RSAC 2024

In this session, participants will leave with gamification ideas that can easily be implemented, are standards driven, empower students, and make learning fun. Using these student driven activities and giving students a voice and choice in their learning is just one more way to bring back the FUN and help increase engagement! We will reference our own experiences increasing engagement with gamifying as well as teacher and student feedback. Our inspiration comes from some of our favorite professional texts (Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Explore Like a Pirate, and Fully Engaged). Get inspired and bring in collaboration and creativity into your classroom.

Just as sports teams tend to perform better when they play at home, our students excel when they are in a comfortable classroom where they feel safe and encouraged. In this interactive session, participants will experience several activities that they can take back to their classrooms to help establish their own home court advantage. Building relationships is imperative, so we offer strategies to use not just in August but throughout the year to maintain the levels of excitement that sports fans feel when cheering on their favorite teams.

Are you tired of feeling like you're herding cats in the classroom? Do you find yourself assessing student engagement by counting the number of yawns per minute? In this session we’ll dive head first into a carefully curated list of instructional strategies that you can take home with you today! I’ll cover assessment, writing, discussion, SEL, grading, and AI strategies just to name a few! All strategies can be adjusted to fit your needs.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of educational technology, generative AI tools present both opportunities and challenges for K-12 educators. This interactive session takes a balanced approach, exploring how to leverage the power of AI within a constructivist pedagogical framework while fostering critical thinking, media literacy, and a technoskeptical lens.

In this dynamic breakout session, educators will explore innovative strategies to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their teaching practices to enhance student engagement and develop critical thinking skills. Participants will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools that can transform traditional classrooms into interactive learning environments. This workshop will cover practical methods to use AI for generating stimulating content, facilitating thought-provoking discussions, and creating personalized learning experiences. Attendees will leave equipped with the knowledge to effectively use AI to nurture a classroom atmosphere that not only delivers information but also cultivates essential analytical skills. Join us to unlock the potential of AI in education and foster a generation of critical thinkers!

This interactive breakout session is designed for educators who aim to empower their students through the development of a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum (GVC) that promotes self-directed learning. Participants will delve into the core principles of a GVC and learn how to construct a curriculum framework that is both rigorous and flexible enough to adapt to diverse learning styles and needs. The workshop will provide practical tools and strategies for creating curricular units that encourage students to take initiative, make decisions, and drive their own learning processes. Through collaborative activities and expert-led discussions, attendees will leave with actionable insights on how to craft educational experiences that foster independence, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. Join us to transform your educational approach and inspire your students to become proactive learners!