Summer 2018 @ LHRIC - "Triple A" Adventure in Accessibility

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A “Triple A” Adventure in Accessibility workshop (2018/2019)

A “Triple A” Adventure in Accessibility workshop (2018/2019)

After the initial "Triple A" Adventure in Accessibility for staff team meeting last year (Feb 2018), we decided to host a couple half-day workshops for the summer Model School workshop catalog (Aug 2018). An important target goal for me for the summer sessions was to revamp the materials to ensure each was relevant and able to "stand alone" for any audience (teachers, administrators, office staff). This was also chance to collaborate more deeply with Carla Ciamarra as colleague to refine design of workshop and participant materials and activities.

During preparation, I also had the chance to become more familiar with the use of screen readers thru extended practice with VoiceOver on my MAC. Quite an eye-opening experience! Overall, I am pleased with the outcomes for each of the participant handout and take away materials focused on "Awareness, Analysis, and Action" for accessibility.

August 2018 - Workshop Guide - “Triple A” Adventure in Accessibility: Awareness, Analysis, Action

All 4 “Triple A” Study Cards

UPDATE: Summer 2019 — related offerings of workshop offered additional opportunity to refine & update materials.

View the Summer 2019 Workshop Guide - Intro to Digital Accessibility - Awareness, Analysis, Action.

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Randy Hall

Learning. Teaching. Designing. Creating.
"Every Day's a Learning Day!" | "Energy is Infectious!" | "Choose It & Use It!"

I currently serve as a Senior Facilitator in the Instructional Technology team at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in Harrison, NY. As a Senior Facilitator, my work is focusing on active learning environments and strategies, online and blended learning approaches using learning management systems, building relationships with other New York State agencies and vendors, and designing and delivering professional learning programs and services for schools and districts in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties.

Fall 2017 @ LHRIC QFT Reflections

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[2017-10-19] Participation Certificate for QFT Workshop @ PNW BOCES

[2017-10-19] Participation Certificate for QFT Workshop @ PNW BOCES

Have recently been intrigued by the potential and relevance of the "QFT" (Question Formulation Technique) to be a beneficial addition to teacher's approach in active learning classrooms. The QFT is a simple strategy for aiding students in generating and asking their own questions. It is based upon work from “Make Just One Change” by Dan Rothstein and ties in well with many of the goals schools are interested in with active learning classrooms. (See Example Video: QFT in Action [8:48]).

I was originally introduced to the QFT by Greg Brown at PNWB during OC21 activities. Became intrigued and obtained source book, "Make One Change" by Dan Rothstein. Began diving in to explore and study. Tried out the QFT on my own in 2 circumstances so far: as part of Model School Core+ Cohort Kick-Off in Katonah (OCT 2017 - see photos below) and Rye Superintendent's Conference Day "Teaching in Active Learning Spaces" workshop (NOV 2017 - see photos below). Also aiming to incorporate into work with SWBOCES Center for Special Services faculty as part of Active Learning Cohort project (FALL 2017/WINTER 2018).

Model School Core+ Cohort Kick-Off in Katonah (OCT 2017)

Rye Superintendent's Conference Day "Teaching in Active Learning Spaces" workshop (NOV 2017)

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Randy Hall

Learning. Teaching. Designing. Creating.
"Every Day's a Learning Day!" | "Energy is Infectious!" | "Choose It & Use It!"

I currently serve as a Senior Facilitator in the Instructional Technology team at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in Harrison, NY. As a Senior Facilitator, my work is focusing on active learning environments and strategies, online and blended learning approaches using learning management systems, building relationships with other New York State agencies and vendors, and designing and delivering professional learning programs and services for schools and districts in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties.

Summer 2017 @ LHRIC "activ-con" Reflection

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Summer 2017 marked the inaugural "activ-con" event -- a new approach for conference learning.

Idea and vision began in the fall of 2016 when I asked and pondered, "How can we have a conference on 'active learning spaces' in traditional conference rooms with traditional 'presentations'?"

And, therefore, so began a journey to conceive of a new approach for designing learning "excursions" for participants to actively choose, engage in and experience. Partnering with furniture retailers was an exciting challenge, but was pleased we were successful with both known (Steelcase Education) and new (Nickerson, HON) partners. In addition, we hit the jackpot with securing the featured participation of Prakash Nair and Dr. Robert Dillon as personalities at the event.

Conceiving of and planning new participatory “excursions” (not “sit n’ git”) for participants to self-select, attend, and engage in was tremendously invigorating. This also gave me the opportunity to build and create new graphic designs, participant materials, and event space decor — from D.I.Y. “Excursion Tickets” to event branding/logo to placards and “your excursion kit in a box” materials for participants.

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,

Randy Hall

Learning. Teaching. Designing. Creating.
"Every Day's a Learning Day!" | "Energy is Infectious!" | "Choose It & Use It!"

I currently serve as a Senior Facilitator in the Instructional Technology team at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in Harrison, NY. As a Senior Facilitator, my work is focusing on active learning environments and strategies, online and blended learning approaches using learning management systems, building relationships with other New York State agencies and vendors, and designing and delivering professional learning programs and services for schools and districts in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties.

Embarking on New Visions for Space & Learning

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I had the pleasure of leading a district team’s exploration and visioning for new learning spaces this month. The Madison School District (AZ) is in the final stages of new school building construction projects. Their desired mission for this day-long exploration was to consider:

How might we design spaces to support our vision for learning?

Today, we will… 

  1. Begin a shared vision and understanding about “active learning” in Madison School District. 

  2. Gain insights into critical factors and design principles for active learning spaces. 

  3. Identify a road map for the journey ahead to envision, design, adopt and use active learning and active learning spaces in Madison School District.

It was great fun to visit and be a part of this group’s strategic contemplation and visioning. They’re off to a grand start with a grand vision to transform the nature of their learning spaces for teachers and students.

This engagement also gave me the opportunity to refine and expand techniques for using OneNote to compile learning materials, “exploration kits” and resources.

📕 Workshop OneNote Notebook

Workshop Outline & Missions

ARTIFACTS

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Randy Hall

Learning. Teaching. Designing. Creating.
"Every Day's a Learning Day!" | "Energy is Infectious!" | "Choose It & Use It!"

I currently serve as a Senior Facilitator in the Instructional Technology team at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in Harrison, NY. As a Senior Facilitator, my work is focusing on active learning environments and strategies, online and blended learning approaches using learning management systems, building relationships with other New York State agencies and vendors, and designing and delivering professional learning programs and services for schools and districts in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties.

Summer 2016 @ LHRIC Portfolio Reflection

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We made it through our first year of tours, outfitting, and programming in the LHRIC Active Learning Center! The summer of 2016 was our first opportunity to design a specific professional development opportunity for teachers to probe and explore, "How do we design instruction for active learning spaces?" 

I was pleased, proud and throughouly enjoyed the collaboration with Leslie Accardo here at the LHRIC in our first two-day active learning course for teachers. Together, we design and crafted various "MISSIONS" for participants during the two days to examine and explore key strategies, issues and principles.

DAY 1
Are You Ready to Get Active?
MISSION 1: Choose Your Huddle Triad
MISSION 2: What does active learning look like, sound like, and feel like?
MISSION 3: Understanding the intersection of space, instructional design, and technology for active learning.
MISSION 4: Room Recon
MISSION 5: Make n' Take

DAY 2
Spark Starter - Standing Circle Metaphor Magic
MISSION 1A: Finalize Your Room Design Diagram
MISSION 1B: Table Talk Di-scussion - My Active Learning Space Design
MISSION 2: Special Guest/Virtual Visitor: Julie Marshal, Middle Schools Active Learning Practitioner and University Professor
MISSON 3: Storyboarding Your Rapid Lesson Makeover. Use the provided Storyboard Templates
Lesson Makeover Prototype Lab Gallery Walk


NEXT STEPS: my next step will be to revisit the participant artifacts, course materials and transition strategies to refine, polish, and revise. Now that some of our regional districts and schools are moving ahead with their own space renovations and redesigns we should be prepared with high quality professional development offerings for schools and teachers.

PHOTO CREDIT: a classroom transformation as envisioned by Durham Middle School (Cobb County, GA). [A Digital Age Classroom looks like this...]

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,

Randy Hall

Learning. Teaching. Designing. Creating.
"Every Day's a Learning Day!" | "Energy is Infectious!" | "Choose It & Use It!"

I currently serve as a Senior Facilitator in the Instructional Technology team at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in Harrison, NY. As a Senior Facilitator, my work is focusing on active learning environments and strategies, online and blended learning approaches using learning management systems, building relationships with other New York State agencies and vendors, and designing and delivering professional learning programs and services for schools and districts in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties.

Spring 2016 & LHRIC Portfolio Reflection

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From April to June 2016, I had the pleasure of providing a Model Schools Core+ Cohort for 10 teachers participating in the Breakthrough Classroom initiative at Mahopac Central School District. Teachers were from elementary and middle school levels. The focus was on visioning new strategies and techniques for the seamless integration of technology using shared Chromebook devices in their classrooms. Found it a great opportunity to write, design and produced new instructional aid materials for future use including: 4 Structures for Shared Devices, "Amusement Park" self-guided activities for Kick-Off event.

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,

Randy Hall

Learning. Teaching. Designing. Creating.
"Every Day's a Learning Day!" | "Energy is Infectious!" | "Choose It & Use It!"

I currently serve as a Senior Facilitator in the Instructional Technology team at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in Harrison, NY. As a Senior Facilitator, my work is focusing on active learning environments and strategies, online and blended learning approaches using learning management systems, building relationships with other New York State agencies and vendors, and designing and delivering professional learning programs and services for schools and districts in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties.