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E d Te ch S h o w D a i l y 4 9 M o n d a y, J u n e 2 7 , 2 0 1 6 TQ: Avalon School has worked closely with Project Foundry since its inception. As pioneers of project-based learning our model is simply not possible without the Project Foundry platform. We use Project Foundry to track student growth, manage graduation plans, and communicate with students, families and other institutions. At the heart of project-based learning is the idea that students are truly in charge of their own education. Project Foundry makes that a reality. ESD: How have your students grown using PBL and Project Foundry? TQ: Project-based learning is the curric- ular core of Avalon. With PBL, students literally design their own education as they brainstorm, design and execute independent, student-initiated projects. With guidance from advisors, PBL allows students to engage deeply in their study while learning independence and self-direction. Again, Project Foundry makes that possible. At Avalon, PBL has replaced con- ventionally-structured classes and grade levels. Our curriculum features individu- alized learning plans, student-initiated projects, small student-centered semi- nars, public presentations and multidisci- plinary senior thesis projects. Post- Secondary Enrollment Option enables Avalon students to pursue college cours- es and credit in local colleges and univer- sities. ESD: Can you share Avalon's insights into Deeper Learning? TQ: Students should graduate with 21st-century skills like perseverance, self-direction, planning, self-discipline, adaptability and initiative. Our job at Avalon is to empower students and per- sonalize learning. Students learn skills to mediate conflict, solve problems and create new rules through our Avalon Congress. With teacher support, stu- P ro ject Fo undry (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) dents determine their own curriculum and decide how to meet graduation standards through seminars or inde- pendent projects. Deeper learning requires that teachers know their stu- dents and connect them to relevant learning opportunities. ESD: What is teaching like at Avalon? TQ: Students are empowered to lead their education and accept responsibility for the Avalon community of learners. Teachers at Avalon are similarly empow- ered. There is no principal or director. Teachers operate as leaders and shared decision-makers. They accept greater accountability for school success. Teachers control the curriculum, budget, professional development and personnel decisions. It is in our hands to meet our academic and school goals. Our model of Deeper Leading contributes to powerful teacher retention. ESD: Avalon and Project Foundry have been nationally recognized for their suc- cess. Tell us about that. TQ: Avalon has been recognized in many books and articles. Check out "Deeper Learning: How Eight Innovative Public Schools Are Transforming Education in the Twenty-First Century" (www.monicarmartinez.com/books) or go to www.avalonschool.org/prospec- tive-students-families/awards-and-recog- nition. We are proud of what our students have to say about their transformation and ownership of their learning. ESD: Any closing thoughts? TQ: We continue to learn alongside Project Foundry and its partner schools. These partnerships have proven invalu- able as we work together to teach and learn best practices in project-based learning. For more information, visit www.project foundry.com or stop by booth #3438. and technology labs, Next Generation technology classrooms, collaborative work spaces and 1:1 technology. The district has contracted META Solutions, a non-profit organization of educators providing solutions to educa- tors, and its distributor, Virtual Technologies, a respected leader in the technology market for Kentucky schools, to provide innovative products and serv- ices to assist in the self-paced learning environment. Each classroom will be equipped with a 75" or larger interactive Journey LED board by QOMO technologies, offering unlimited options for students and teachers to collaborate from any location, at any time. All of the Journey panels contain interactive software solutions, including RMeasiteach™ Next Generation, Flow!Works annotation, Airplay and Ormi. In particular, Ormi software extends instructional content of all kinds in multi-device learning environments. Features include customizable content to engage students and meet blended learn- ing styles; the ability for constant com- Q O MO (C o nt'd. fro m p. 4 ) munication between teachers to students, one touch sharing with individuals, groups and participants, even from remote locations; and much more. "We feel like these products provide the best solution to our students. Teachers and students will use the boards and pro- grams in different ways to enhance the performance based education in our schools," said Roger Cook, Superintendent of Taylor County Schools. Roger Cook hopes his new school can be an example for new possi- bilities in education to improve perform- ance and learning. For more information on Taylor County Schools and performance-based education, visit /www.taylor.k12.ky.us. META Solutions, Virtual Technologies and QOMO stand out above the rest by providing a Total Classroom Solution. By offering a range of innovative products that integrate with one another, they present solutions that will turn your entire classroom into a truly interactive environment. For more information on these companies, visit www.metasolu- tions.net and www.qomosolutions.com. Learn more at booth #3928. Leverage Emerging Technologies: Item Types and Implementation Look for opportunities to leverage technological advancements in assess- ment, such as technology-enabled and technology-enhanced items. The idea of leveraging technology to support learning is attractive. Unfortunately, there's a lot of confusion over what readiness to support digital learning means, including an understanding of exactly what schools intend to support, particularly around using technolo- gy. Be sure your schools are ready to support emerging technologies and that you have a backup plan in case things go wrong – such as vendor options for robust item types that work online and on paper. Provide Value-Added Features and Functions: Accessories and Accommodations Sometimes, one enhancement to an assessment program can make a big dif- ference to the ease of implementation and effective, ongoing usage. For example, a strong online assessment employs smart algorithms that look for testing irregular- ities (such as a student simply selecting a, a, a, a) and notifies educators when stu- dent engagement levels may not be opti- Scantro n (C o nt'd. fro m p. 4 ) mal for the most accurate assessment of student performance. Simple features, such as controlling how passages and items display (split screen right/left versus the passage on top and item below) or the ability to digitally mask answer options to eliminate them, make a significant difference. In addition, consider whether you need a secure test client that restricts key- board functions and web browsing to ensure students are focusing on the test and are not using the computer for other purposes. In particular, adaptive tests should allow you to adjust each student's start- ing grade level for that subject's test (while retaining the student's designat- ed grade level) to more closely match his or her initial abilities. Meeting stu- dents where they are, rather than forc- ing them to a particular starting line, saves time, reduces frustration and increases engagement – and ultimately success. For more details and access to our framework and checklists to support your next-generation assessment journey, visit www.scantron.com/nga-framework. For more information, visit www .scantron.com, call 858.349.9488, email bonni.graham@scantron.com or stop by booth #2900. Currently there are many choices for 3D printers, costing between $500 to $3,000, that range from wooden, un- assembled DIY kits meant for the hobby- ist to a multitude of mass produced, "Plug-n-Play" varieties. Many of these printers claim to be 'classroom-ready' but many teachers are getting the feeling that this may not be the case. Marcos Arias, Founder of the highly prestigious Oakwood School STEAM Department in North Hollywood, California, has tested numerous 3D print- ers in his career, finally choosing the UP Family of 3D Printers designed and man- ufactured by Tiertime Corporation, based in Garden Grove, California, to roll-out across his entire program. Many of the 3D printers that Marcos had originally tested did not meet his standard for his classroom environment. "More than a few recent models that I tested were impossible to calibrate and rarely were able to print when I needed them to. 'Classroom friendly,'" says Marcos, "seems to be a somewhat subjec- tive term when it comes to 3D printers!" "For my classrooms, a 3D printer has to firstly, be reliable and capable of consistently producing a high-quality 3D part without fail, and print it in a variety of materials including industrial strength ABS as well as standard PLA." The UP mini 2, Tiertime's newest printer, fulfills these needs and more by adding new features such as Wi-Fi con- nectivity, color LCD touch-screen con- trols, a full noise and fume enclosure, HEPA air-filtration and an innovative, new filament management system. 3 D P rinter (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) Striving to constantly improve its products and to respond to user feedback, Tiertime plans, in the coming months, to add new features the entire UP 3D Family, including the large-format UP BOX and workhorse UP Plus 2. Tiertime has been innovating for over a decade, starting with its INSPIRE brand of industrial, rapid prototyping equipment. In 2010, Tiertime introduced the groundbreaking UP Plus Desktop 3D Printer to the world when no other Plug- n-Play, 3D printing products even existed. "Many of the founders of what are today's major 3D printer brands used the UP Plus to design their first products," says Brian Quan, Managing Director of Tiertime Corporation. "That is both iron- ic and speaks a lot about how much UP was ahead-of-the curve." Quan says that "ahead" is where Tiertime plans to remain. "We are honored to have the Oakwood School as an exciting part of Tiertime's educational initiative and we look forward to continuing to work with them to continue to develop their ground- breaking STEAM program," says Quan. UP has won high praise and a multi- tude of awards from such influential pub- lications as MAKE Magazine and 3D Hubs. In 2016, UP was named Best for Education in MAKE's annual 3D Printer Guide. UP is currently rated No. 1 in 3D Hubs highly respected 'Plug-n-Play' cat- egory of the 3D Hubs Printer Index, scor- ing a category leading 9.2 out of 10. For more information, stop by booth #1860 or go to www.up3d.com.