Innovative Learning Collaborative Teams/Communities Of Interest

The Collaborative will create Teams/Communities of Interest to network, share ideas and resources, exchange best practices, pursue joint funding opportunities, develop mutual professional development strategies, pursue and share research opportunities and cooperate in other initiatives that will support adoption of innovative strategies and technologies. Initially the Teams/Communities of Interest will include:

• Gamified Virtual Laboratory Simulations
• Games In Education and The Workplace
• Collaborative Professional Development
• Innovative Learning Conference: Creating A Culture Of  Education Innovation: Strategic Planning for Innovation, Technology and Collaboration for our Arizona K-12 Schools, Universities, Community Colleges, Libraries and Community Organizations
• Open Education Resources Network
• Makerspaces Network
• State and Local Innovative Learning Plans
• Partnership with Pima Community College STEM Innovation Challenge​

​Gamified Virtual Laboratory Simulations​

Research has demonstrated that Gamified Virtual Laboratory Simulations can dramatically enhance student learning in science and STEM education when used to compliment, or even replace, traditional teaching methods. 

This team will take the lead in developing a partnership with Labster, the Danish Virtual Laboratory Simulation Education Group in Denmark to support adoption of Virtual Laboratory Simulations in Arizona schools, colleges, universities, government and business. Labster provides opportunities for partnerships, grants and co-financing. They already have partnerships with Universities such as Harvard and MIT. We know that ASU, UofA, Pima Community College, Peoria School District and others are interested in adopting this technology in Arizona. 

​Imagine if students could have unlimited access to multi-million dollar Harvard-quality laboratory facilities anywhere in the world, anytime. (Labster). Now imagine how Arizona could transform Science and STEM Education through Gamified Virtual Laboratory Simulations, especially in rural communities that do not have access to labs at colleges and universities.

​Games, Gamification and Games Based Learning

​Games, gamification and games based learning have gone mainstream in business and education for everything from elearing to workplace training, marketing and even innovation. Games based learning for education and the workplace enable schools, businesses and organizations to more effectively educate, engage, and interact with students, and with employees and customers. And it is becoming a major technology sector that could mean lots of new jobs for Arizona!

This Team will support development of the games industry in Arizona, and promote and support adoption of games and games based learning for education and the workplace. We could work at projects such as coordinating educational institutions in Arizona training game developers such as DeVry, ASU, U of A, University Of Advancing Technology, ITT and more and; developing an online directory of educational opportunities in Arizona.

​Collaborative Professional Development

Lack of professional development opportunities is one of the major barriers to the effective use adoption of technology and innovative learning strategies for teaching and learning. K-12 schools, community colleges and Universities are all struggling to train faculty, yet they are working independently. And there are a number of organizations providing professional development but there is no unified plan and little coordination among these entities.

This Team will take the lead in coordinating existing resources and developing a unified collaborative effort across professional development organizations, universities, community colleges, K-12 and community organizations.

​Conference: Creating A Culture Of Education Innovation:
​Strategic Planning for Innovation, Technology and Collaboration 

While there are great innovations in education in Arizona that are providing awesome learning experiences for students, many K-12 schools, universities, libraries, community colleges and community organizations are implementing these innovations on a piecemeal basis, without clear objectives, or a strategic plan, policies and strategies. 

The Collaborative will present a Forum on Creating A Culture Of Education Innovation: Strategic Planning for Innovation, Technology and Collaboration for our Arizona K-12 Schools, Universities, Community Colleges, Libraries and Community Organizations. Forum attendees will learn about creating a Culture of Education and Strategic Planning for Innovative Learning, what it is, why it is important, and how to implement it for their organization or education institution. They will explore how to be prepared to deal with the current and future impact on issues such curriculum and instruction, assessment and state standards, budgeting, planning, faculty and professional development, facilities and technology infrastructure, policies and community engagement

​Makerspaces Network 

Makerspaces are collaborative and creative DIY work spaces showing-up in libraries, science centers, K-12 schools, public and private universities, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations. They provide opportunities for hands-on designing, building, prototyping, hacking, crafting, and repair of almost anything, digital or physical, high or low-tech. Young people and adults are developing new skills particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) such as critical thinking, team work, engineering, computer-aided design, and prototyping, You will even see entrepreneurs using Makerspaces as incubators and accelerators for their business startups. 

As schools and businesses continue to promote Innovative Learning strategies and twenty-first century skills, there is no doubt that Makerspaces will play a crucial role in helping students and learners of all ages be better prepared for the future.

This Team will develop a Makerspaces Network to promote the adoption of Makerspaces in Arizona, and to connect Makerspace students and innovators engaged in Makerspaces initiatives that will enable them to implement Makerspaces to effectively address the needs of their organizations, communities and constituents.

​Open Education OER Network

Across the country school districts, community colleges and universities are adopting Open Education Resources (OER) that are free open licensed resources, available at little or no cost, that can be used for teaching, learning, assessment, or research such as textbooks, course content, simulations, games, and applications. OER permits their free use and re-purposing by others. Open Education  Resources can  improve student learning, save money, provide more personalized learning opportunities, drive equity by providing all students access to high-quality learning materials, make course materials more affordable for university and community college students who otherwise cannot afford to buy expensive textbooks or other course materials, allow districts to update learning materials when new developments occur, empower teachers to adapt and customize learning materials without breaking copyright laws. 

OER enables education institutions to reallocate significant funds currently spent on inflexible, static learning materials to resources and activities that accelerate the transition to digital learning such as  professional development, technology infrastructure upgrades to support digital learning, and funding for educators who curate and create OER educational materials 

This Team will develop an OER Network that will promote the adoption of OER in Arizona and connect OER innovators engaged in OER initiatives that will enable them to implement OER to effectively address the needs of their organizations and communities. ​​

​State and Institutional Innovative Learning Plans/Strategies

While issues such as funding, politics, testing, and legislation tend to dominate the education agenda in Arizona, we have a better idea. Arizona, and K-12 schools, Community Colleges and Universities need to develop visionary Innovative Learning Plans to Create a Culture of Education Innovation that will focus on Innovation, Technology and Collaboration and that will transform teaching and learning and enable a new generation of education and workforce development solutions in Arizona.  

This Team will take the lead in advocating for Creating A Culture of Education Innovation in Arizona and the development of a State Innovative Learning Plan, including policies and strategies that will support all Arizona’s’ K-12 schools, Community Colleges and Universities in developing plans, policies and strategies that support adoption of innovative ideas and new technologies. State and local plans may address issues such as funding, curriculum and instruction, assessment and state standards, budgets, district planning, faculty and professional development, facilities and technology infrastructure, policies, and community engagement and support and more.

​Pima Community College STEM Innovation Challenge

STEAM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math education, is an important strategy to prepare students for high tech and high paying jobs. 

​The Collaborative will partner with and support implementation of the Pima Community College STEM Innovation Challenge, an innovative training series to create and support teams of students, instructors, and professional industry mentors to develop relevant and sustainable strategies to help students connect with STEAM education and employment opportunities. Responding to the question What does a STEM Town that supports your future look like, the Teams will develop plans and prototype relevant, real-world solutions that build education and career pathways in STEM that support innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration. The training series will culminate in the PCC STEM Innovation Showcase event in the fall of 2016, including judging Challenge Competition pitches, networking, hands-on STEM learning, and micro-mentorship opportunities.