Imagining Yourself: Exploring Careers in Elementary/Middle School: Hands-on Exploration

Join Jane Reynolds (president, FableVision Learning) and Lori Cooney (Program Director, Inclusive Education and Curriculum Design, ICI at UMass Boston) at the Future of Education Technology Conference in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM EST.

Our Creativity to Careers programs are designed to engage students in creative career explorations from elementary school through middle school level to increase high school graduation rates and jobs. Attendees will get hands-on during this elementary/middle school workshop. Research shows that developing your story is key to personal success, so attendees will experience tools to support this in the classroom. Attendees will have an opportunity to explore Future Quest Island, a game-based exploration of careers for elementary students. Finally, attendees will explore middle school CTE programs in animation and engineering. With stories from professionals - engineers connected to the National Academy of Engineering and Animators with backgrounds that include Nickelodeon and Disney - students discover the different aspects of these fields as they tackle projects. Attendees will assume the role of an animator or engineer, as they explore. Both courses are approved Florida’s Department of Education Digital Tools.

Date: Thursday, January 25

Time: 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM EST

Room: S319

Click here to register for FETC.

Using Zoombinis in Informal Learning Spaces to Practice Computational Thinking

Join Andrea Calvin (Vice President, FableVision Learning), Elizabeth Rowe (Senior Researcher, TERC), and David Smith (Instructional Technology Specialist, Orange County Library System) at the Future of Education Technology Conference in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM EST.

The future workforce needs computational thinkers. The best computational thinking learning experiences help participants learn and practice these strategies while building creative skills like persistence, embracing ambiguity, and curiosity. Piloted in informal learning spaces across Massachusetts, Zoombinis Club uses offline, collaborative activities to introduce computational thinking skills and gameplay before participants hop online to play the award-winning and research-based Zoombinis game. Workshop participants will actively engage in two Zoombinis Club activities–Make Your Own Zoombini and Acting out Allergic Cliffs–as well as play the online game . Presenters will share ideas and resources for implementing Zoombinis Club in libraries and other informal programs. One presenter, an instructional technology specialist for Florida’s Orange County Library System, will share his and his staff’s experiences implementing these Zoombinis activities in his library system. During this hands-on workshop, participants will engage in Zoombinis Club activities as they discover how Computational Thinking can, and should be, fun and engaging. We can’t guarantee you won’t get stuck on the path to a solution- but we can promise you will have fun!

Date: Tuesday, January 23

Time: 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM EST

Room: S320BC

Click here to register for FETC.

Ignite Big Dreams! Empowering Career Exploration and Possible Selves with Future Quest Island-Explorations in Elementary School

Join Andrea Calvin (Vice President, FableVision Learning/Reynolds Center), Lori Cooney (ICI, UMass Boston), and Kristina Ierardi (Digital Literacy Teacher, Bourne Intermediate School) at the MassCue Fall Conference in Foxborough, MA on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 10:15 AM – 11:10 AM EST.

Ignite future readiness using an accessible online standards-based gaming curriculum for grades 3-5. Participants will discover the power of the evidenced-based "Possible Selves" framework, STEAMS careers, and UDL principles. Explore implementation, research, and pilot opportunities this year!

Date: Thursday, Oct. 19

Time: 10:15 AM – 11:10 AM EST

Click here to register for MassCue 2023.