teaching and writing center around popular literature and the history of the novel with publications including a recent essay collection, Open at the Close: Literary Essays on Harry Potter. Her magical adventures include being Headmistress of the Gryffindor Tower Learning Community in a residence hall at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota (where she started teaching the Harry Potter novels in 2010) and a three-week study abroad course in the UK, “Harry Potter in Contexts.”
In this session we will pay attention to the literary qualities of the Harry Potter books. What qualities make them so successful? How do these qualities map onto what we want to teach students to look for in Good Books?
Dr. Cecilia Konchar Farr is Professor of English and Dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts at West Liberty University. Her teaching and writing center around popular literature and the history of the novel with publications including a recent essay collection, Open at the Close: Literary Essays on Harry Potter. Her magical adventures include being Headmistress of the Gryffindor Tower Learning Community in a residence hall at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota (where she started teaching the Harry Potter novels in 2010) and a three-week study abroad course in the UK, “Harry Potter in Contexts.”
This session will explore how using Ozobots new augmented reality feature allows students to have quick and easy access to technology to tell their stories creatively and virtually. Ozobots are a great tech tool for students in K-8 that allow for virtual and hands-on learning.
Ms. Sarah Durzo is the Coordinator for Innovation and Design for Intermediate Unit 1, a regional educational agency serving Fayette, Greene and Washington counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Creating engaging videos does not require expensive cameras or high end editing software. Most of today’s consumer technology, such as smartphones and tablets, offer the accessibility of high-end features with the technology that you already have. This session will focus on best practices for creating videos, highlight affordable options for accessories to increase your production value, and go over some of the basic processes for assembling interesting and engaging video content to help your students get the most out of your presentations.
Mr. Jared Thompson is the Creative Video Director at West Liberty University. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film from Vermont College of Fine Arts, a Masters of Art in Education Technology from West Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Design from West Liberty University.
Drones are becoming increasingly popular tools for education, creative projects, and many career paths. This session will cover the rules for drone usage as an educational tool, ways to build your own drones as STEM projects, usage in cross curriculum education, and the potential careers that await your students.
Mr. PJ Denard is a 2022 Summa Cum Laude Graduate of West Liberty University with a major in Digital Media Design and minor in Photography and Visual Communication Design. He is an FAA Part 107 Certified Small Unmanned Aircraft Pilot that operates both line-of-sight and first-person-view drones, as well as a digital photographer, videographer, and graphic designer. Currently, he works as a Contracted Media Specialist and is pursuing a career involving digital imaging, remote aircraft, and aerial content creation."
Mr. Jared Thompson is the Creative Video Director at West Liberty University. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film from Vermont College of Fine Arts, a Masters of Art in Education Technology from West Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Design from West Liberty University.
Outdoor Learning Spaces play a major role in improving students’ mental health, academic performance, and social skills. This session will go into detail on how important outdoor learning spaces were before, during, and are now, after the pandemic. Information on important initiatives (e.g. National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative), as well as local (e.g. Sensory Playground Project/ WLU) and international (e.g. Forest Kindergarten/ Germany) practical examples that can be a helpful inspiration for educators will be shared.
Dr. Miriam Roth Douglas is the Coordinating Director of the Community Education Program and Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education and Human Performance at West Liberty University. She graduated from Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg/ Germany with a B.A. & M.A. in Elementary Education, majoring in Art Education. She earned her M.A. in Foreign Languages and her Ph.D. in Education from West Virginia University.
How do you get students interested in math? It's a subject that can cause a lot of headaches for children and adults alike. In this session, you will learn about different instructional strategies, impactful lesson plans, and classroom management tools to utilize in an elementary math classroom.
Mrs. Gabrielle Burriss is a fifth grade math and science teacher for Ohio County Schools. She was recently named the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce 2021-2022 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She is also an adjunct instructor in the College of Education and Human Performance at West Liberty University. Mrs. Burriss is currently attending Northcentral University to get her doctorate in Trauma-Informed Education Practices.
In 2020-2022 many students, faculty, and employees experienced horrific historic events, such as the novel Covid-19 as well as the tug of war regarding Critical Race Theory, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the #BlackLivesMatter protests, and the intersection with curriculum in K-12. In response, many educators in both K-12 and higher education are turning to literature to address concerns through an experiential learning approach to serve as a segue into discussing uncomfortable conversations that cannot be avoided. Dr. Akassi has dealt with such dilemmas from both an educator and administrative position and has addressed questions such as “can we avoid talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion; why do we need diversity, equity and inclusion in education; and/or what are some of the best high impact practices to address diversity, equity and inclusion in the classrooms? During this session, she will share how to customize, strategize, and implement tough conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion into participants’ customized lesson plans through a mentorship approach. She will also share her findings from courses she has taught using a DEI pedagogical framework regarding her challenges, successes, and points of revision for cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations in the classrooms and beyond.
Dr. Monique L. Akassi is the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives at West Liberty University. With over a decade of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, academic affairs, and student affairs, she is also an author, editor, researcher, and curriculum designer. Climbing up the traditional academic affairs rank from adjunct instructor, lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, to full professor tenured, she has authored and/or edited over 23 publications. Dr. Akassi has earned Post Doctorate Certificates in Management Development & Women in Education Leadership from Harvard University; a B.A in English & Comparative Literature from the University of Cincinnati; an M.A in English Composition & Rhetoric from Wright State University; & a Ph.D. in English Composition & Rhetoric with minors in Literary Criticism Theory & African American Literature from Morgan State University.
Integrate social studies and physical education, celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts, and infuse play into your classroom by teaching games from around the world. In this session, explore some international games that can be easily integrated into your classroom.
Mrs. Kathleen Wack, recognized as a National Healthy School Hero from the Action for Healthy Kids Foundation, has taught health and physical education in the College of Education and Human Performance at West Liberty University since 2011. She has also worked as a K-12 district administrator, teacher, and coach.
Mrs. Patricia Rollins has taught elementary health and physical education for 20 years, and was named the Massachusetts Physical Education Teacher of the Year in 2018. She currently teaches at Lincoln Street School in Northborough, MA.
Teachers have used the book, Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction, to help K-12 students enlarge their vocabulary and get involved in noticing, understanding, and using new words. Backed by research, we will dig into the concepts mentioned in the book and best practice ways to implement vocabulary across all subject areas.
Mrs. Davidson is a 3rd-grade teacher at Rowlett Academy of the Arts and Communication in Bradenton, FL. She has been integrating the arts into curriculums at the school for eight years, has served on multiple curriculum committees, and was the department chair.
We see issues in the classroom that require mitigation and the Multi-Tiered System of Supports is our framework to resolve those issues. Rather than quickly escalating a student to Tier II or Tier III Supports, we can use differentiated instruction as a proactive approach to provide scaffolds and access to the content for all learners.
Mr. Croasmun is Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Pleasants County Schools in St. Marys, WV and an adjunct instructor of Educational Theory at WVU-Parkersburg.
Participants in this session will learn 5 strategies that every teacher can use to help improve not only their morale but also uplift and inspire their colleagues. This will be an interactive discussion with activities for those in attendance and an opportunity to share their ideas on the topic.
Dr. Zac Shutler is the Principal of Union Local High School in the Union Local School District in Belmont County, Ohio. He previously served as an administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and as a district superintendent. He received his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Findlay.
Mr. Jamal Crook started his career as a ninth-grade biology teacher and assistant football coach then transitioned to leading an AVID program before navigating his way to Administration. He is currently an Assistant Principal at Hill Middle School in Tampa, FL. He is also co-host of the educational podcast, Crucial Conversations with Don Wettrick. Mr. Crook strives to champion equity for all and creates systems in which the whole child's needs are met.
Strong reading skills are important for success in content area classrooms, but it can be intimidating to incorporate reading into the curriculum on top of covering all of the material required in a course. In this session, a variety of evidence-based strategies will be shared that can be incorporated into what you are already doing in the classroom to help foster both reading and content skills.
Ms. Anna Malone is a Remedial Specialist at Washington Irving Middle School, Harrison County Schools, in Clarksburg, WV. She received her M.A.Ed. as a Reading Specialist from West Liberty University in May 2021.
When you combine community with a passion for service, you get a ComPassion Project. Elementary students have an innate desire to help others. As teachers, we can foster that desire and connect our students with their community. Learn about projects completed at Steenrod Elementary School and get inspired to bring a ComPassion Project to your classroom.
Mrs. Michelle Dietrich is the Principal of Steenrod Elementary School, Ohio County Schools, in Wheeling, WV. A school administrator since 2014, she previously was an elementary teacher. She received her BA from Bethany College and her MA from Wheeling Jesuit University.
In this session we will discuss how to bring relevant and real-world topics into your classroom in a way your students will not only understand but enjoy. Ana Klemm will discuss how she teaches about popular topics like social media and computer usage that engages her students but teaches them valuable information they will need in a digital age. Zak Klemm will discuss how he incorporates interests of students within his core content lessons to allow for real world relevant connections for his students. Both presenters will emphasize using technology in the classroom not as a gimmick, but as a necessary skill they will need in an increasingly digital world.
Mrs. Ana Klemm is a computer science teacher at Sherrard Middle School in Marshall County, West Virginia. She also has experience across almost every grade level working with various STEM areas but found her passion in teaching computer coding. She now teaches several computer courses including Digital Citizenship, two PLTW courses (Computer Science for Innovators and Makers and App Creators), and a Coding in Minecraft course.
Mr. Zak Klemm is a 7th Grade Science Teacher and Coach at Sherrard Middle School in Marshall County, WV. He is also a graduate student at West Liberty University pursuing a degree in Innovative Instruction. He previously spent six years in Ohio County Schools as a coach, teacher and academic coach.
Learn how to combine elements of personal story, theater, and visual art (and other creative art forms) to inspire your students to discover their voice in your next writing project! Based on a recent performance of monologues, scenes, and songs created by young artists at Hope Academy of Music and the Arts in Pittsburgh, this inspiration and personal story-driven writing and theatre project can be adapted for a variety of ages and classroom scenarios. Because learning how to create a personal narrative gives us a way to shape a sense of who we are, and so much of happiness might just depend on what kind of story you’re telling about yourself.
Ms. Meredith Hoppe is a Theatre Maker, Director and Teaching Artist specializing in Applied Theatre, Puppetry, Theatre for Young Audiences and Art Activism and has taught workshops, coached educators, and administered programs and performances for young people for over 15 years in many places including Florida, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Copenhagen. She has been an active member of the arts, non-profit, and out-of-school time community in Pittsburgh since 2010. Most recently, Ms. Hoppe served as the Theatre Ensemble Director and Special Projects Coordinator at Hope Academy of Music and the Arts. She is also a rostered teaching artist for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and City Theatre Company. Ms. Hoppe has taught theatre and education courses at Point Park University and West Liberty University as well as workshops at the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham University.
Ms. Linda Addlespurger has been the program director of Hope Academy of Music and the Arts, East Liberty Presbyterian Church’s after school and Saturday arts education outreach program, since 2002. Under her leadership, the program has grown to serve over 400 students and their families a year, providing them a safe, affirming environment to study music, dance and theater. Her passion for the arts as a vehicle to create a more compassionate, just and vibrant community has informed Hope Academy’s diversity and equity initiatives. Addlespurger graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English and Psychology and worked in New York as a writer and editor (Glamour) and production coordinator (Saturday Night Live), as well as freelance work in television and film production..
Breathe life into your next poetry unit through fun, interactive theatre techniques that combine poetry and creative writing grounded in personal story, shadow puppets, and acting. It sounds like a lot, but this exciting combination is easily accessible and will keep elementary students excited and challenge them to express themselves. They are sure to become more deeply connected to the poetry they are studying in new and creative ways!
Ms. Meredith Hoppe is a Theatre Maker, Director and Teaching Artist specializing in Applied Theatre, Puppetry, Theatre for Young Audiences and Art Activism and has taught workshops, coached educators, and administered programs and performances for young people for over 15 years in many places including Florida, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Copenhagen. She has been an active member of the arts, non-profit, and out-of-school time community in Pittsburgh since 2010. Most recently, Ms. Hoppe served as the Theatre Ensemble Director and Special Projects Coordinator at Hope Academy of Music and the Arts. She is also a rostered teaching artist for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and City Theatre Company. Ms. Hoppe has taught theatre and education courses at Point Park University and West Liberty University as well as workshops at the University of Pittsburgh and Chatham University.
Ms. Linda Addlespurger has been the program director of Hope Academy of Music and the Arts, East Liberty Presbyterian Church’s after school and Saturday arts education outreach program, since 2002. Under her leadership, the program has grown to serve over 400 students and their families a year, providing them a safe, affirming environment to study music, dance and theater. Her passion for the arts as a vehicle to create a more compassionate, just and vibrant community has informed Hope Academy’s diversity and equity initiatives. Addlespurger graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English and Psychology and worked in New York as a writer and editor (Glamour) and production coordinator (Saturday Night Live), as well as freelance work in television and film production..
This session will provide an introduction to several cutting edge data mapping tools that can be used by students to not only understand big data systems, but to also notice and wonder about how their data is being used and how data is being used to represent them.
Mr. Ryan Hoffman is the Data Visualization Project Manager with the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University.
Mr. Paul Dille, Senior Research Developer with the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University.
Finding ways to raise funds to support educational activities and classroom needs can be challenging for teachers. Join us for this session to learn about ideas, opportunities, and strategies to help you plan for the upcoming school year and beyond.
Has it ever seemed that even the most engaging lesson breaks down when you introduce reading and writing tasks? If so, you’re not alone, as many students struggle with even grade-level text. In many classrooms, this breakdown has caused all sorts of “fixes,” from listening to books being read to watching movie versions of books. While these strategies may help students stay on pace to discuss material and participate in class, they do little to help students cope with reading complex text, much less writing about it. This session will explore how to use “making” and art to help engage students in text, as well as strategies for annotating, note-taking, writing, and interpreting above-grade-level text to empower students.
Ms. Debbie Coppula is the Professional Development Specialist at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining the Museum staff in January 2022, she was an Instructional Coach and Professional Learning Director. Previously, she taught middle school at a science magnet for ten years in Washington, DC. Ms. Coppula is passionate about creating learning opportunities that inspire curiosity, creativity and joy. The biggest influences on her teaching have been Universal Design for Learning, culturally responsive instruction, and the time she has spent in museums around the world, especially those at the Smithsonian.
Stop Motion Animation can used in an elementary classroom to teach concepts in a fun and engaging way. It is also a tool that gives children a creative way to demonstrate what they know and what they’ve learned. This session will focus on free and low cost Stop Motion Animation tools that are available for both student and teacher use in the classroom. Examples of a wide variety of activities and projects will be shared. Participants are invited to bring their examples and ideas to share with us.
Mr. Bennett McKinley is an elementary teacher with Ohio County Schools and a native to Wheeling with a penchant for science and technology.
POSTPONED to FALL 2022
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have challenges related to social interactions, behavior, emotional understanding and emotion regulation. This session will explore typical traits of ASD and social and emotional interventions for children with ASD in the P-12 educational setting.
Dr. Hilary Bougher-Muckian is Assistant Professor of Preschool Special Needs Education in the College of Education and Human Performance at West Liberty University.
This session introduces the ideas of transactional analysis and explores how this framework can assist in understanding how and why individuals behave and communicate with others. This framework will help improve how we handle and understand the behavior of others and respond with constructive communication.
Dr. Nicole Ennis is the Interim Dean of the College of Education and Human Performance at West Liberty University.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore how the implementation of Genius Hour in the classroom sparks innovation and critical thinking skills. This integrated instructional approach to learning will be discussed and demonstrated in this session.
Dr. Angela Curfman is Assistant Professor of Education in the College of Education and Human Performance at West Liberty University. She received her Doctorate of Education from West Virginia University. She has over twenty years experience in elementary education and higher education.
Join us for an engaging and interactive journey into the Metaverse for educational environments. The Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University has explored various realities (virtual, augmented, and mixed) for over 20 years. Co-founded by VR pioneer Randy Pausch, the department continues to create freely available projects and platforms designed to educate, engage and inspire. With the Metaverse looming, learn what hardware and software is ready to go into classrooms and what is on the way. We will explore authoring tools created at Carnegie Mellon University spanning various age and skill levels.
DMr. John Balash is the Director of Educational Engagement at the Entertainment Technology Center, a graduate department of Carnegie Mellon University and his Alma Mater. His work has led to the creation of numerous student and teacher initiatives incorporating experiences exploring the creative chaos of design and development, whether it be for hardware, software, or location based interactions. Beyond establishing in and out of school experiences, he focuses on the design and deployment of award winning transformational technology innovations created at the ETC. Mr. Balash has nearly a decade’s experience in the classroom and has presented on the national and international stage on topics related to educational technology.
Math has a bad reputation; many educators and students dismiss their potential by proclaiming, “I’m not a math person.” This session will debunk that myth by exploring ways to build mathematical confidence and competence through the infusion of creativity, curiosity, and play into K-8 mathematics classrooms. This session will define the essential skills and dispositions of a mathematical mindset, explore instructional routines that foster meaningful and engaging math instruction and curate tools (physical and virtual) for hands-on and game-based learning.
Mrs. Mandi Figlioli is a children’s author and PK-12 Curriculum Specialist. She enjoyed ten years as an elementary educator before pursuing a career in administration. She served as the Assistant to the Superintendent of the Burgettstown Area School District for seven years, leading the district’s charge to remake learning. In 2021, she joined the Bethel Park School District as the Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction for K-12 STEAM. Mandi aspires to reimagine public education and empower students as co-designers in their learning journey. She advocates for creativity, curiosity, and risk taking for ALL members of learning communities.
This session will examine why tactile and multi sensory activities and instructional approaches are important to all learning styles. Examples of ways to create tactile/multi sensory activities from prescribed worksheets focused on curriculum concepts that you use in your classroom will be shared.
Mrs. Lisa McGee is currently pursuing her masters degree as a reading specialist and is a Graduate Assistant in the Arts and Education Center at West Liberty University. She is certified as an Early Interventionist in West Virginia. Mrs. McGee is a substitute teacher for Ohio County Schools. As an Air Force Veteran, she has discovered the value in specific uniqueness in all those she works with.
During this session, we will be discussing how DOK is different, understanding DOK's relationship with standards and assessment, and acquiring strategies for helping students engage with DOK on a deeper level.
Mr. Croasmun is Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Pleasants County Schools in St. Marys, WV and an adjunct instructor of Educational Theory at WVU-Parkersburg.
Mrs. Davidson is a 3rd-grade teacher at Rowlett Academy of the Arts and Communication in Bradenton, FL. She has been integrating the arts into curriculums at the school for eight years, has served on multiple curriculum committees, and was the department chair.
Cardboard is one of the most versatile materials to have readily available in your classroom. This session will focus on project ideas, design and construction techniques, and suggestions for materials and tools for student use. Examples of a wide variety of activities and projects will be shared. Participants are invited to bring their examples and ideas to share with us.
Ms. Lou Karas is the Director of the Center for Arts and Education in the College of Education and Human Performance at West Liberty University. She has extensive experience in the administration, design, evaluation and implementation of arts and education programs for children, adults and families in community and school settings.
We'll be chatting about picture books, early readers and graphic novels for Pre-K through 2nd grade with children's bookstore owner, Adriene Rister. She’ll share with us examples of new and upcoming releases and as well as an update on what's happening in the publishing community.
Mrs. Adrien Rister is the owner of Spark Books, an independent bookstore focusing on young readers, in Aspinwall, PA. A former nurse and public health professional, she opened the business in late October 2018.