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Author Biography: Alisa Wright, Educational Technologist of Warren School, RSD6, CT.

I am very fortunate to work in a district that supports the advancement of 21st Century Learning and continually seeks ways to further its commitment to enhancing student learning. Feel free to visit my wiki, https ://wrats. pbworks.com/w/page/20141000/Working-together-to-make-things-happen! where you will find a full account of links to documents, forms, etc. used to coordinate Studucate. Activity Summary
Studucate....a night when students educate parents and community by sharing how they use technology to enhance their own learning. On March 1st, Warren School will host its first ever event where the students are the presenters and the learners are parents and community of Warren, Ct. Approximately 89 students will actively demonstrate a tool that their teacher has used within their school day to make learning meaningful. Kerpoof, LiitleBirdTales, Study Island, Smart Response, PhotoStory3, and Edmodo will be among the programs showcased throughout Studucate. Groups of parents and community will rotate from class to class during the evening. During each 10 minute session, students will explain the benefits of using the program as compared to how they would have traditionally been exposed to skills and concepts. The upper classmen, sixth grade students, will be the host of each classroom to introduce students, play screencasts created by teachers explaining the tool and its relation to ISTE standard covered, and support the younger student if needed. Attendees will be encouraged to leave 1 video comment on a VoiceThread before leaving the event to capture the experience. Web 2.0 Programs have been contacting seeking promotional items to be given to presenting students as a thank you gift Class or subject area: Any Grade level(s): K-6 Specific learning objectives: To examine how students can educate their parents and the community about how technology enhances their learning.

Anniversary Book Project

5th

By: Alisa Wright

A night when students educate parents by sharing how they use technology to enhance their own learning

Studucate

Creative Commons License: CC BY Author contact: @alisaw3

Students taking ownership for their own learning is one of the most important aspects of 21st Century Learning. When that occurs pride, leadership, self-confidence and true understanding swell to the surface. In this technological age of learning those who truly grasp the benefits of these times realizes that it really isnt about the technology at all. What really matters is how and why it is utilized. Providing students with opportunities to communicate, collaborate, use creativity and critical thinking not only engage students on a higher level of learning, but will help to build a strong foundation for their future. On March 1, 2012, the students of Warren School participated in a very special event that held them to a highly unique standard. We called this event Studucate. Studucate was a night Students owned the night. when students educated parents by sharing how they use technology Sixth grade students were hosts for each presentation,K-5, to to enhance their own learning. Students were highly motivated to provide support and guidance take on this challenge. 70 of our 89 students of Warren School, K-6, when needed. presented at Studucate. Students owned the night. Throughout the evening, parents and friends rotated from class to class as groups of students in each grade presented 10-minute lessons to those in attendance. Those not in attendance for each presentation--the classroom teacher. Teachers let the students truly embrace the experience. It would be difficult for teachers not to intervene when their students came across technical difficulties or lesson mishaps in the midst of presenting to a room full of adults. Students were placed in the position to trust in themselves and their partners. Each presentation was equipped with a support system. This support came in the form of the senior students in the school, the sixth grade. As hosts, the sixth graders introduced the presenters and provided guidance as necessary. These eleven and twelve year olds were wonderful at providing the assurance that help was there if needed, but allowed time for groups to take the initiative to problem solve issues that arose. Student presenters were placed in the position to trust in themselves and their partners to work through the lesson together. The outcome....mission accomplished. The event was laid out in the span of an hour and a half. Parents and friends were invited to gather in the gym fifteen minutes before the initial overview of Studucate to view a video created using Animoto. This display showcased the many ways technology and 21st Century Learning has infiltrated Warren School. Making their way into the gym, copies of the individualized schedules created by students and Studucate packets complete with class generated How-Tos of the programs being Students Educate Parents demonstrated hwere made available. Promptly at 6:00PM, the event was Students present with initiated.
confidence and clarity as they stand in front of a room full of parents and friends.

A 10-minute SlideRocket slideshow presentation brought perspective and structure to Studucate. Having a captive audience of nearly every student and parent of Warren, not to mention the relatives and friends joining, was a

prime opportunity to broadcast the importance of 21st Century Learning. Using ISTE and the NET(S) as a springboard, it was explained how Warren School blends traditional teaching with the 4Cs-Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Critical Thinking/Problem Solving. Once this insight was delivered along with an explanation of the nights schedule, it was time to maneuver through Studucate. Guests spilled out of the gym and made their way to their first scheduled session. Student presenters and sixth grade hosts stationed themselves at their respective classrooms. Hosts helped to ready the younger students, check equipment, welcome guests and prepare to present the Smart Notebook Lesson. Once the start of the session was announced over the intercom, hosts played the 1.5 minute screencast produced by classroom teachers introducing the tool being demonstrated and explaining the NET(S) standards addressed through its use. At the conclusion of the video, it was time for the students to work their magic. And work their magic they did. Each presentation group courageously and confidently stood before a room full of adults to demonstrate how and why they use the tool. From logging on to the tool to saving the product, guests were guided through the process in a clear, informative way. Prior to Studucate, students collaboratively planned and practiced how they would effectively communicate their lesson to parents and friends. Their knowledge and ownership of the lesson became obvious when presenting. As LittleBirdTales, Kerpoof, SmartResponse with Study Island, PhotoStory3 and Edmodo were being introduced to parents and friends, the building was buzzing with energy. Incorporated into these sessions was a sixth session where guests gathered to view virtual projects that were accessible from our schools EdTech Wiki. Sixth grade hosts were not only in the room to provide an overview of these projects on the SmartBoard, but were also there to assist guests in leaving comments on a VoiceThread to help capture the essence of Studucate. Responses from adults and students solidified how extraordinary and special this night had been. Before leaving, everyone met in the gym for a brief wrap up of Studucate. Students energetically expressed pride in their accomplishment, and parents did not hold back with their expression of pride in the students. It was informative, amazing, and a great night. My partners and I needed to work together as a team to present the lesson at Studucate. The following day students were given time to explain what they felt about Studucate. Their reactions were priceless, not to mention extremely insightful. They expressed the importance of teamwork, communicating thoughts clearly, and being able to work through problems that presented themselves during their lessons. For many, the experience made them realize that they have the ability to take on challenges, step out of their comfort zone, and accomplish something that leaves a feeling of pride difficult to match. These expressions were informally captured on an iPad and merged with footage of Studucate to create a 13 minute iMovie video that was e-blasted out to parents and friends. The VoiceThread created the night of Studucate was included as well. Due to its success, Studucate is being planned for the other schools in RSD6. I didnt think I could present in front of parents, but now I cant wait to do something like this again!

We had some technical difficulties while using the document camera, but we worked it out ourselves. The excitement mounted as students prepared for Studucate. As with any project, success stems from the process during its creation. The entire process was a coordinated effort of students, staff, parents and administration striving to achieve a worthwhile goal. With the students working together responsibly to choreograph a comprehension presentation, the staff providing the necessary flexibility to allow for practice and preparation, parents encouraging their child to participate and reinforcing its importance by attending the event, and the administration providing the support and offering assistance throughout, Studucate was set up for success. Preparation for Studucate started with an overview of the idea being presented to Warren Schools principal and staff. A Popplet was used to organize the objectives and expectations of the event. As the different components of Studucate (Initially presented as Student to Parent Tech Time) were revealed, the staff saw the potential this idea generated as a means for individual student growth. The idea of having the students as the teachers throughout a whole school event was compelling. Through this process students would emerge as leaders, team players, problem solvers, and risk takers. When the time came to present this project to students, the Popplet was displayed once again. As each class was introduced to Studucate it became readily apparent that students were willing to take on this challenge. Permission slips were e-blasted to parents as a google form. Using this google form streamlined the process of collecting permission and determining student participation. The next step was to create the lesson. Groups were given a lesson template to guide them in developing their presentation. Soon to be presenters held a discussion to determine why their teacher decided to use that particular tool for the learning objectives being covered and how had they benefitted through its use. Together that worked through their plan from introduction to conclusion. As a class, the HowTo portion of the lesson was created. Students took turns detailing each step needed to use the tool. With the lesson and How-To created, it was then time to practice presenting. Most had not had much experience with this, and students soon came to realize that presenting requires a certain set of skills they would need to learn. Not only did students have to practice the information beijng delivered and the flow of the lesson, but they also had to remember to project their voices, face the audience, and effectively position themselves at the SmartBoard. They took on this task very seriously and strived to do the best they could. Some students even practiced logging in to their accounts to free up time for the presentation of the tool. Three days before Studucate, a rehearsal was held. Classroom teachers were asked to observe each presentation to assess the group and their host. Performance ratings, comments and suggestions were documented on a google form using the teachers iPad. Once the rehearsal was complete, the results were analyzed and individualized attention was provided as needed. The stage was now set and the students were ready. A highly positive energy mounted as the night of Studucate neared. With the students feeling confident that they now held the tools needed to effectively present their lessons, they wanted nothing to get in the way of this special time. Especially, inclement weather. Hearing that an approaching winter storm was threatening to delay Studucate, students rallied to make their voices heard expressing their hope that school would not be cancelled and Studucate would happen as scheduled. And happen as scheduled it did!

On March 1, at 5:45PM, students began funneling into the gym, collected their name tags, and spontaneously gathered into presentation groups anxiously anticipating their moment to present. Sixth grade students made their way to the gym each wearing their Edmodo shirt, courtesy of Edmodo. (Program developers of tools presented were contacted a few weeks before Studucate requesting promotional items to give out to students. Along with the t-shirts, books, pens, notepads, and certificates were generously donated.) Within minutes, the students were presenting and the reality of the event was evident. Studucate lived up to its potential and proved to be a success. The success of Studucate can be measured in many ways, but topping the list is the sense of trust that is instilled in ones own ability. It was amazing to see each student exuding confidence and selfassurance while taking on the unique role of educating parents throughout the night. It felt like you were in charge and your teachers didnt help. It wasnt the teachers telling you how to use a program, it was you teaching the parents. If you work together, you can get things done. We were a great team together.

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