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JANUARY 16, 2020
6:30 PM NIPMUC REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL |
We must get back to a focus on teaching and learning, specifically this idea of deeper learning - engaging students in lessons that are thoughtful, creative, imaginative, and, frankly, exciting."
Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley
KALEIDOSCOPE COLLECTIVE: DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF LEARNING
As learners, workers, and community members - we recognize that we are living in a time of dramatic change. The communities of the future and the responsibilities of the evolving workplace are as unpredictable as they are exciting. We have the opportunity not only to help our students succeed in the next classroom but also to help them thrive in the realities of the modern world.
The work of charting a course to the future of learning is a community-wide effort involving students, parents, educators, and community members. As we begin our work with as members of the Kaleidoscope Collective, we are reaching out to our learning community to gain their input about the next steps we should take in the journey of our schools.
During tonight's workshop we invite you to share your voice through a variety of activities that will get us thinking, talking, and planning for the future of our our schools and learning.
The work of charting a course to the future of learning is a community-wide effort involving students, parents, educators, and community members. As we begin our work with as members of the Kaleidoscope Collective, we are reaching out to our learning community to gain their input about the next steps we should take in the journey of our schools.
During tonight's workshop we invite you to share your voice through a variety of activities that will get us thinking, talking, and planning for the future of our our schools and learning.
BACK IN MY DAY... 10 YEARS FROM NOW...
Our first activity of the evening - "Back in my day... 10 years from now" - will provide a chance for us to tap into the shifting nature of our world and how that impacts all of us.
- Upon entering today either you or the person next to you had a picture placed on their seat. Take a look at the picture and consider how this item/idea has evolved throughout your lifetime.
- Turning to the person beside you, share comment about the item that begins with the phrase, "Back in my day...".
- After each of you have shared your comment, answer the prompt "10 years from now..." about the same item.
- Take a moment to consider the implications of this change on our society and quickly answer the prompt in the Mentimeter below.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
In our ongoing journey to reimagine schools, we often look for ways to bring students into the conversation. In this next portion of the workshop we'll engage in the Food for Thought protocol, an activity that we use to get regular, meaningful feedback from students about what's working, what's not working, and what needs to be reimagined. We're excited to expand this activity to include not only the students but all of our attendees who are here this evening.
In just a couple of moments you will make your way around the room to share your thoughts about learning and schools. Feel free to engage in conversations with those around you, read others ideas as you make your way from question to question, and contribute your own thoughts to each of the questions below.
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FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMUNITY FOOD FOR THOUGHT BRAINSTORMING
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BEYOND GRADES, WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?
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LEARNING IS...
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LEARNING IS NOT...
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WHAT LEARNING EXPERIENCES DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO?
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LEARNING IN THE MODERN WORLD IS EXCITING BECAUSE...
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MY MOST POWERFUL MOMENT OF LEARNING IS...
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WHAT IF?
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COMPLETE RESPONSES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
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NIPMUC'S JOURNEY TO REIMAGINE SCHOOL
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Over the course of the past several years, the Nipmuc community has begun the work of building a more aspirational vision for learning. By tapping into the voices of all members of our community, we gained the perspectives needed to create guiding documents that encourage us to pursue a more aspirational vision for learning.
Our school has moved quickly from idea to action, working together to design programs that allow us to our beliefs about learning into practice. Through participation in the Kaleidoscope Collective, the Nipmuc community is excited to take the next steps in building a school that truly inspires! |
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LEARNING SHOWCASE
Some amazing learning is already taking place in our schools! Our participation in the Kaleidoscope Collective will allow us to explore further some of the steps we've already taken to bring our beliefs about learning to life. This evening we will showcase a sampling of the programming currently in place in our schools. Make your way to the lobby to meet with 3 - 5 different groups. When you've explored several different programs, stop by the table at the entrance to the auditorium to share your thoughts about what you learned.
Click on any of the images below to explore more about each of the showcase items.
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FOLLOWING THE LEARNING SHOWCASE, WE ASKED OUR COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SHOWCASE AND LEARNING IN MURSD.
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STAY CONNECTED
Click the button below to get additional information about how you can work with MURSD to support our students, teachers, and community.
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SCHOOL REDESIGN CHALLENGE
What if we had the chance to redesign the future of schools? In March MURSD students along with students across New England will have the chance to explore this question during the School Redesign Challenge. Funded by a grant from the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation, the School Redesign Challenge will connect learners with community leaders and representatives from higher education as they explore the possibilities of the next generation of learning. |
COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR A LEARNING ADVENTURE
Learning Adventures are learning experiences that explore the curriculum, align with the curriculum, and bring Nipmuc's beliefs about learning to life for our learners. These innovative learning opportunities often come to life through community partnerships that transport learning from the classroom to the real world. We are consistently seeking community partners who are willing to explore how we can work together to make learning come to life for students. |
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INSPIRED LEARNING LIBRARY
The Inspired Learning Library is a collection of forward-thinking books to help bring the conversation about reimagining school from the strategic planning committee to the community members of Mendon and Upton. The purpose of the library is to create opportunities for exploration of and conversation about how to create schools that inspire. This collection of books will serve as a way to build momentum within the school and throughout the community in support of this forward-thinking vision for our schools. (Thanks to the Upton Cultural Council for this grant-funded project!) INSPIRED LEARNING DAYS
Inspired Learning Days provide our students the opportunity to explore their interests and curiosities by co-constructing a day of innovative learning. These learning events come to life through community partnerships in which our parents, professionals, and community leaders share their expertise with students, help to facilitate workshops, or invite our students into their professional working environments. Sign up to share some inspiration with our students during the next ILD! |
BUDGET ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Mendon-Upton Regional School District has created a sense of momentum behind its academic programming. With the support of community members, students and teachers have made consistent progress and have established a culture of continuous improvement. Beyond that, the establishment of an aspirational strategic plan coupled with the Kaleidoscope Collective partnership have positioned our schools ongoing growth. Despite this progress, the funding formula in Massachusetts makes MURSD's progress vulnerable. Sign up to fortify the future of our schools by educating our community about the urgency for financial support and the critical need to address our budgetary needs. JOB SHADOW
We believe that students should always have a clear answer to the question, "Why are we learning this?" One of the ways you can support this work is by partnering with our schools to show students how the concepts they explore in our classrooms translate to the modern workplace. Sign up to work with school personnel in order to customize job shadow experiences that work for you and your company while providing a memorable learning experience to students. |
KALEIDOSCOPE KICK-OFF IN ACTION
Check out some pictures from our January 16, 2020 Kaleidoscope Kick-off!
