Inspired Teaching supports teachers, students at Think It Up Live

November 17, 2016

(Photos: Sammy Magnuson/ Center for Inspired Teaching)

On October 15, Inspired Teaching’s Cosby Hunt served as an expert mentor and facilitator at Think It Up Live, held at Cardozo Education Campus in Washington, DC. Think It Up is an initiative driven by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which aims “to excite students about learning, celebrate teachers, and help innovate the learning experience in America.” The event brought together student-teacher teams to create projects designed by the students to benefit their communities.

Cosby facilitated a session called Infusing Rigor: Ensuring a high level of academic rigor and tying the work to college and career readiness, with Jennifer Wood of EL Education and Laura Schroeder of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education. Together, they helped teachers think about how to enable students to take ownership over their own learning, challenge them to think in new ways, inspire exploration of meaningful subject matter, and apply learning in a real-life context.

The sessions helped guide teachers and students as they returned to their projects. Teams then fleshed out their ideas, with the support of the expert mentors, and presented them to their peers, teachers, and other experts for feedback.

2014 Inspired Teacher Leader Sarah Elwell brought a student team from McKinley Technology High School. Her students decided to focus on ensuring equitable access to play, through a project that brings playground equipment and other games and tools to low-income communities. Their idea was motivated by an understanding of the cognitive, social, and behavioral benefits of learning through play. As a student explained, “Play helps with collaboration and working together to solve problems.”

Sarah shared with her students that she, too, had learned through play, even as an adult – in the Inspired Teaching Institute. She said, “It was hard at first. I didn’t expect it; I didn’t feel comfortable. But that’s where learning takes place: outside of your comfort zone.”

Jodi Ash, science teacher at the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, supported her students as they developed a project designed to bring together the middle and lower schools for a physics lesson at a trampoline park. The older students will teach the lesson to the younger students, building community and establishing positive peer role models, all while they learn and play together.

Ms. Ash (right) works with other teachers to ensure their students’ projects are infused with rigor.

At the end of the event, each student-teacher team received $1,000 to jumpstart their project. Next, they will submit the project descriptions to DonorsChoose.org to receive crowdfunding to turn their ideas into action.

You can learn more about Think It Up and their efforts to support and celebrate student-centered learning at thinkitup.org.

Micaiah Anderson

Community Outreach Specialist

As a Community Outreach Specialist, Micaiah is responsible for program promotion and outreach support for Inspired Teaching events and workshops. Micaiah has a passion for collaborating with community members to build-power and connect. She is an educator with a heart for youth and has experience supporting students fight injustices within their schools and communities. She has a BA in Political Science from, the real HU, Hampton University & anticipates graduating in May 2024 with a Masters of Arts degree in Educational Policy Transformation from Georgetown University.

AUTONOMY

"I want to have a say in what happens to me."

Autonomy is the need for independence; the ability to make choices, to create, to explore, and to express oneself freely; to have sufficient space, to move around, and to feel unrestricted with opportunities to exercise free will.

Brady Maiden

Outreach Coordinator

As the Outreach Coordinator, Brady helps maintain Inspired Teaching’s social media presence and supports the organization’s mission to connect with DC community leaders, educators, and parents. Brady has her Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University and her BS in Political Science from Northern Arizona University. She is passionate about community, equity, and coalition building recognizing that learning and growing with the community at large is how we continue to be impactful.

What brings you joy in life?

I find joy in spending time with my friends and family and meeting new people. I like going to concerts and festivals, and finding new books to read.

The Learner’s Cycle, Wonder-Experiment-Learn, and the Teacher’s Cycle, Observe-Plan-Instigate, comprise Inspired Teaching’s approach to engaging students in inquiry-based learning.

When they are engaged in the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, students are immersed in learning. They take the lead in designing authentic learning experiences around their own interests and their school’s standards of learning. Each discovery leads to a new question which in turn leads to more wondering and more learning. In the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, Learn is not a destination or an endpoint; it is a deeper understanding, leading to a deeper wondering and new possibilities that create new entry points to further exploration. The cycle continues because what students have learned generates more wonderings that require more experiments that foster more learning – and on and on.

The Observe-Plan-Instigate Cycle is the work of an Inspired Teacher. While a student is expected to follow the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, the teacher joins them on the learning journey while following their own cycle of Observe-Plan-Instigate. This cycle ultimately serves to ensure an inquiry-based atmosphere is at play in the classroom.

Jaqueta Abbey

Teaching and Learning Specialist

Jaqueta is the Teaching and Learning Specialist for Inspired Teaching. In addition to her current role with Inspired Teaching, Jaqueta is a first-grade teaching assistant. Her background features a variety of traditional and non-traditional experiences in the field of education, including working as an adjunct professor, teaching summer reading programs to children and adults, and tutoring children in the foster care system. Jaqueta earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an M.A. in Interactive Media from Elon University.

What brings you joy in life?

Creative self-expression! In addition to my passion for storytelling, I love dancing of all kinds. I've studied belly dance, bachata, and Brazilian Zouk among other styles. I also enjoy glass fusing, crocheting, photography, and cross stitching. These art forms allow me to express myself and build connections with other people at the same time. I think life would be a lot less vibrant without artists and storytellers!

Michelle Welk

Communication & Marketing Specialist

As Communications and Marketing Specialist, Michelle is responsible for finding and creating new ways to highlight Inspired Teaching and promote its programs in order to expand and deepen the organization's impact. Michelle has worked in communications in an array of settings, from creative agencies to state politics to national nonprofits. She has a BA in Journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia and is passionate about education, access, and equity.

What brings you joy in life?

My son, the beach, making a persuasive argument and good food!

Max Peterson

Real World History Assistant Teacher

Max received his Bachelor’s degree in History and African American Studies from Boston University in May 2016. He has worked in museum curation at the Museum of the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Max has worked with young people of varying ages from young children to young adults transitioning to college.

Feedback and Accountability

We grow through feedback and an understanding that the quality of our work is a reflection of what we are learning, but the shift to remote learning this spring disrupted a lot of the tools teachers were used to using to evaluate student growth. How might we do things differently this fall? Participants in this workshop will explore ways to bring meaningful assessment into the virtual and/or socially-distanced classroom and approaches to student feedback that strengthen motivation, and build relationships and achievement.