Digital Learning Day is a nationwide celebration of innovative learning strategies hosted by the Alliance for Excellence in Education. The Englewood High School SmartLab was featured in this year's Digital Learning Day broadcast along with special guest, Colorado Senator Michael Bennett. The webcast includes a terrific video produced by students in the SmartLab as well interviews with the Brian Ewert, the District Superintendent, Karen Brock, Assistant Superintendent, Sean Duffy, the SmartLab Facilitator, and Josh Fergy, a SmartLab superstar!

Click on the "Showcase School" link in the right column to watch the Englewood segment.

In May, I posted this announcement about the Ronan (Montana) High School SmartLab robotics team winning the world championships.

Now we learn that Ronan has received an invitation to exhibit their winning design in the Smithsonian Institution! Wow!!!  The robot will be featured in an interactive exhibit this spring called Math Alive.

This great news comes as the Ronan robotics grows by leaps and bounds. The Ronan robotics program has become so popular that SmartLab facilitator Jesse Gray has had to split the group into two teams. And there’s this – Montana State University is looking to enroll students from the Ronan SmartLab in their robotics degree program!

Who knew Ronan would become such a hub for robotic engineering?

And for the almost all of you who’ve never heard of Ronan Montana, Google Maps to the rescue!

I hope you’ll forgive my occasional rant, but I had to share and comment on this YouTube video I stumbled upon. It speaks volumes about today’s learners.

And here’s another video of the same child two-years later with an iPad. Understand that Nolan is not at all a unique case. Next time you’re on YouTube try searching any combination of the words “iPhone”, “iPad”, “baby”, “toddler”, “one-year old”, “two-year old”, etc., and you’ll see what I mean.  

In many schools, “educational technology” is viewed as tools we put in the hands of teachers. Teaching technology is important and certainly belongs in the 21st century classroom, but we shouldn’t confuse it with learning technology. 21st century learning requires that technology be placed in the hands of students. We will not be able to convince children like Nolan that “disconnected” learning has any relevance to the world as he sees it.

Rant over.

A few months back, I blogged about news coverage on the new SmartLab at Englewood High School in Colorado.  Englewood was recently in the news again as the only school district in Colorado to successfully pass bond and mill levy initiatives in the November elections.

It’s worth noting that the SmartLab was a key element of the value proposition to District taxpayers.  Creative Learning Systems was proud to work with the District in hosting open houses in the SmartLab for community leaders.  It’s no coincidence that the news team chose to interview SmartLab Facilitator Sean Duffy in addition to Superintendent Brian Ewert about the successful ballot initiatives.

The District’s message to voters was clear: Englewood School District is committed to providing innovative, 21st century learning opportunities benefitting its students as well as the broader community.  It’s a message that clearly resonates with voters and the SmartLab served as visible evidence of this commitment.

Congratulations Englewood.  As always, we are proud to be your educational partner. 

United States Treasurer Rosie Rios spent time with students in the Slater Middle School SmartLab in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.  Ms. Rios is passionate about inspiring kids, especially young girls, to pursue an interest in math and science.   While inspiring students, Ms. Rios was herself inspired by the achievements of Slater students in the SmartLab.

We are grateful to Ms. Rios for making it a priority to meet and encourage young learners.  Instilling a passion for math and science is a difficult, but critical, task.  In the SmartLab, we support math and science through applied technology and project-based learning.  We infuse technology, including digital art and multimedia to connect with learners that might not naturally gravitate to those areas.

While we work hard every day to engage learners in STEM and other academic pursuits, there is no substitute for role models like Ms. Rios to inspire young learners. 

Read more about Ms. Rios visit here.

Photo courtesy of Pawtucket Times