ISACS presentation

1. Who we are...
1,243 Students
JK through 12th Grade
1:1 Laptop program
Chris Rhodes
Carla Federman
•crhodes@micds.org
•cfederman@micds.org
•@CRFederman

5. Brain image

6. Outline
1. Summary of relevant brain research
2. Our conclusions on how to implement
findings
Pause
1. Examples of how we utilize technology to
teach content and skills while increasing
engagement

7. The Research
Finding #1 - The brain that thinks is the
brain that learns
Finding #2 - Every brain is different
Finding #3 - The brain thrives on
moderate challenges
Finding #4 - The brain succeeds when
organized and engaged

8. Finding #1: The brain that thinks is
the brain that learns

9. Finding #2: Every brain is different

10. Finding #3 The brain thrives on
moderate challenges

11. Finding #4 The brain succeeds
when organized and engaged

12. “Chunking”

13. Conclusion #1
IF… the brain that thinks
is the brain that learns
AND the brain succeeds
when organized and
engaged...
THEN… our curriculum
should be thematic and
based around a few
essential questions that
allow students to think
deeply about the same
idea from different
angles.

14. United States History Themes
THEME
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Democracy &
Republicanism
1. Is the US based on Democracy or Republicanism, and how have the concepts
changed over the course of American history?
2. What is the role of the individual in the electoral process?
3. How do personal beliefs translate into political affiliations?
Constitutionalism &
Federalism
Expansion &
Industrialization
1. To what extent have Constitutionalism & Federalist succeeded in protecting and
strengthening the rights of people and the government?
2. How has the balance of power shifted throughout American history?
1. In what ways has expansion shaped America’s history?
2. How have the concepts of expansion & industrialization evolved?
3. What has been the importance and historical significance of frontiers in
American history?
Revolution, Reform,
& Protest
1. What impact have revolution, reform, & protest had on American history?
2. What are the elements that make a revolution, reform, or protest successful?
Immigration & Class
1. To what extent and in what ways has immigration shaped the United States?
2. How has America’s reaction to immigrants changed over the course of history?
Race & Racism
War & Peace
1. How applicable has the statement “All men are created equal” been?
2. How and in what ways has the concept of race evolved?
1. Which American war has had the most significant impact in defining American
identity, society, & politics?
2. How has America’s foreign policy impacted America’s domestic situation and
world standing?

15. World History Themes
THEME
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Dynasties & Rulers
1. In what ways did law become the basis of society?
2. Why and how did governments transitions between centralized & decentralized?
3. How did rulers govern their states & legitimize their rule?
Cultural & Religious
Developments
1. How were societies organized?
2. How did cultural innovations such as family, social groups, and religious groups
unite people and facilitate common action?
3. In what ways did the transmission of foreign ideas influence local cultures?
Economic Systems &
Interactions
1. How did factors such as politics, religion, and environment contribute to the
growth of trade and production?
2. How did economic growth and inter-regional trade impact society?
3. How did economic systems reflect the values and customs of a society?
4. What were the strengths and weaknesses of various economic systems?
Wars & Warfare
1. What caused war?
2. What were the motivations for expansion/colonization?
3. What was the impact of military innovations on the creation of states & empires?
Social & Political
Revolutions
1. What were the underlying principles that move a nation to change?
2. Did change have to be violent?
3. What could be done to manage change?

16. MindMap

17. Conclusion #2
IF… the brain that thinks
is the brain that learns
AND the brain thrives
on moderate
challenge...
THEN… we must teach
skills sequentially and
move to standardsbased grading with
clear rubrics and
support. Whenever
possible, departments
must coordinate how
they develop and teach
core skills.

18. 9th Grade Skills Guide

19. Evolution of Writing Assignments
 Paragraphs
• Present and defending an idea
 Defend Thesis Paragraph
• Defend a complex idea with three related
paragraphs
 Thesis-driven essay
• Present and defend a complex idea

20. Rubrics

21. Noodletools

22. Conclusion #3
IF… the brain thrives on
moderate challenge,
every brain is different,
AND the brain succeeds
when organized and
engaged...
THEN… we should utilize
technology to
differentiate
assessments and create
engaging assignments.
Updating the History Classroom Prezi

23. Sources
•
Brain Rules cover. Digital image. Brain Rules. Scribe Publications, n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2013.
http://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/title/brain-rules/
•
The Sports Gene cover. Digital image. Talent Or Skill?: Homing In On the Elusive ‘Sports Gene.” NPR, 5 August 2013. Web. 3 Nov. 2013.
http://www.npr.org/2013/08/05/209160709/talent-or-skill-honing-in-on-the-elusive-sports-gene
•
Outliers cover. Digital image. Outliers. Flickr, 21 April 2010. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecuaderno/4539878001/
•
Three Types of Memory. Digital image. Accelerated Learning. Mount Knowledge, n.d. Web. 3 Nov., 2013.
http://www.mountknowledge.ca/Syntality.htm
•
Coloured SEM Of Nerve Cells And Their Dendrites.Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 2 Nov 2013.
http://quest.eb.com/images/132_1293313
•
Illustration Of Human Nerve Cell Cross Section Showing Dendrite. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 2 Nov 2013.
http://quest.eb.com/images/118_833072
•
Synapse. Illustration. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 2 Nov 2013. http://quest.eb.com/images/161_2357581
•
Artwork Of The Limbic System Of The Human Brain.Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 2 Nov 2013.
http://quest.eb.com/images/132_1286998
•
CT Scan Of Section Through Healthy Brain. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 3 Nov 2013.
http://quest.eb.com/images/139_1904626
•
Apple Unveils IPad 2. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 3 Nov 2013.
http://quest.eb.com/images/115_3830322
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http://quest.eb.com/images/115_3898094
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Touchchscreen E-book Device. Photo. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 3 Nov 2013. http://quest.eb.com/images/167_4035226
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Stock - Wikipedia Website Screengrabs. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 3 Nov 2013.
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