EIU Rural School Initiative

Past Professional Development

Spring 2021

Place-Based Symposium (virtually) - April 23, 2021
Teton Science Schools' Place-Based Symposium

Teton Science Schools’ annual Place-Based Symposium is designed to celebrate the place-based work happening across the organization, bringing together our faculty, staff, AmeriCorps, students and regional community members to share and discuss best practices in local learning and global citizenship.

Using Simulations and VR - April 22, 2021 
(click here for the slides during the Using Simulations and VR session)
We've stepped into the VR world with remote teaching, but there's so much more. The use of XR (virtual, augmented, or mixed reality) along with simulation models rank among the fastest growing trends in EdTech. It allows students to be immersed into instructional scenarios. The learner is placed in a "world" defined by the teacher. A world which is safe, accessible, and affordable. The military and medical communities have long used simulations. Current technology makes XR (Extended Reality) available to every teacher.

(Recorded Session; pswd: Passcode: +45ZG@Ri


Culturally Responsive Teaching Standards Workshop - April 20, 2021
This presentation highlighted the key components of the newly adopted Culturally Responsive Teaching Standards and prepared educators to teach in diverse classrooms. Participants will understand cultural and community diversity and learn how to incorporate students’ experiences, cultures, and community resources into their instruction. The presenter will be Dr Amy Davis (addavis7@eiu.edu). 

Coding in the Classroom - Mar 25, 2021 
Coding isn't just for "techies," it teaches students how to be digital creators, to share their ideas, and creativity. Students engage in problem-solving and computational thinking which are integral to all academic and professional disciplines. Coding teaches students in how technology works. It involves logic, problem-solving, backwards planning, and other thinking skills. Coding can begin as young as 5 years old. Child development experts point to learning a new language where the prime age to acquire fluency is ages 2 to 7. The brain builds on the vocabulary and syntax to synthesizing into creative expression. Besides being fun, coding is a base for many careers in business and industry.
(Recorded Session; pswd: gw2^gMAZ)

Ed-Tech Round Table - March 18, 2021
The Rural School Initiative hosted a discussion on Thursday, March 18th. The purpose was to discuss programs and Ed-Tech issues impacting P-16 Education. We shared a regional Tech Survey, but primarily want to explore common issues, share working solutions, and consider opportunities for collaboration.

We invited university faculty, administrators, P-12 curriculum leaders, and technology directors/teachers. The online discussion lasted about an hour. Please click the link to receive follow-up information. You can choose to just stay on the contact list as well.

Accessibility & Assistive Tools - presented Feb 25, 2021
(Click here for the slides from the Accessibility & Assistive Tools session.)

Educators believe students with vision, hearing, physical, communication, and learning challenges have the same potential to learn as anyone else. Listening, reading, note-taking, spelling, organizing, reading, and mathematical constructions all require mechanical skills that can be assisted by technology. Laptops and tablets have become ubiquitous for both in-person and remote instruction. The installed system OS has features that just need to be enabled to use, as well as the availability of simple extensions, apps, and add-ons available for easy installation. Allow your students to focus on understanding not struggling to access content. 

Poverty Alleviation Workshop: Moving from Relief to Development - presented January 28, 2021
Bill Duey, the executive director of Fit2Serve (Mattoon), spoke on understanding poverty and how we can address the impacts of poverty in rural schools. 
(Recorded Session; pswd: 00M64?^#)

Screencasting - presented January 26, 2021 
(Click here for for slides from the Screen Casting session.) 
The slides have links to some how-to resources and there is a link to the full recorded hour session)

Screencasting is the process of recording and sharing a computer screen, usually accompanied with audio. Free screencasting tools allow teachers to reach students through engaging videos familiar to them while maintaining control over the content. Make short how-to demonstrations for a flipped class or for later review. Give personalized feedback to students or sharing with parents. ScreenCasting has been one of the fastest growing classroom applications behind virtual meetings. Screen sharing software accounted for 50% of the global demand for new technology in 2019 according to Ben Davis, senior education market analyst at Future source Consulting.

Participants tried Screencastify and Loom extensions for Chrome to create their own recording. Those joining previously created their own accounts by signing up at https://www.screencastify.com/ and https://www.loom.com/