AGIS Conference 2024 Potsdam

Join our new PZ Connect Europe network for a full-day workshop and immerse yourself in a transformative journey, inspired by Ron Ritchhart’s Cultures of Thinking (CoT) and the underpin an educator’s ability to create a culture of thinking. This immersive experience will engage participants in strategies for actively shaping environments where learning thrives.

Throughout the day, participants will engage in sessions that go beyond a basic introduction to CoT, such as thinking routines and questioning techniques. While these tools are invaluable, we will explore the underlying values and beliefs that form the bedrock of a true culture of thinking. Our workshop emphasises the crucial role of the messages we convey to learners, both implicitly and explicitly, and how these messages can shape a learning environment conducive to deep thinking and understanding.

We believe that every educator has the potential to create a vibrant, thinking-centered learning environment. You'll leave equipped not only with practical strategies and insights but also with a renewed perspective on teaching and learning, both within and beyond the classroom.

Join us in shaping a future where every classroom is a haven of deep thinking and learning, inspired by the latest insights into creating and sustaining cultures of thinking.

Our student body is very diverse, however assessment often still follows the principle of "one size fits all". In this workshop we will explore different methods and experiences for assessing student learning. We will start with a short overview of the means of action and expression in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and why choice, not only during our lessons but also in assessments, is important for our students. Then we will share best practices and examples and put our thinking into practice by adapting a current assessment.

Ever wondered why it has become common practice to differentiate based on students abilities and knowledge in classroom tasks and activities but at the end of their unit, students are still asked to write the same assessment? Do you want to change that and start differentiation in your summative tasks, too?
In this course, we will talk about a number of ways students can choose between summative options and still have the chance to show what they have learned throughout the unit.
We will use part of the time for you to brainstorm and share ideas on how you can adapt some of the suggestions for your own practices. If you have already taken the step to give summative options and want to share those ideas with your colleagues, or you want to learn different ideas, this session is for you.
Our examples stem from my German MY Language and Literature and Language Acquisition classes.

VR in the Classroom will be an hour long introduction to integrating ClassVR in your classroom. Get some hands on experience with using VR and brainstorm ideas of how this technology might spark learning in your classroom. Come and see what VR is all about.

What is Project Zero (PZ)? Have you ever heard the words ‘thinking routine’? If you are new to the complexities of these ideas or simply in need of a refresher, then this workshop is for you! Whether you have heard of PZ or not, you’re welcome to join this introductory session.

By focusing on intentional language with an empathetic lens and critical discourse, teachers will be presented with practical tools to guide students through difficult conversations. This session’s goal is to support being able to foster inclusive and reflective discussion in the classroom around war and conflict.

This dynamic 2-hour workshop dives into the world of Minecraft Education Edition (MEE), empowering educators to seamlessly integrate this engaging platform into their math, language arts, and social studies curriculums. Through hands-on activities and collaborative learning, you'll discover innovative ways to transform traditional subjects into dynamic, interactive experiences.

Session Outcomes:
By the end of this workshop, you will be equipped with:

• Solid understanding of MEE features: Navigate MEE confidently and utilize its tools for educational purposes.
• Collaborative teaching techniques: Foster collaboration among students within the Minecraft environment.
• Curriculum integration plans: Develop concrete plans for integrating MEE into your existing curricula (math, language arts, social studies) aligned with educational standards.
• Engaging student strategies: Create interactive and immersive learning experiences to boost student engagement.
• Assessment and feedback techniques: Assess student progress within Minecraft and provide constructive feedback for individual needs.

Getting Started with Minecraft
Install Minecraft: Education Edition
Minecraft: Education Edition can be installed on Chromebook, iPad, Mac, and PC. To ensure your experience with Minecraft: Education Edition is top-notch, make sure your devices meet the minimum system requirements. To check if your device supports Minecraft: Education Edition, see System Requirements. 

If you have questions about setting up Minecraft: Education Edition, the following link will provide you with some frequently asked questions and additional information about set-up. On this page, you will find assistance for:

• Get Started 
• Purchase Licenses
• Administration and License Management
• Installation
• Troubleshooting 

Preparing to Teach with Minecraft: Education Edition Teachers do not need to have any prior computer science experience; however, they should familiarize themselves with a basic understanding of what is Minecraft: Education Edition.