Issue 3
Conference Travel [Nov 30]
EPIC teachers are provided with up to $200 to attend an in-state conference. Four teachers have registered to attend conferences including Everyone Can Learn conference, by Staff Development for Educators, Indiana Computer Educators (ICE) conference at IUPUI and the Deliberation Workshops by the Central Indiana Educational Service Center.
(EPIC teachers: Please contact Erin in the EPIC office with any questions or when you are ready to register for a conference.)
Read full entryEPIC Teachers Progressing with Units [Nov 30]
Teachers are implementing their EPIC units at Daniel Webster, Shortridge and Broad Ripple. The professional development program was effective in terms of theory to practice connections. The teachers revised their units to include the alignment of desired results, assessment and the learning plan. This process resulted in the inclusion of authentic performance tasks connected to the students' real world. Many of the units were also enhanced by the inclusion of quality children's literature.
"It has been exciting to see the children genuinely interested in reading from a variety of sources as they engage in their inquiry," said Peggy Rice.
For example, in a sixth-grade unit, boys want to explore more survival stories from a male's perspective. In a kindergarten unit, students are exploring what it means to be a friend as they respond to a variety of stories focusing on friendship. One of the middle school units focused on Newton's Laws of Motion and required students to apply these laws by solving a real world problem. A tenth grade world geography class explored crucial issues related to threats to the world environment. Students examined practical and simple changes that they could make in their house to minimize environmental damage such as reducing water consumption. This plan was implemented and included parental involvement.
"It was very encouraging to hear what students had to say after they had been through one of the units," said Kenan Metzger. "They kept saying how all the smaller knowledge and skill sets led to a real world application they could relate to easily."
For more information about EPIC, please visit the project Web site or contact epic@bsu.edu.
Read full entryNCA Presentation [Nov 30]
The EPIC team attended and gave a presentation at the North Central Association (NCA) Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement conference in October. The team provided a project overview including information about the EPIC model, program philosophy and project technology. The team used feedback from EPIC participants to demonstrate how effective this professional development program has been.
Read full entryCELL Conference [Nov 30]
The EPIC team attended the Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) conference at the University of Indianapolis in November.
Presentations provided faculty with deeper insights into data-driven decision-making. The 21st Century Skills presentation focused on technology and looked at the bigger picture in terms of what students need.
Diane Bottomley, EPIC team member, observed that many times, data is collected, but not analyzed to direct instruction.
"The emphasis is on using technology to learn new skills rather than to perform routine skills faster," said Bottomley.
The team also learned about how the field is changing--including the number of teachers leaving the profession, which they all found alarming. Sir Dexter Hutt, a school inspector from the United Kingdom, reporter their Master Teachers earn the equivalent of $200,000.
Read full entryTeacher Recruitment [Nov 30]
EPIC team members have met with administrators and teachers to discuss implementing EPIC training at the Centers for Inquiry (IPS #2 and #84) and Key Learning Community.
EPIC is recruiting for more teachers to participate in the Year One program, but Year Two teachers are also needed. Contact the EPIC office at epic@bsu.edu for more information.
Read full entryBSU Professional Development Schools Network Advisory Council Meeting [Nov 30]
EPIC faculty presented at the Professional Development Schools (PDS) Network Advisory Council Meeting on Nov. 29 at Minnitrista Cultural Center. The EPIC team presented an overview of the EPIC Curriculum Development model and provided participation information.
Kathryn Rowe, principal, Daniel Webster Elementary School and EPIC participant, was a guest speaker for the event.
The Ball State PDS Network is dedicated to creating partnerships between professional school education programs and P-12 schools for the professional development of teachers and the training of future educators. For more information, contact Ruth Swetnam at (765) 285-3263.
Read full entrysmartDESKTOP Update [Nov 30]
The IHC smartDESKTOP announced a new opportunity to provide more educational resources to Indiana teachers through the smartDESKTOP Community Program, which allows educational organizations to utilize the communication and community tools to orchestrate online collaboration with teachers around the state.
Individual teachers can subscribe to a Community's announcements, calendar, and participate in Community-sponsored forums, allowing them to interact and share resources and ideas with key educational organizations and with one another.
Current and upcoming Communities include the Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis, the East Central Educational Service Center, the Charter School Service Center, Networks Financial Institute, and Ball State University's EPIC Project. For more information, please visit www.smartdesktop.org or call (317) 638-1500.
Read full entryrGrade Update [Nov 30]
EPIC teachers have had access to rGrade 2.0 since Nov. 15. They will notice rGrade's new look, but the time-tested data model for rubric assessments has been preserved. Other new features include:
- Enhance curricular program planning
- Enhanced rubric controls.
- Enhanced Help Desk.
- Interactive standards tools.
These new features are available to EPIC teachers. Training sessions will be scheduled in the future to focus on new design and features in rGrade 2.0. The classic rGrade interface is still available to users.
Read full entry