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What is a Moonshot?

If you are anything like most of us, when you check your inbox each morning you are faced with a variety of notifications. Today was no different for me, and I spent the early morning perusing publications that give inspiration and advice on tuning into learning that empowers learners, their teachers and administrators.

Sometimes it is so overwhelming that I just close the tabs and set myself into the task I have at hand. Today though, I was drawn in by the article Moonshots in Education - Tom Vander Ark lists the things he thinks will have a big impact on how we all learn. Moonshots are super ambitious undertakings, big ideas, beyond most people's imagination. As I read about his “Moonshots” I realized that is what we are doing - as a team here at IU8. The idea is not unattainable. Yet, there is no we we can try to go it alone!

I was particularly reminded of the collaboration of IU8 districts as we have implemented the Valley Network, Open Campus, the MCL Consortium and their Summits, and Summit Learning, the WOL Network for World Language teachers, and so many other professional learning opportunities - with the hope of expanding. Moonshots in action. It is thrilling to see how we are all learners, preparing learners to meet and greet the challenges they will face when they leave our schools.

Here are some of the IU8 ‘Moonshots’ that I am seeing. What an exciting time with great teams working to help us all learn to create environments that ‘expand dreams beyond imagination’.

  1. Conemaugh Valley and Blacklick Valley School Districts have implemented the Valley Network for Professional Development. Teachers choose from a variety of opportunities in Eduplanet and are able to work across district lines to enhance their own growth.
  2. CPDLF, under the leadership of Dr. Maurer and Chris Davis, have implemented a Personalized Learning Program through the Summit Learning. They traveled with a team to California for training and support. They have become leaders in this amazing program that helps educators shift from teachers to learning facilitators!!
  3. The World of Learning has provided a Network for World Language teachers to begin to understand how to use online resource for students in their classrooms. We dream of a larger network that supports World Language learning for every student across the IU and beyond. Altoona, Chestnut Ridge, Windber, Hollidaysburg, Ferndale, Fernridge, Richland, Tyrone, Turkeyfoot, and Williamsburg School Districts have enjoyed the collaborative environment, learned about blended resources and have begun to use our Spanish and French content online!
  4. Turkeyfoot has embraced the concept of Personalized Learning and has applied to be a part of the Summit Learning Model where empowering students to be self-directed learners. The staff and administrative team have embraced professional development to be prepared to implement game changing educational practices in the years ahead.
  5. Open Campus has provided expanded content and supported in-house virtual learning for Hollidaysburg, Conemaugh Valley, Penn Cambria, Chestnut Ridge, Everett, Rockwood, Ferndale, Turkeyfoot, Williamsburg and Cambria Heights! The range and array of courses from Career and Technical Education to Music Appreciation provides tons of opportunity for students.
MCL Summit Keynote -  Justin Aglio @JustinAglio

Contact me if you want to know more about any of our programs - I can connect you to the right person or help you set out on your own Moonshot journey!! Think BIG, do something great today and find some companions to join you. pmulroy@iu08.org

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