Kentucky Teacher

Holly Pitts teaches prepositions to her 7th-grade language arts class at Beechwood High School (Beechwood Independent). Pitts flips her classroom and has students watch short videos at home to aid in instruction. Photo by Amy Wallot, Feb. 13, 2013

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Parents are routinely joking with teacher Holly Pitts about how they hear her voice in their homes all the time.

“The feedback I get from parents is actually great,” said Pitts, a 7th grade language arts teacher at Beechwood High School. “I love knowing that students are learning some concepts before I really go over them in class.”

Pitts is one of several Kentucky teachers who have flipped their classroom. In a flipped classroom, students are introduced to concepts at home prior to classroom work on the topic.

“I love teaching this way,” Pitts said. “Kids are so social media driven these days, it makes perfect sense to me.” Read the full story

The deadline has been extended to Feb. 15 for mini-grants to increase girls’ interest in science, engineering and technology.

The Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative, a statewide initiative to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is currently offering mini-grants of up to $1,000. Teachers, community groups and other organizations committed to collaborating, informing and motivating girls are encouraged to apply. Grants are funded in collaboration with the Kentucky National Science Foundation (NSF) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Kentucky Space Grant Consortium (NASA KY). Priority will be given to programs reaching out to underrepresented girls in STEM, such as girls with disabilities and girls from diverse populations.

For more information or applications see the National Girls Collaborative Project website http://www.ngcproject.org/mini-grants.

For more information, contact Nancy C. Martin, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Louisville, via e-mail at Nancymartin@louisville.edu, or phone (502) 852-5226.

From offering online classes to creating digital textbooks to flipping classrooms, Kentucky teachers are embracing technology because of the benefits to students. 

Now there is a special day to recognize the power of digital learning in the classroom.  On February 6,  thousands of students, parents, educators and community members across the country will celebrate the second annual Digital Learning Day.  Here in Kentucky, many teachers will be participating, and it’s not too late to join.  These are just a few of the ways in which teachers can take part:

• Make a video about how your school or class is using technology to engage students and improve instruction
• Try out a new resource,  app or activity that you haven’t used before with your class
• Write a blog post about your favorite digital tools and share with colleagues

At www.digitallearningday.org you can find more ideas for getting involved as well as examples of class blogs, videos, experiments and projects from schools across the nation.   There is also a certificate of participation that you can print for Read the full story

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Mike Bell, director of the virtual arts program, directs students in the virtual choir on the opening day of the 2012-13 school year for the Floyd County school district.
Photo by Pam Caudill/Floyd County school district

A few years ago, Floyd County school district Superintendent Henry Webb attended a conference where he viewed Eric Whitacre’s virtual choir video and watched as the Grammy winner simultaneously directed 185 singers from 12 different countries.

“I was moved by what the composer was able to accomplish and thought of the talented kids in our district who could benefit from a performance platform such as this,” Webb said.

Luckily for Webb, teacher Mike Bell already was working in his district and was enthusiastic about bringing the concept to Floyd County

In its first year, more than 200 students in grades 4-12 joined the program and participated in a virtual choir performance of The Star Spangled Banner and My Old Kentucky Home.

This year, the virtual choir will be performing an arrangement of Wade in the Water, created by Betsy Layne High School band director Mike Cooley. Read the full story

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Brian Dugan talks fuel injectors with Bullitt County CRC junior Corey Ivy in the automotive lab at the Bullitt County Area Technology Center. Ivy would like to open an automotive shop one day. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 5, 2012

Rick Dawson, a counselor at the Bullitt County school district’s Career Readiness Center (CRC), has worked over the years with many students who struggled in a traditional classroom setting.

Some struggled to focus in a lecture-type setting that didn’t offer more hands-on learning, he said. Others struggled with formative and summative assessments.

“That environment just isn’t an easy place for some to thrive,” said Dawson.

That’s where Bullitt County’s Career Readiness Center can make the difference. The center, in its second year, provides students with a different approach to learning and gives the district a means to better prepare students for careers.

“These kids want to learn, and we’re a good fit where that pressure isn’t there,” Dawson said. “We want them to come back every day and to enjoy being here.”

In February 2011, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) secured the Commonwealth Commitment from all districts to move 50 percent of their district’s high school graduates who are not college- and/or career-ready to college- and/or career-ready between 2010 and 2015. KDE’s Unbridled Learning initiative outlines the plans, strategies and milestones set forth to make this vision a reality. Read the full story

The Kentucky Girls Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Collaborative, in partnership with the Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University, will hold its Fourth Annual Conference Oct. 12 in Bowling Green.

This year’s theme is “Collaboration: The Key to Successful Programming for Girls in STEM.” Educators, counselors, business and community leaders, parents and girls are invited to come meet others with a strong desire to see girls discover opportunities available to them within the STEM fields. Conference attendees will explore up-and-coming career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and learn proactive steps to help girls overcome roadblocks to their success in these fields.

Keynote speakers include Claudia Rawn, faculty, University of Tennessee; Brian Mefford, founder and chairperson, Connected Nation; and Ron Crouch, director, Research and Statistics, Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. During the conference, girls attending the conference will have the opportunity to talk to young women who are working in STEM fields about their strategies for success. Read the full story

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Teacher Taylor Marshall answers a question for Tristan Fiegel during his English II class at Frankfort High School (Frankfort Independent). Photo by Amy Wallot, May 1, 2012

Taylor Marshall, a language arts teacher at Frankfort High School (Frankfort Independent), was listening to NPR recently and heard a discussion about how every single piece of information has a monetary value.

“It won’t be long before anything and everything can be found online,” said Marshall, who is in his fifth year of teaching. “Student access to this information allows me to be a facilitator of information and skills. Regarding our lessons, all of the facts are online, which allows me to focus on the deeper learning aspects of reading and writing.”

Marshall is one of the four teachers who helped bring the Internet to students during class time thanks to a pilot program that allowed students to use handheld devices.

“The devices ran the gamut from iPhones to iPods to iPads to the PC and Android devices,” Marshall said. “We used them almost every day for something.”

David Cook, director of Innovation and Partner Engagement for the Kentucky Department of Education, said he appreciates the steps some districts are taking by being more open to using handheld devices for learning. Read the full story

By Matthew Tungate
matthew.tungate@education.ky.gov

Director of Technology Tim Maggard, 4th-grade teacher David Jenkins, 3rd-grade teacher Jessica Russo, counselor Kristin Gani and Assistant Principal Chalis Packer embrace technology at New Highland Elementary School (Hardin County). Teachers at the school will be designing virtual textbooks this summer. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 17, 2012

Benny Lile, director of Instruction and Technology for the Barren County school district, and his technology team are anxiously waiting for the virtual textbook market to mature. Districts in Kentucky have gone three years with no state money to replace textbooks, and Barren County is using some that are 10 years old.

“We are limping,” Lile said, adding that the district hasn’t done a grade-level or subject-area replacement in those three years.

Lile knows that virtual textbooks are the future, saying, “It’s going to happen. The great unknown is when and how quickly.”

Even the technologically innovative district isn’t ready to make the move to digital basal resources – ones that serve as the primary means of instruction in a content area for a grade level or course.

The market is too unsettled, he noted. Despite the advent of “bring-your-own-device” programs and schools offering 1:1 initiatives, there is no standard Internet-enabled device yet. And the market for virtual textbooks also is unstable, with payment and copyright issues of open-source and publisher-produced copy still unsettled. Read the full story

Registration is open for the Innovations for Learning Conference May 31 at Bryan Station High School (Fayette County). Space is limited.

The event is for administrators or anyone else interested in using technology to improve student learning.

Go to https://edtech.fcps.net/ifl/. Look at the “Sessions” list and see what is being offered. Those interested also can see if sessions still have seats available. Follow the steps on the “Attendee Info” page to guarantee a seat.

The fifth Annual “Soar to New Heights: A STEM-ulating Adventure” summer camp for gifted and talented learners will be June 18-29 at Eastern Kentucky University.

This summer’s camp will offer students an opportunity to explore current topics in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health in a state-of-the-art instructional and research facility.

The courses, collaboratively designed and implemented by Eastern Kentucky University STEM-H faculty and gifted/talented graduate students, are targeted to students entering grades 4-6 in the fall. The half-day program runs from 8 a.m. to noon daily with a tuition cost of $65 per student.

A brochure detailing the class offerings as well as special events for parents and students will be available soon. For more information, contact Debra Sparks.