News Release
Homer CCSD 33C
Goodings Grove Luther J. Schilling William E. Young William J. Butler
Hadley Middle Homer Jr. High
Contact: Charla Brautigam, Communications/Public Relations Manager
cbrautigam@homerschools.org | 708-226-7628
For Immediate Release:
May 27, 2016
Homer 33C teams up with global network to host Google Summit
Educators from across the Midwest will gather at Homer School District 33C this summer to learn how they can advance student learning by integrating technology into the classroom.
The district is hosting an EdTechTeam Illinois Summit at Hadley Middle School and Homer Junior High School on June 15 and 16.
The two-day summit will focus on deploying, integrating and using Google Apps for Education (as well as other Google tools) to promote student learning. Topics include:
- 21st century learning skills
- Student motivation and engagement
- Student-focused differentiation and personalization
- Design thinking and rapid prototyping
- Inquiry, problem-based learning
“We are working hard in Homer 33C to empower students for success in a dynamic world,” said Arlene Siefert, the district’s director of technology.
“That means giving them the right tools to advance their tech skills and critical thinking skills,” she added.
This is the second year Homer 33C has hosted the summit with EdTechTeam, a global network of educational technologists.
Last year, James Sanders, Chief Innovation Officer for EdTechTeam and co-founder of the Future Ready Schools initiative, was among the featured speakers.
He will return this year to lead a session on big ideas in education, including a brand new idea from the EdTechTeam Dev Team.
Also speaking at the two-day event will be Jeffery Heil, digital content innovator for the San Diego County Office of Education, and Molly Schroeder, a Global Digital Age Learning Specialist, Google Certified Teacher and Google Apps for Education Certified Trainer.
Heil will discuss what it takes for teachers to make sure all kids have the opportunity for success while Schroeder will talk about the future and how teachers can help students create it.
Also leading a workshop will be Homer Junior High School teacher Shannon Schroeder who will share how to make the workflow flow with GAFE Add-ons for assessment and feedback.
“These Add-ons can make your feedback quick and precise and speed up the assessment process,” she explains in the workshop literature.
Homer 33C joined the Future Ready movement three years ago, challenging students to build their critical thinking skills, expand their communication skills and become independent problem solvers through the use of Chromebooks, iPads, laptops and other 21st century learning tools.
The goal is to better prepare students for college, career and citizenship.
Both students and teachers have embraced the Future Ready movement, participating in global read alouds with students across the country and global hour of code exercises in which they practice writing computer code for at least one hour a day.
A number of Homer 33C teachers have even elevated their skills in educational technology by taking courses to become Google certified.
By hosting the Google Summit this summer, Homer 33C teachers can benefit from additional training, said Siefert, without having to travel a great distance.
“The Google Summit really encapsulates our Preparing Future Ready Students initiative,” she added, “offering practical and effective strategies for enhancing classroom instruction.”
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