Think that young kids can¹t use technology to learn? Guess again. Come hear how kindergarten and second grade students have been using iPads to support their learning in one-to-one classrooms this year. Presenters will share their successes, challenges, documentary project, and stories about how this is changing the way they teach and the way their students learn. 

So how did the Detroit Regional Chamber help create an array of innovative partnerships supported by the businesses/nonprofits  of Detroit.? Brooke Franklin, director of K-12 Strategic Partnerships of the Detroit Regional Chamber will highlight the models and outreach strategies they used to build a network of highly effective partnerships supported  business leaders. 

Explore how intermediate school districts and local school districts serve young people with risk factors in their lives through the W-A-Y (Widening Advancements for Youth) program. The personalized W-A-Y learning environment is blended, cross curricular, collaborative, and project based. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss with students how they use projects to take ownership of their learning, demonstrate acquired knowledge, and satisfy state high school graduation requirements.

Teaching in the 21st Century requires 21st Century tools. Digital Resources to support the Career and College Readiness Standards are available for all Michigan students and teachers at no charge on four state portals. Learn how to access MeL.org, MORE.org,  TeachingforLearning.org and MIlearnsonline.org  where you can access thousands of digital resources, online courses,  and even find training to help teachers use these resources in the classroom. Why buy when you can have it for free?

The next generation of Great Lakes stewards are in our classrooms today. Learn about a grant-funded initiative that immerses a cadre if urban 7th graders in a host of activity-based 21st century STEM studies. Central to the work of our student-scientists is BOB, our Basic Observation Buoy, being deployed with a suite of water quality sensors that gather a 24/7 data stream.

This session will provide an overview of the implementation of a variety of blended learning courses at Fraser High School.  The presenters will provide details related to course offerings, teacher/union acceptance, and student success rates related to the implementation of online courses taught by in-distrct staff members.

Sal Khan's (creator of the Khan Academy) 2011 TED Talk "Let's Use Video to Reinvent Education," launched a new educational buzzword "the flipped classroom." Many educators want to know if this can positively impact student learning. Come see how, when used correctly, this methodology leverages technology such as screencasts, mobile devices, and learning management systems, to give students ownership of their learning by focusing on content mastery and learning at their own pace.

More than 35,000 students were considered "off track" to graduate or had dropped out in 2009, yet fully 19,000 were still on a path towards high school completion. Graduating in 5 years instead of 4 does not make a student's diploma any less valuable.

In this session you will have the opportunity to listen to youth from across Michigan tell their stories on why a flexible learning environment made it possible for them to graduate.

Overview of the school improvement online deliverables currently available through the AdvancED website. Participants will become familiar with gaining access to the website, using the Online Help System, and navigating the website to complete the various reports schools and districts need to submit and/or transmit to the Michigan Department of Education.