ILE Conference integrates technology, teaching methods

Attendees jotted notes on everything from simple notepads to handheld tablets as they filled auditoriums and classrooms and listened to education experts from the U.S. and across the globe.  

In early August, the ESC of Central Ohio, the Ohio Department of Education, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Hilliard City Schools presented the Ohio Innovative Learning Environments 2011 Conference at Hilliard’s Bradley High School.

The five-day conference gave 750 educators from all over Ohio the chance to learn how to integrate new technologies, teaching methods and innovations into their school districts and classrooms.

In addition, attendees were able to learn how other countries are integrating teaching and learning innovations from keynote speakers and breakout session presenters who came from Finland, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Valarie Hannon, keynote speaker from the United Kingdom, said she hopes her presentation gave educators the opportunity to discuss important challenges schools and children are facing today.

“If I was still teaching or working in a school district, I’d find it really helpful to be hearing about what was going on in Finland or Australia or New Zealand and reflecting upon the learnings that are being derived those systems,” Hannon said.

This was the second year the ESC has worked with Hilliard City Schools on the conference. Ohio Department of Education representative Constance Barsky was so impressed with the 2010 conference that she reached out to the ESC to collaborate on this year’s event with a Race to the Top grant she had received to do a similar conference.

“It is critical for ODE to expose teachers to innovative learning environments to trigger more ideas for those teachers who are already skilled and prepared to innovate,” said Barsky, who also serves as an ODE science initiatives administrator. “For those not ready, it provides incentives for them to get the training that will allow them to provide a better educational experience for their students.”

With ODE’s collaboration, its partnership with OECD and its funding, the conference was able to provide a greater international presence and teacher stipends for those attending the conference.

Barsky hopes teachers gained an appreciation for other countries that have many of the same problems as Ohio school districts, and learned from the countries that have found ways to overcome those problems.

“Our international guests expressed much gratitude and appreciation for this opportunity to come to the US to not only share their educational perspectives, but to learn from Ohio educators during the break-out sessions,” said Teresa Dempsey, ESC director of professional development. “It was really a win-win experience for everyone that attended.”

Expanding individual networks into a community of learners was one of the main hopes for Tom Reed, executive director for the Center of Achievement and Leadership.

“Teaching can sometimes be a lonely experience,” Reed said. “If we’ve served in anyway to connect teachers in like grade levels, or in similar situations, or perhaps totally different situations that would enhance that collaborative experience, that’s a good thing.”

Krista Keir, from Dublin City Schools, was attending the conference for classes through the Miami Cohort in Educational Leadership. She found things to take back to the classroom after only one day of presentations.

“That was probably one of the most important things,” Keir said. “Being here I actually feel like I had something to apply back in my classroom, back in a meeting, back with colleagues; especially with Ian Jukes presentation.”

On the second day of the conference, newly appointed State Superintendent of Public Instruction Stan Heffner gave a presentation on the state of the Ohio Department of Education and its future initiatives.

“Professional development such as the Innovative Learning Environments Conference helps us work toward one of our primary goals, which is to ensure that students are prepared for college and careers,” Heffner said. “Our students will be entering a new world of work and learning – and this new world calls for new ways of teaching.”

“I enjoyed participating in this event and I am pleased that ODE was a sponsor of this important initiative,” Heffner added.

Reed’s hopes for next year include greater team representation from districts. He noted that the ESC would begin much earlier in promoting that this is not just a conference for individuals, but a conference for building teams and collaboration at the local level.