MURSD's Technology Integration Presentation at MassCUE18

1. School Doesn’t Have to Stink:
Connected Learning Through Compost, Weather Balloons & Other Projects
David Quinn
Mendon – Upton Regional School District
Slides & Other
Resources
www.eduquinn.com

2. Standing Survey
I believe that learning happens
most deeply and powerfully
when….

3. Source: The Connected Learning Alliance

5. Our Why

6. If you take nothing else away from this presentation,
please know that …
• Connected Learning is possible in public schools.
• There’s a growing recognition, especially in Massachusetts that schools need to
modernize to make learning more relevant experiences in school districts.
• While the “why” is understood, the “how” can be challenging for both teacher leaders
& district leaders.
• Teachers need opportunities for connected learning as much as the students.
• Every school needs community partners. Sometimes they hard to come by. It takes
effort and outreach from both the community & the schools to make connected
learning possible in schools.
• I’m interested in learning what YOU do in your classrooms/schools/districts.

7. Photo by Courtney Baucom on Unsplash
MURSD
Our Connected Learning Stories

8. Connected Composting:
An Entrepreneurial Approach Connected Learning

15. Connected Clean Energy:
A Community Approach to Clean Energy

25. Stratosphere:
Students Launch a High Altitude Balloon and Payload Experiments

32. Stop Part II:
What’s been your biggest tech EPIC fail?

33. Stratosphere II:
Nipmuc, we have a problem…

43. Other Projects to Connect Learners

44. Connecting Students & Families Through Maker Mondays

45. Connecting the District Through the Marshmallow Challenge

46. Connected Civics: Raising Awareness Through PSAs & Action

48. Connecting Grade-Levels Through Hummingbird Robotics

50. Connecting the Community Through 21st Century Learning
Conferences

51. Connecting Educators Through The Inspired Learning Project

54. Getting to the “HOW” of Connected & Inspired Learning

55. Photo by Matthew Garoffolo on Unsplash
Remaining Barriers to Connected Learning

56. Current Obstacles
• School Schedules: hard to align the sustained project with
working professionals due to rotating class blocks.
• Timing: A community member’s offer to help may not link up with
any existing or current work. Schools need databases.
• Student Schedules: Students already have numerous after-school
& weekend commitments.
• Game Change: shift in learning design may be unfamiliar to both
teachers & students, especially those who have mastered the
game of school.
• Inequitable Resources: We’re fortunate to have a solid wireless
infrastructure and abundances of devices. This is not the case for
all public school districts.