Engagement Raises Achievement Connecting the Curriculum to Kids’ Lives

Overview Renzulli Profiler & My Activities Teacher Site Creating Virtual Assignments Classroom Management District-Level Access Q&A Agenda

A “marriage” between… …30 years & $30- million of R&D on enrichment learning and teaching… and the programming and personalization power of the internet. Where did the Idea come from ?

The 3-Ring Conception of Giftedness U A C I C TP Drawing out Gifted Attributes in Students… In Certain People Under Certain Circumstances At Certain Times Where did the Idea come from ?

No C L B hild eft ored! … Our take… Where did the Idea come from ?

… Wait until KINDERGARTEN … THIS WEEK WE TOOK A TEST TO SEE IF WE’RE READY FOR THE TEST THAT TESTS OUR TEST SKILLS… The Current Environment… Where did the Idea come from ?

E (Renzulli, 2004) A Engagement Encouragement Enthusiasm Achievement Renzulli earns students’ trust by first helping them identify their passions (i.e. relevance), then provides rigor The three “E’s” raise achievement Where did the Idea come from ?

2. Differentiation through matched resource utilization 4. Opportunities to contribute through the application of knowledge to real world issues of personal interest 1. Motivation through an individualized strength assessment 3. Empowerment through an open-ended, portable learning environment Inspiring Students to Learn, Dream, & Achieve

Fulton Participation All K-8 TAG students and teachers 12 Elementary Schools (Abbotts Hill, Campbell, Conley Hills, Crabapple Crossing, Lake Windward, Liberty Point, Mountain Park, New Prospect, Love T. Nolan, Renaissance, Spalding Drive Charter, Woodland Charter) 15 Middle Schools (Autrey Mill, Bear Creek, Camp Creek, Crabapple, Haynes Bridge, Holcomb Bridge, Renaissance, Ridgeview Charter, River Trail, Sandtown, Sandy Springs, Taylor Road, Webb Bridge, Paul D. West, Woodland)

Unique environments for the entire learning community: Students: Strength-based, differentiated content & work product creation tools Teachers: Classroom management, reporting, & accountability Parents: Read-only access to their child(ren)’s activity Managers: Administrator “Balcony View” of utilization Engaging the Entire Community

Linking Students to Teachers Students will be prompted to select their teachers at their first log in

Teacher Self-Select Rosters “Authorized” teachers can self- select their student rosters from any registered student account

Student Strength Assessment

Sample Strength Assessment K-4 Ability-level Profiler

Sample Strength Assessment Grade 5-12 Ability-level Profiler

Sample Strength Assessment Spanish Language Profiler

Top 3 Interest Areas Top 3 Learning Styles Top 3 Expression Styles

Six-years & 100,000 Hours Finding & Categorizing Resources… Currently 30,000 resources categorized / catalogued by Interest, Learning & Expression Style, Grade & Ability level, and the Georgia Performance Standards Renzulli’s Curricular Database

30,000 Resources 24,000 Online 6,000 Offline Each child receives approx. 2,000 recommended resources Matching Resources to Learning Profiles 1,200 Total Virtual Field Trips This child received 48 VFT’s based on his interests & learning style Strength-based Differentiation Engine TM

Google Search of “freedom” yields: 200mm results Complete with advertisements and uncertainty Requiring hours of surfing to find lesson-friendly sites Let’s Take the Freedom example… Freedom: 200mm

Renzulli Search of “freedom” yields: 179 results Covering exploratory opportunities, creativity & analytical “how- to” training, and work product creation Freedom: 200mm >> 179 With human [educators] editorial help…

Individual Student Searches of “freedom” yields: results Categorized across 14 Enrichment areas Filtered by the child’s interest, learning, and expressions style Freedom: 200mm >> 179 >> ~20 With human [educators] editorial help…

A search of the concept of “freedom” brings different activities to each student based on their top interest area, learning style and expression style… Lynne’s Top 3 Interests: Reading :: Social Action :: Writing

Lynne’s interests in reading, writing, and social action are engaged by these selected activities…

A search of the concept of “freedom” brings different activities to each student based on their top interest area, learning style and expression style… Frank’s Top 3 Learning Styles: Learning Games :: Technology :: Lecture

Franklin’s learning styles of games, technology, and lecture are engaged by these selected activities…

Lesson Planning Tools

Making the Web Accountable for Teachers… Thumbnails for quick analysis All resources one-click from an assessment or work product Track student activity

Students become lifelong learners by building a portfolio of their favorite / best work over many years Students upload their projects for safe, portable storage Students build a Total Talent Portfolio over their entire school career Personalized, Portable Total Talent Portfolios

Implementation Ideas –Intermittent supplemental class-wide teacher presentations during a unit of instruction –Computer center for students with classroom computers –Class-wide visits to the computer lab –Independent Study, Reading, or Inquiry time for individual students –Strategic compacting throughout a unit of study –30-minute small group Wizard Project sessions

Significant Achievement Gains In less than a semester (16-weeks) With weekly access (2-3 hours / wk)

Random Assignment Achievement Gap Difference between pre and post Iowa Test of Basic Skills Reading Comprehension by group for all students Reading Comprehension Results

Your Turn

Comparing Learning Styles Group Work Simulation Peer Tutoring Technology Discussion Lecture Games Programmed Instruction Independent Study