MRVED Business
Upcoming Meetings
January 27, 2016 Superintendents' Council
February 3, 2016 MRVED Board (7 p.m.)
February 5, 2016 Title III Teachers
February 17, 2016 Community Ed
February 19, 2016 Principals' Council (11:30 a.m. start)
February 22, 2016 Science Best Practices
February 23, 2016 Teachers' Advisory Council (TAC)
February 24, 2016 Superintendents' Council
Friday, January 22, 2016
MELT Recap
MELT Recap
MELT 2016 has come and gone. The weather cooperated and it was not as cold as they had thought it was going to be! Lac qui Parle Valley was bustling with over 570 teachers attending over 100 sessions throughout the day. Our hope is that you walked away with something that makes you a better teacher.
This day is a culmination of many months of work and could not be possible without the help of everyone. Lac qui Parle Valley once again was an excellent host. The janitorial staff had everything in order, the breakfast and lunch was fantastic, LQPV staff and administration did everything they could to make the day as comfortable and easy for all attendees.
Finally, the day would not run as smoothly as it does without the help of Mary Brown. Mary is the glue that holds the day together. She coordinates so many things for this day, one cannot begin to mention all she does. The next time you see her, be sure to give her a big pat on the back!
If you have not filled out the evaluation yet, please do so as soon as you can. We use the data from the evaluation to plan for future professional development. We take the evaluation process very seriously and make adjustments based on feedback. Please take the time to provide us with this valuable information.
Evaluation Link
Be sure and check out the MRVED website (mrved.com) as there are a number of photo galleries from the day.
NOTE: This is Mary Brown. Brandon gives me way too much credit. He starts the process of finding presenters right away in the fall, taking into account licensure needs, hot topics in the education field, and what teachers are looking for based on the prior year's evaluations. It requires hundreds of emails and phone calls trying to coordinate it all and then to lay out the schedule for the day. It is a huge undertaking and he does an amazing job. So kudos to him also. Lastly I would be remiss if I didn't also thank Karen Jacobson for her steadfast confidence in our ability to organize the MELT. She gives us free reign and support throughout the process. We make a great team.
MELT 2016 has come and gone. The weather cooperated and it was not as cold as they had thought it was going to be! Lac qui Parle Valley was bustling with over 570 teachers attending over 100 sessions throughout the day. Our hope is that you walked away with something that makes you a better teacher.
This day is a culmination of many months of work and could not be possible without the help of everyone. Lac qui Parle Valley once again was an excellent host. The janitorial staff had everything in order, the breakfast and lunch was fantastic, LQPV staff and administration did everything they could to make the day as comfortable and easy for all attendees.Finally, the day would not run as smoothly as it does without the help of Mary Brown. Mary is the glue that holds the day together. She coordinates so many things for this day, one cannot begin to mention all she does. The next time you see her, be sure to give her a big pat on the back!
If you have not filled out the evaluation yet, please do so as soon as you can. We use the data from the evaluation to plan for future professional development. We take the evaluation process very seriously and make adjustments based on feedback. Please take the time to provide us with this valuable information.
Evaluation Link
Be sure and check out the MRVED website (mrved.com) as there are a number of photo galleries from the day.
NOTE: This is Mary Brown. Brandon gives me way too much credit. He starts the process of finding presenters right away in the fall, taking into account licensure needs, hot topics in the education field, and what teachers are looking for based on the prior year's evaluations. It requires hundreds of emails and phone calls trying to coordinate it all and then to lay out the schedule for the day. It is a huge undertaking and he does an amazing job. So kudos to him also. Lastly I would be remiss if I didn't also thank Karen Jacobson for her steadfast confidence in our ability to organize the MELT. She gives us free reign and support throughout the process. We make a great team.
Star Wars and Professional Development
Lessons on Professional Learning from Star Wars
If you are a Star Wars fan like I am, you will find this blog post from Dawn Wilson on Learning Forward worth a read. She does a ncie job of connecting Star Wars lines to professional development. Give it a read today!
Lessons on Professional Learning from Star Wars by Dawn Wilson
If you are a Star Wars fan like I am, you will find this blog post from Dawn Wilson on Learning Forward worth a read. She does a ncie job of connecting Star Wars lines to professional development. Give it a read today!Lessons on Professional Learning from Star Wars by Dawn Wilson
Tech Tip of the Week - EDpuzzle
EDpuzzle
EDpuzzle is a great webtool to use if you use web videos in your classroom. You can use a video created by someone else, or create your own. With EDpuzzle, you are able to add questions, audio, and other aspects to your video. The teacher is then able to track how their students are doing with the questions and their progress through the video.
EDpuzzle is a great webtool to use if you use web videos in your classroom. You can use a video created by someone else, or create your own. With EDpuzzle, you are able to add questions, audio, and other aspects to your video. The teacher is then able to track how their students are doing with the questions and their progress through the video.
MCA Item Samplers
MCA Item Samplers
Taken from the MDE Assessment Update for January 13, 2016
Updated information about item samplers is provided below. Item samplers are aligned to the Minnesota Academic Standards but contain fewer items than an actual full-length test. They are provided to help students and teachers become familiar with the test, but they are not practice tests and are not suitable for predicting how students will perform on the assessment.
Item samplers are available through the Item Samplers page under Student Resources on PearsonAccess Next. Access item samplers on PearsonAccess Next (PearsonAccess Next > Student Resources > Item Samplers).
Teacher guides are available for all item samplers, but there are some differences by subject.
Mathematics and Science MCA have separate teacher guides that provide information on both the multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items included in the item samplers. A teacher guide for each grade of mathematics and science is available onPearsonAccess Next under Additional Materials once you’ve selected the subject and grade.
For Reading MCA, the teacher guides currently address the multiple choice items for the online item samplers, and the guides are included at the end of each grade’s 12-point paper accommodated item sampler (e.g., Grade 3 Reading MCA 12 point Accommodated Item Sampler). MDE is actively working to update the Reading MCA teacher guides to include technology-enhanced items, and additional information will be provided in an Assessment Update when updated guides are available.
Updated Item Samplers Soon Available
In February, the Reading MCA samplers will be updated to include new technology-enhanced item types that will appear in the spring 2016 Reading MCA. The Mathematics MCA item samplers were updated in the fall with new technology-enhanced item types.
Taken from the MDE Assessment Update for January 13, 2016
Updated information about item samplers is provided below. Item samplers are aligned to the Minnesota Academic Standards but contain fewer items than an actual full-length test. They are provided to help students and teachers become familiar with the test, but they are not practice tests and are not suitable for predicting how students will perform on the assessment.
Item samplers are available through the Item Samplers page under Student Resources on PearsonAccess Next. Access item samplers on PearsonAccess Next (PearsonAccess Next > Student Resources > Item Samplers).
Teacher guides are available for all item samplers, but there are some differences by subject.
Mathematics and Science MCA have separate teacher guides that provide information on both the multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items included in the item samplers. A teacher guide for each grade of mathematics and science is available onPearsonAccess Next under Additional Materials once you’ve selected the subject and grade.
For Reading MCA, the teacher guides currently address the multiple choice items for the online item samplers, and the guides are included at the end of each grade’s 12-point paper accommodated item sampler (e.g., Grade 3 Reading MCA 12 point Accommodated Item Sampler). MDE is actively working to update the Reading MCA teacher guides to include technology-enhanced items, and additional information will be provided in an Assessment Update when updated guides are available.
Updated Item Samplers Soon Available
In February, the Reading MCA samplers will be updated to include new technology-enhanced item types that will appear in the spring 2016 Reading MCA. The Mathematics MCA item samplers were updated in the fall with new technology-enhanced item types.
Friday, January 8, 2016
MRVED Business
MRVED Business
MELT Information
MELT 2016 is almost upon us. There are over 570 people registered in over 100 sessions! It is set to be a great day. Mary will be sending more information to all registrants next week. Please look through this email carefully as it contains information as to where to enter, what time to be there, and other important information about the day. We look forward to seeing you all on Monday, January 18 at Lac qui Parle Valley High School.
MRVED Meetings
January 15, 2016 Principals' Council (11:30 a.m. start time)
January 18, 2016 MELT (LQPV High School)
January 27, 2016 Superintendents' Council
February 3, 2016 MRVED Board (7 p.m.)
February 5, 2016 Title III teachers
February 17, 2016 Community Ed
February 19, 2016 Principals' Council (11:30 a.m. start time)
February 22, 2016 Science Best Practices
February 23, 2016 Teachers' Advisory Council (TAC)
February 24, 2016 Superintendents' Council
MELT Information
MELT 2016 is almost upon us. There are over 570 people registered in over 100 sessions! It is set to be a great day. Mary will be sending more information to all registrants next week. Please look through this email carefully as it contains information as to where to enter, what time to be there, and other important information about the day. We look forward to seeing you all on Monday, January 18 at Lac qui Parle Valley High School.
MRVED Meetings
January 15, 2016 Principals' Council (11:30 a.m. start time)
January 18, 2016 MELT (LQPV High School)
January 27, 2016 Superintendents' Council
February 3, 2016 MRVED Board (7 p.m.)
February 5, 2016 Title III teachers
February 17, 2016 Community Ed
February 19, 2016 Principals' Council (11:30 a.m. start time)
February 22, 2016 Science Best Practices
February 23, 2016 Teachers' Advisory Council (TAC)
February 24, 2016 Superintendents' Council
Preparing to Attend a Conference
Education world has a nice quick read about how to prepare to attend a conference. Now the MELT is not held in a far-away tropical place, but the concepts in this article can apply to your experience at the MELT. Give it a quick rundown today!Preparing to Attend a Conference
Tech Tip of the Week - Quiver 3D
Quiver (Formally ColAR Mix App)
Quiver which was formally called ColAR Mix has a great education package for teachers. Quiver Education not only allows pictures to come to life, but they also become "clickable". The App is $7.99.
From the website:
Coloring pages have never been so much fun! The Quiver Education App combines physical coloring from “back in the day” with state of the art augmented reality technology to bring students an extraordinarily magical and educational experience.
You can find our free pages in the app and on our website (http://www.QuiverVision.com/Education). Save and print the pages directly from the Quiver Education App or from a computer to start enjoying the fun. By using our unmatchable expertise in augmented reality, the Quiver Education App enables students to unleash their inner creativity while learning about a range of subjects.
Every colored page comes to life in its uniquely colored way, giving the artist an immediate and special sense of ownership and pride! Not only is the app incredibly fun, but it is also a great tool for developing skills and knowledge on various topics. Try it out yourself and we are sure you will agree.
Quiver which was formally called ColAR Mix has a great education package for teachers. Quiver Education not only allows pictures to come to life, but they also become "clickable". The App is $7.99.
From the website:
Coloring pages have never been so much fun! The Quiver Education App combines physical coloring from “back in the day” with state of the art augmented reality technology to bring students an extraordinarily magical and educational experience.
You can find our free pages in the app and on our website (http://www.QuiverVision.com/Education). Save and print the pages directly from the Quiver Education App or from a computer to start enjoying the fun. By using our unmatchable expertise in augmented reality, the Quiver Education App enables students to unleash their inner creativity while learning about a range of subjects.
Every colored page comes to life in its uniquely colored way, giving the artist an immediate and special sense of ownership and pride! Not only is the app incredibly fun, but it is also a great tool for developing skills and knowledge on various topics. Try it out yourself and we are sure you will agree.
Minnesota Partnership for Collaborative Curriculum
Minnesota Partnership for Collaborative Curriculum
A grassroots initiative among Minnesota school districts to create comprehensive open education resources (OER) through the Minnesota Partnership for Collaborative Curriculum is underway. Over 200 districts have committed to fund the inaugural phase of the initiative by contributing approximately one dollar per ADM. The goal of the inaugural phase is to create course work in a digital format in the four core subject areas for grades 3-12. In the continuing phases, materials will be developed for other grade levels and subject areas.
The benefits to all districts include:
This initiative is an extension of collaborative efforts by the Minnesota Learning Commons, and the MDE OER Commons initiative. Minnesota Department of Education staff have been involved in updates about the project.
Further details can be found in the Continuing Organizational Plan, which contains details on the organization and outcomes, along with an Agreement Request Form to indicate an interest in joining. Additionally, the website at http://mncollaborativecurriculum.org includes examples of projects already launched and the process for sponsoring projects.
As of January 2016, thirty courses are in the process of being completed or piloted. The creation of the remaining courses in the inaugural phase will be developed by writers from partner districts this year. Teacher training continues for writing digital curriculum and for preparing and supporting teachers using digital resources in the classroom.
Communications to districts throughout the state will continue to ensure all districts are aware of the opportunity to join.
For more information or to join the partnership contact:
Jon Voss, Director of Teaching & Learning, jwvoss@district287.org
Jessica Wiley, Program Manager, jesswiley@comcast.net
From the MPCC website.
The benefits to all districts include:
- Access to high quality curriculum aligned to standards and available at minimal cost.
- Local control over the curriculum to edit, remove, add, or customize elements of the content.
- Improving capacity for personalized learning.
- Training opportunities for teachers to develop digital content and become skilled in delivering personalized learning through digital content.
- Involvement of outside organizations that are offering to provide content and support (Humanities Center, DNR, U of M LT Lab, local authors);
- Enhanced multi-media, interdisciplinary units, and data collection tools;
- Support for advancing the curriculum adoption process to digital content;
- Teacher networks connecting all those who are using the materials.
This initiative is an extension of collaborative efforts by the Minnesota Learning Commons, and the MDE OER Commons initiative. Minnesota Department of Education staff have been involved in updates about the project.
Further details can be found in the Continuing Organizational Plan, which contains details on the organization and outcomes, along with an Agreement Request Form to indicate an interest in joining. Additionally, the website at http://mncollaborativecurriculum.org includes examples of projects already launched and the process for sponsoring projects.
As of January 2016, thirty courses are in the process of being completed or piloted. The creation of the remaining courses in the inaugural phase will be developed by writers from partner districts this year. Teacher training continues for writing digital curriculum and for preparing and supporting teachers using digital resources in the classroom.
Communications to districts throughout the state will continue to ensure all districts are aware of the opportunity to join.
For more information or to join the partnership contact:
Jon Voss, Director of Teaching & Learning, jwvoss@district287.org
Jessica Wiley, Program Manager, jesswiley@comcast.net