Feedback Foundations

Andrew Mowat

You will find four key aspects of this course: 

1. How-to videos that give you an introduction to the tool and prompts for exploring the different features. 

2. Application and practice with using padlet, by the time you are done with this course you'll feel confident about using it with your students or professional learning sessions. 

3. A variety of ideas for integration, we'll explore examples and resources that will inspire you as you think about how you might use it. 

4. Create your own plan for using padlet! 

Padlet for Education

Jen Bloomingdale

Imagination is a capacity we expect of leaders and leadership.  It is often called to action to support growth and transformation (Judson, 2020). However, there is limited understanding about how imagination contributes to leadership, and virtually no theoretical or practical support for actually engaging and growing leadership imagination (Judson, 2021). This course shows leaders how they may use tools of imagination, or cognitive tools, to create imagination-rich schools and to cultivate their own imagination and the imaginations of those they serve.  

Participants will develop theoretical understanding of what imagination is and how it contributes to key aspects of educational leadership. They will employ cognitive tools of imagination in practice to support their leadership work and to advance the creation of imagination-rich school communities. They will gain skills in employing cognitive tools to engage their imaginations and the imaginations of those they serve.

Judson, G. (2020). Conceptualizing imagination in the context of school leadership. International Journal of Leadership in Education. 

Judson, G. (2021). Cultivating leadership imagination with cognitive tools: An imagination-focused approach to leadership education. Journal of Research on Leadership Education. 

Cultivating Leadership Imagination With Cognitive Tools

Gillian Judson

All projects are not created equal. What exactly is project based learning and why should teachers consider bringing it into their classroom? This short intro course will shine some light on project based learning by sharing classroom examples on how it can impact learning. If this intro course gets your mind racing, you should explore the full course with a Pro account. 

An Intro to Project Based Learning

Nicholas Provenzano

Cultures of innovation begin with a culture of empathy. How do you create these cultures? How do you sustain them? How do you help people to develop the mindset and skill set to thrive within them?

In this course we'll examine how design thinking practices can be used to answer these very questions. 

As a team you'll identify a goal to work on and use the template provided to guide your through the process from A-Z using a template that is provided to you.

The timing depends on the team and can be completed in as soon as 5 days. 

On completion of the course, you'll gain the clarity and confidence to advocate for why design thinking, facilitate a design thinking experience, and to use the strategies to address future challenges and opportunities. 

In this module we'll examine why and how design thinking strategies allow us to tackle complex challenges. We'll review research from a 2-year study with educators at Design39 Campus in San Diego, CA who asked, "How might we change the way we do school." You'll learn the promising praactices that emerged from this study about how design thinking can be used to challenge the traditional structures that prevent true change from scaling. 

In this module, you'll examine and practice strategies that build team psychological safety and trust. This is an essential pre-requisite for successful collaboration. As a team you'll share your goals and identify one to work on in this design challenge. 

Session 3: Identifying and Defining Your Challenge

In this module you'll refine your goal and lead empathy interviews to gain deeper insights. You'll share these back with your team and confirm that you have identified the right goal to be working on.

In this module you'll use what you learned from your empathy interviews to design a solution and create a 1-week, 1-month, and 1-year action plan to implement.

In this module, you'll test your solution with a small group to refine any areas that were not identified earlier. You'll take this feedback, update your action plan, and you are ready to implement!

Designing Schools

Sabba Quidwai

This is our welcoming committee and EduSpark orientation - a great place to start your learning journey.

Welcome Committee

Victoria Thompson

In this program, educators will obtain ideas for using Google Slides to facilitate emergent literacy experiences while exposing children to Google login procedures. They will also understand how Littles can create and explore within Google Slides and Google Sheets. We cover topics such as defining technology with littles, organizing your devices, supporting young learners with login, providing connected hands-on experiences to complement tech integration, setting up Google Classroom, and assigning activities (that we give you!).
This program is designed for educators who work with early elementary school aged students (ages 4-7) who have access to Google for Education on computer devices. We provide resources that you can use directly your classes. Technology coaches/specialists who support teachers in integrating technology can benefit from this program as well. If you have another position not mentioned and are curious if this program is for you, please contact us and we can let you know!

Program Organization
This program has a total of 7 phases in addition to the intro and final phases. We understand that educators who are directly in the field with young learners are engaging in this program. We have very intentionally paced out the length of each phase to give you enough time to learn, plan, and implement directly with your students. At this time, we are anticipating this program will take about 20 weeks, roughly 5 months. (This is a self-paced program and the duration will vary upon each individual.) Along the way, we will be providing feedback with the documentation pieces you submit. While the nature of this course is asynchronous, should you ever need to meet with us please contact us and we will arrange a time to meet. 

A Meaningful Start to Tech Integration for Littles

Jessica LaBar-Twomey

Christine Pinto

Problem Solving by Design for Every Classroom: There is a perception that today's students lack foundational problem solving and critical thinking skills. Those skills are present, only needing the right environment in which to be promoted and sharpened. This course will take you out of 'comfort zones' and into developing your classroom leadership through problem solving by design.

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