{"success":true,"data":[{"ID":1417,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1757596691,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"A Metamorphosis of the Library in an AI Age: Innovation Lab & Learning Commons (ILLC)","Handle":"a_metamorphosis_of_the_library_in_an_ai_age--innovation_lab-learning_commons-illc","ShortDescription":"Participate in envisioning a physical and virtual space that serves as an innovation hub, lab, library, and learning commons. It is a place, both physical and virtual, where students, teachers, and administrators experiment, try out, create, and test major ideas before they are implemented across the school.\r\n\r\nImagine a space where books, media, and technology don\u2019t just coexist\u2014they ignite curiosity, experimentation, and bold new ideas. That is the essence of the Innovation Lab and Learning Commons (ILLC): the next stage in the metamorphosis of the school library.","Description":"Imagine a cutting-edge lab where ideas don\u2019t just emerge\u2014they ignite, transform, and soar into entirely new realms of possibility. Now, fuse that energy with the concept of a traditional library\u2014both physical and digital\u2014and you\u2019ve got the essence of a modern innovation lab. This hybrid \"lab-library\" melds quiet reading nooks with buzzing virtual tools, opening a vibrant space where students, teachers, and administrators converge to experiment, invent, and reimagine learning.\r\nWhat makes this transformation truly urgent now is the breathtaking arrival of AI across K\u201312 classrooms\u2014from elementary through high school. As AI tools become integrated into daily education\u2014helping with lesson planning, personalized feedback, and workload saving for teachers \u2014the innovation lab becomes not just relevant, but essential.  \r\nHere, the library\u2019s shelves of books, multimedia collections, and cutting-edge tech become raw ingredients\u2014fuel for real-world math investigations, science experiments, literary quests, and AI-powered explorations that spark deeper learning. Educators test fresh teaching strategies; students craft their own learning journeys, perhaps designing AI-driven projects; and administrators pilot bold, micro-scaled innovations before rolling them out school-wide.\r\nThink of this as the ultimate maker-space on steroids\u2014a sprawling physical and virtual crucible where curiosity meets creation, all under the dynamic influence of AI\u2019s rising presence in schools. This innovation lab makes the entire school a living, breathing laboratory of learning\u2014so compelling, it becomes a beacon within the community.\r\nHere are a few possible characteristics; however, every school might approach the innovation lab quite differently to satisfy local needs and take advantage of community resources:\r\nThe innovation lab becomes the center of experimentation and creativity\r\nIncludes physical and virtual spaces for experimentation by learners, teachers, administrators, and the larger community\r\nIt might be the Professional Development Center, showcasing projects, performances by individuals and groups, a try-before-you-buy center for testing technologies, AI, and new teaching ideas, as well as a hub for student internships. All specialists in the school serve on the advisory committee.\r\nGoverned by a website that announces projects, PD, performances, showcases, etc.\r\nThe website features data visualizations of projects and initiatives happening and updated in real time as a way to gauge impact along the way.\r\nAll tours of the building begin in the Innovation Lab\r\nParents' nights start in the Innovation Lab\r\nHelp centers for technologies serve faculty and students... genius bars staffed by students.\r\nStudent internships in the Innovation lab offer leadership opportunities for students to design and implement initiatives of their own.\r\nAn OPAC that is a conversation rather than a one-way street of connections.","Link":["https:\/\/sites.google.com\/view\/foundationalelementsofill\/home"],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"In this conversation, participants will explore how to reimagine the library as a Lab that cultivates innovation through critical thinking, discovery, and ethical creativity. Attendees will explore:\r\nHow the ILLC enables inquiry - through makerspaces, research areas, and AI-driven tools.\r\nHow AI impacts changes the types of opportunities welcomed by an ILLC\r\nHow the ILLC and its staff can lead and shepherd the changes brought on by the promises and pitfalls of AI\r\nThis session will be interactive, with participants co-designing a sample ILLC scenario or lesson using provided resources for curriculum and applying one of the strategies to address issues. Breakout groups, a live application, and a takeaway document will be provided to attendees, offering a way to continue the conversation beyond the session.","Presenter":["Prof. David Loertscher","Fran Kompar"],"PresenterAffiliation":[],"PresenterEmail":["reader.david@gmail.com","fkompar@gmail.com"],"ScheduleSlotID":191,"ScheduleLocationID":33,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1465,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1764086867,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"Data as a Generator of Narrative in Visual Art","Handle":"data_as_a_generator_of_narrative_in_visual_art-2","ShortDescription":"How can we provide entry points into data analysis that support visual learners and enhance student curiosity and creativity? Both visual art and data tell stories, and students can use their skills of critical thinking and compassion to create visual narratives that also speak to their passion for activism and world-changing. The conversation will highlight an exciting and innovative seventh grade unit at the Rashi School. In this unit, students explored data about climate change from a variety of graphs and charts. This was connected to the 6th grade Science curriculum, and their Science teacher assisted in providing and vetting sources for the graphs. Students learned about the growing art form of data visualization, and created their own data art using a choice of fiber art, sculpture, and painting. They also wrote artist statements and presented their work in class.","Description":"This conversation will include in-depth discussion of issues and topics that would be generative for data art, as well as a breakdown of the creative process that these students used.\r\n\r\nStudents began by exploring and interpreting the graphs, choosing a topic of interest, and then planning and sketching. After a teacher review process, they began creating their artwork.\r\n\r\nStudents began by sketching and writing answers to the following questions: What is the topic of your graph? What conclusions can you make from your graph? What emotions does the information in your graph make you feel? How will the shape of your project reflect its message? How will your materials reflect the message of your project? How will the colors you use reflect your message?","Link":[],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"During this conversation, participants will put themselves in the students' shoes, choosing from a list of current topics and exploring and discussing data related to those topics. We'll collaborate in small groups, then share out our ideas about how we'd structure the unit, given our own schools' curriculum and yearly themes. We'll also share out what we'd plan to do, if we were the students given this assignment. My hope is that everyone will leave feeling inspired and capable of creating their own work of data art!","Presenter":["Erica Smiley"],"PresenterAffiliation":["The Rashi School"],"PresenterEmail":["esmiley@rashi.org"],"ScheduleSlotID":191,"ScheduleLocationID":34,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1427,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1757973779,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"New York at the Vanguard: Supporting the Shift to Performance Based Learning and Assessment","Handle":"new_york_at_the_vanguard--supporting_the_shift_to_performance_based_learning_and_assessment","ShortDescription":"Join South Bronx Community Charter High School as we share our journey as a mentor school in New York State\u2019s PLAN pilot, transforming graduation pathways through performance-based, student-centered learning. This interactive session will explore how we built systems for real-world assessment, support peer schools, and center equity and youth voice. Walk away with tools, strategies, and inspiration to lead personalized, competency-based learning in your own school or district.","Description":"South Bronx Community Charter High School (SBC) proposes a dynamic session focusing on our lived experience as a mentor school in New York State\u2019s ambitious Performance-Based Learning and Assessment Networks (PLAN) pilot. This statewide initiative is laying the groundwork for expanded graduation pathways that prioritize student-centered, competency-based learning. As one of the first schools selected to support this pilot, SBC has played a key role in modeling systems change at both the school and network levels.\r\n\r\nOur session will begin by situating attendees in the context of the PLAN pilot\u2014what\u2019s at stake, what\u2019s new, and why it matters. We'll share our internal strategies for leading change, including how we built staff capacity, designed curriculum around real-world performance tasks, and established clear, transparent systems for assessing mastery. We\u2019ll also highlight how we\u2019re supporting peer schools, building buy-in through meaningful collaboration, professional learning, and resource sharing.","Link":["http:\/\/www.southbronxcommunity.org"],"Audience":["High School","Middle School","Elementary School","All School Levels"],"Practice":"The session will be highly interactive: participants will engage in small-group simulations of our student Gateway Presentations, analyze a sample of performance-based assessments, and discuss strategies for scaling performance based learning in their own contexts. We will center equity throughout, sharing how PLAN creates space for multiple ways of knowing, demonstrating learning, and honoring student voice\u2014particularly for historically marginalized students.\r\n\r\nAttendees will leave with concrete strategies and tools for leading performance-based transformation in their schools and systems, along with inspiration from a school community deeply rooted in equity, youth voice, and community collaboration.","Presenter":["Christipher Fleming","Rob Gulya"],"PresenterAffiliation":["South Bronx Community Charter High School"],"PresenterEmail":["christipher.fleming@southbronxcommunity.org","robert.gulya@southbronxcommunity.org"],"ScheduleSlotID":191,"ScheduleLocationID":32,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1445,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1759107686,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"Self-Care in an Uncaring World","Handle":"self-care_in_an_uncaring_woman","ShortDescription":"The pressures on educators (and on everyone) are significant in this moment. How do we care for ourselves so that we can continue to care for others?","Description":"For educators to continue to do our work we must find ways to care for ourselves. Finding a way to balance the demands and expectations of our profession with our own lives and the demands on us there is critical to remaining educators. While this will not look the same for everyone, hopefully we can find some big ideas that can support us and other educators in the future.","Link":["https:\/\/jenorr.com"],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"I don\u2019t have the answers to this question so the session will be driven by attendees and their ideas and questions.","Presenter":["Jennifer Orr"],"PresenterAffiliation":["Alice West Fleet Elementary School"],"PresenterEmail":["jenorr@gmail.com"],"ScheduleSlotID":191,"ScheduleLocationID":37,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1469,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1764984555,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"What's The Tea?","Handle":"what-s_the_tea","ShortDescription":"When students leave your classroom, what is the story they tell when they go home to their families or when they talk to their friends? The \"tea\" they spill is connected to the intentionality that goes into the planning in your class.","Description":"This conversation will center around 3 focus areas of intentional planning: students, school community , and the larger community. When you plan projects or lessons how do you consider your students? How do you engage the school community and how do you engage the larger community. The steps you take in planning and execution will determine the story the students will tell, the \"tea\", about their experience in your class. Are you creating experiences and opportunities in your classroom that are positive and enriching or do students leave your room will a trauma story. Participants will leave with a foundation for an upcoming project that will have students spilling good tea about their experience.","Link":["Https:\/\/linkeddestinies.academy"],"Audience":["High School","Middle School"],"Practice":"This session will be a group project planning session where participants will brainstorm collaboratively on intentional planning. Participants will leave with a foundation for an upcoming project.","Presenter":["Njemele Anderson"],"PresenterAffiliation":["Philadelphia Writing Project","School District of Philadelphia and Founder of Linked Destinies Academy"],"PresenterEmail":["Linkeddestiniesacademy@gmail.com"],"ScheduleSlotID":191,"ScheduleLocationID":36,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13}],"conditions":{"Status":"Accepted","ConferenceID":13,"ScheduleSlotID":191},"total":5,"limit":false,"offset":false}