1. Connecting and Community Building Session #1 October 29 & Nov, 3, 2015

2. Goals for Session 1 To set the stage for Year 5 (Leyton, Pat and Graham - What we are learning: Symposium synthesis - logistics - plans and opportunities To learn from project leaders about their dreams for their projects To continue to build community amongst members of the Growing Innovation network

3. The Context: Growing Innovation in Rural Sites of Learning 14 projects (2 new participants): celebrating, supporting and shining a light on innovative practices in rural sites. Robust partnerships: University of B.C., the Ministry of Education, educators, student teachers and communities. Facilitating collaboration, meaning-making, research, growth and learning Conceptualized and monitored by members of the Rural Education Advisory Committee.

4. What are we learning? Individually: Reflect on what you have learned and hope to their from your work. Synthesis from the Symposium: Pat, Leyton and Linda

5. Symposium: What’s important about the Growing Innovation initiative and why? Enables work that is authentic and organic Relationships with communities are changing Collaboration and dialogue around important topics is enabled Rural districts and schools are being strengthened. Practices are changing and confidence is building: Engagement is evident

6. Support in Year 5: What did we hear? $2000 towards furthering or beginning your work in 2015-16 Paid travel expenses (reimbursed) for one project leader to attend a UBC rural symposium Travel grants of to visit other project sites, capacity building, etc. Project documentation (Graham) a) Robust website b) Videos c) Research? Visit and support from Leyton, Pat and Graham, as requested Invitations to learning events, as appropriate (eg Small Secondary School Think Tank)

7. Expectations for Participants Join two scheduled Blackboard Collaborate sessions (Fall, April) to share your work, build community, and contribute to the growth of innovation. Post artifacts (rubrics, photographs, power point presentations, etc.) on our rural teachers' website Attend our UBC Symposium in the spring Complete a project report in June, 2016 Create a learning partnership with one other project (or more)

9. Growing Innovation Projects: 2015-2016 School District #5 – Medieval May engagement (Sparwood, B.C.) School District #6 – Intergenerational Learning (Kimberley, Invermere and Golden) School District #8 – Evolving our Full Cycle Food Program (Crawford Bay) School District #10 – Design Thinking: Making a Difference in the World (New Denver, Nakusp, Edgewood)

10. Growing Innovation Projects: 2015-2016 School District #27 – Cariboo-Chilcotin Outdoor Classroom (Williams Lake) School District #50- Community Outdoor Education (Sandspit) School District #50 – The Outdoor Classroom – Foods Work (Masset) School District #59 – Technology Embedded Learning at Dawson Creek Secondary School (Dawson Creek)

11. Growing Innovation Projects: 2015-2016 School District #60 – 21 st Century Learning: PBL in the Energetic Learning Campus (Fort St. John) School District #62 – Nature Kindergarten (Sooke) School District #64 – Learning and Give: Looking for Connections (Saltspring Island) School District #73 – MacGyver Maker Fair (Clearwater)

12. Growing Innovation Projects: 2015-2016 School District #74 – Connected Learning in SD#74: Evolving the Elementary Classroom (Lilloett, Lytton, Ashcroft) School District #83 – Growing with the Community in Eagle River Secondary (Sicamous)

13. Building Community and Growing Innovation Introduce yourself Share your dreams for your project, especially in terms of outcomes for students, staff, community and growth

14. Now What? Website - www.ruralteachers.comwww.ruralteachers.com Artifacts to Graham Contacts and requests Pat.Dooley2010@gmail.com Leyton.Schnellert@ubc.ca Grahamgiles@shaw.ca Connections with others Parting remarks and reflections: I am thinking…..

15. Contact Information  Linda.Darling@ubc.ca Linda.Darling@ubc.ca  Pat.dooley2010@gmail.com Pat.dooley2010@gmail.com Project list with contact information pending.

16. Intergenerat ional Learning: Community Engagement Practice Place- Conscious Learning Nurture Purposeful Student Engagement Nurture Purposeful Student Engagement Cultivate Collaborative Partnerships Cultivate Collaborative Partnerships Embed Research & Inquiry Embed Research & Inquiry “How do we effectively diffuse sustainable innovation across rural contexts?”

17. What role can you play in sustaining and enhancing our Rural Education Commons? – Communicating what you have learned from your involvement with “Growing Innovation” partners; – Participating in public dialogue about rural futures; – Carrying out action research on your project and sharing results with others: educators & communities; – Mentoring new rural teachers and/or new project leaders using online means or in-person exchanges; – And…?