EPIC has submitted two workshop proposals to SXSWedu, and we need your votes!
We recently submitted proposals for two SXSWedu sessions at next year’s conference in Austin, TX. Selection of the proposals is partially based on votes from the public, so our team is asking for your help to vote for our sessions and share with friends and family.
Multiple Choice vs. the Zombie Apocalypse
We’ve all watched a movie or read a book that pushes us to imagine what the world would be like if zombies walked among us (and ate our brains). While we don’t expect this hypothetical scenario to become a reality anytime soon, the imagined world of a zombie apocalypse lets us think about the knowledge and skills students need to navigate new and unexpected situations that challenge them to develop and grow in an unfamiliar environment. We want students to be smart, engaged, self-aware, and adaptive – not just tested. We use Dr. David Conley’s Four Keys as a framework for lifelong learning because context and adaptability often outsmart content in a connected and ever-changing world. This workshop will be presented by Michelle Liebhardt and Carmen Gelman.
Learning Objectives
- Explore the skills students need to be prepared and empowered for their own future. There’s no one “right” path through life.
- Learn how to use the Four Keys framework (THINK, KNOW, ACT, and GO) to prepare students for lifelong learning. Navigating the future is complex.
- Engage in creativity and innovation so you can equip and empower your students to do the same. Learning should be fun.
Unpacking ALL: Equity Through Student Voice
Is “all” just the latest buzzword we throw around in education? It sounds good: ALL students college and career ready. But do we really mean ALL? Many times in education we create programs and strategies with the intention of serving each student, only to find that we fall short. We struggle to serve every student because we don’t know what approaches to use or simply aren’t explicit enough about what ALL really means. In this workshop, we begin unpacking ALL and discuss ways to engage diverse student voices and allow them to inform our strategies. The challenge is to listen to students’ voices and develop programs and a school culture that encompasses each students’ unique needs. This workshop will be presented by Carmen Gelman and Michelle Liebhardt.
Learning Objectives
- Bring a clearer focus to what is meant by ALL students and understand there is no single strategy that can reach all cultural/demographic groups.
- Reflect on which student groups are best served within your current school system and analyze who is currently underserved.
- Determine which strategies you are currently using that come close to serving the needs of ALL students, and whether they are culturally relevant.
