Tag Archives: EduCon

Jan 31

EduCon 2.5: Creating the Conditions for Structured Inquiry

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Some thoughts from others about the session I ran on Sunday morning – Beyond Googling: Structuring Inquiry

Inquiry Breaks Down Rigidity – by Kristen Swanson

Why Inquiry Learning is Worth the Trouble by Ian Quillen of KQED

So my Sunday morning session at EduCon was entitled Beyond Googling: Building the Conditions for Structured Inquiry. The slide-deck is at the bottom of post. It was an evolution of a workshop I’ve done before, but my whole goal was to really think about the session on both the real and the meta-session level. (Yeah, I just made up a word.)

The goal was to create an environment where some real tough questions around what this word “inquiry” really can mean in the classroom, followed by more problem-solving around how to do that well. In a workshop like this, there isn’t much research going on (although, given that almost any group of teachers at EduCon will have at least one internet enabled decide, if not five to ten of them – so that’s a challenge for next time, I suppose.)

I enjoyed doing the session, especially as session participants really engaged deeply in the questions we were asking. One thing that came out organically from many folks was something I was hoping would — inquiry isn’t just question and answer, it is very much a process…. and that the word can represent the idea of a deep dive into learning through questioning and seeking.

The 90 minutes went by really quickly, so much so that we were way over time before we all realized it was time to go. That’s what inquiry is supposed to do – it’s supposed to get people talking, researching, questioning and learning so much that time really does just fly by. So the session ended up being a pretty good model for what I hope folks can then do in their own classrooms, I think.

But what did I learn by facilitating the session?

It was a chance for me to keep exploring the idea that inquiry really requires people — students and teachers — to live in the uncomfortable places, and that’s hard. Inquiry requires that we all develop a nimbleness of mind so that we do not give in to the orthodoxy of our own ideas. That’s important for students and teachers (and principals) so that we can start to really hone our skill of deep thinking.

It was a chance for me to hear folks bring up empathy over and over again, as inquiry means deep listening and deep understanding of others – other texts, other people, other ideas. Inquiry should help all of us develop our ability to question to learn, not just argue to win.

It was a chance for me to think about — and talk about — how inquiry cannot just live in the classroom or as a stand-alone pedagogy of the stated curriculum. Inquiry allows students to access the hidden curriculum, as they will question grading structures. They will question discipline policies. They will question how teachers and students interact. And while, on one level, kids have been doing that for years, if students are taught the true spirit of inquiry, this will be far more than the traditional “Why do we have to do [x] this way?” Kids can question, problem solve, and most importantly, they can understand the complexity of school and of learning in ways that help them grow up well.

Perhaps my take-away, more than anything else, is how the longer we go on this journey at SLA, the more of a seeker I have become. Doing this workshop was a chance for me to step back and really look at how I have come to believe deeply that the inquiry process doesn’t just teach us a way to teach and learn, it gives us a powerful lens through which we can live our lives.

Jan 23

EduCon 2.5 Eve

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The badges are made, the presenter bags are packed up, Ryan and Tsion have sent the email with all the student jobs, the parents met tonight to go over all the different roles they play. Tomorrow, all the Advisories will straighten up the rooms one more time, and then this Friday, Saturday and Sunday approximately 600 educators will come to our little corner of the world for the sixth iteration of EduCon. It never fails to amaze me that we pull it off every year.

And today at our faculty meeting, we took a few minutes after going over all the last details to step back and think about what this conference means to us as a community. EduCon is not just about SLA, not by a long shot. The community of educators who come together every year to discuss the intersection of progressive education and modern tools is made up of incredible teachers who amaze me with their insights and ideas. And EduCon is as much about every attendee and facilitator as it is about SLA. But for those of us who make SLA our educational home, EduCon is truly a twin moment of both humility and pride.

We are – I am – amazed at how our little corner of the educational world has been able to serve as host for a conversation about the ideas we most hold dear. For our students, they get to understand the power of their own ideas and hard work and voice as they see themselves as vital participants in an international conversation about how we can make schools better for students and adults worldwide. For our parents, it is an opportunity for them to see their children in a powerful light, and it is an opportunity for them to give back to the school that educates their children. For our teachers, it is a moment to step outside the day-to-day where we struggle and sweat and work toward the impossibly unachievable ideal of our best ideas and realize that other educators can see that we get closer to that ideal that we often give ourselves credit for.

And, of course, it is for us an incredible learning weekend where we can tease out ideas with like-minded educators and push our own thinking. EduCon is, for me, the most profound three days of learning every year because it is the time where so many of the people I learn from virtually all year long show up to our school with an open heart and an open mind, ready to teach and learn.

So for those folks en route – welcome and thank you for coming to Philly. Our apologies in advance about the weather. For folks who can’t make the trip, feel free to join in virtually – we’re streaming the entire conference again this year. And thank you to Ms. Rami, Ms. Laufenberg, Ms. Hull, Mr. Herman, Ms. Pahomov, Ms. Dunda, Mr. Best, Tsion, Ryan, Nikki, Jeff, Dr. Heller and all the other EduCon planners. Thank you to all the SLA teachers and parents and students who make EduCon happen. Thank you to all the facilitators who take so much time to craft thoughtful, meaningful, progressive sessions. Thank you to everyone who comes into EduCon ready to learn. This conference is about the conversations – and that means it is about everyone who shows up and co-creates its meaning.

Welcome to SLA. Welcome to EduCon 2.5.

Aug 17

EduCon 2.5 Registration is Open!

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It’s that time of  year again… EduCon 2.5 is alive!

Once again, the teachers, students and parents of Science Leadership Academy will be hosting EduCon. This year it will be on January 25-27, 2013 at (as always) the Science Leadership Academy. We will be opening up our session submission forms very soon, but tickets are already on sale, and we are looking forward to another year of learning and growing with everyone.

The guiding principles behind Educon

  1. Our schools must be inquiry-driven, thoughtful and empowering for all members
  2. Our schools must be about co-creating – together with our students – the 21st Century Citizen
  3. Technology must serve pedagogy, not the other way around
  4. Technology must enable students to research, create, communicate and collaborate
  5. Learning can – and must – be networked

We hope you join us.