The annual SXSW EDU festival is all about cultivating and empowering those who wish to further the art of teaching and learning. But not every interested stakeholder is able to make it to Austin. ATPE members are in luck, though! Our Professional Learning Portal now includes recorded sessions from the 2016 and 2017 SXSW EDU. Here’s a roundup of some of the courses from 2017.
 
Brain-Informed Education for All
In an age where we know so much about how people learn, how do we ensure that the US public education system reflects these discoveries and reaches all children, especially those in underserved populations? Led by Abner Oakes, director of outreach and partnerships at Alliance for Excellent Education, and David Yeager, associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, this discussion explores how education policy and learning research align, and where improvements and challenges remain.
 
ESSA, Turnaround Arts, and the Obama Education Legacy
This session discusses how the arts can be used as a way to reform some of the country’s lowest-performing schools, an initiative created by the Turnaround Arts (TA) act. Listeners will gain an understanding of how local communities can leverage the arts through legislation such as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and how the methodology behind TA works—and leads to academic success.
 
Beyond Aid: Solutions for Educating Refugee Youth
We are in the midst of the worst refugee crisis since World War II. Syrian refugees alone number more than five million, and more than half of these are children. Trauma, poverty, social isolation, and a lack of access to education are creating a bleak future for a generation of youth. Helping young refugees find a sense of purpose and a path to a better future is critical for their individual futures, their home countries, and our well-being as a global community. Join experts from the International Rescue Committee, Aspen Institute, Microsoft, and NetHope for a discussion about how technology and other solutions, including virtual exchange, can aid refugee education.
 
Classroom to Community
Through service learning, 2016 National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes expands her classroom walls into the community. These service projects allow students to transfer critical thinking and problem-solving skills from the classroom to real-world situations, among many other benefits (including academic success!). In this webinar, Hayes shares best practices for engaging students in service learning and encourages educators to develop their own plans in order to expand the reach of this valuable practice.
 
Learning, Memory, and Knowledge Post-Google
In the post-Google, mobile age, how much value is there in memorization, and how does this cultural shift from memorization impact learning? In this presentation, Andrew Smith Lewis of Cerego LLC dives into the science of memory and how technology changes the cultural value of memory and knowledge. It may be that memory is actually more important than ever.
 
Remaking Learning in Mr. Rogers’s New Neighborhood
The city of Pittsburgh and its Remake Learning Network share their collaboration efforts centered on creating a new type of modern education—where the region is a classroom and learners leverage the technology, creativity, and innovations that have transformed Mr. Rogers’s neighborhood. Representing more than 250 schools, museums, libraries, and community centers, Remake Learning has reset educational expectations—in and out of school, and from pre-K to 12th grade.
 
Don’t forget that as a member of ATPE, you get access to this online learning portal as a way to earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits via online courses and webinars—all on your own time and free of charge. The PL Portal also provides you with a tracking system so that you can maintain a comprehensive history of CPE hours and certificates.
 
Have you taken any of these courses yet? Which ones would you recommend?
 
Not an ATPE member? Join today at atpe.org/join.