The DeWitt Creativity Group will be holding the 2013 Michigan Creative Educators Summit at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University on Wednesday, April 24 (9:00 AM through 4:00 PM). The event will feature innovative K-12 school based project learning and new trends in education. The theme of this year's Summit is “Dreams of Michigan.” A pertinent question that will be addressed is: How can K-12 students, parents, teachers, and others collaborate to build a more prosperous Michigan from the ground up? There will be participatory activities where students from various school districts will lead groups of educators and others in problem solving activities over relevant issues. It is hoped the Summit will lay the foundation for a dialogue between K-12 educators and the larger society on how to better utilize the talents and creativity of young people to learn and serve. The Summit is free and individuals can register at: http://2013creativeeducatorssummit.eventbrite.com. Educators, parents, students, and the general public are encouraged to attend!
Tentative Schedule for the 2013 Michigan Creative Educators Summit as of April 10, 2013:
9-9:45 Arrival, refreshments, networking, etc..,
9:45 - 10:00 Welcome and Introduction --"Dreams of Michigan" (Jerry Jennings, former superintendent who now works for the State of Michigan's Association for Superintendents)
10:00 - 10:10 Leyna Lightman and Aimee Shapiro -- Information about The Broad Educational Outreach program
10:10 - 10:25 - Speaker - Dr. Punya Mishra -- Professor -Michigan State University -- Educational Psychology and Educational Technology with a specialty in creativity and innovation
10:30 - 11:45 Five 15 minute presentations from staff, students, and educational leaders in technology --
---1) Williamston High School (InvensTeam --Developing an Offshore Rip Current Alert (ORCA) System for the Great Lakes Invention Statement)
---2) Generation E Institute -- The Generation E Institute (GenEI) is a non-profit organization based in Battle Creek, Michigan that offers youth entrepreneurial education programs and consulting services to schools and community-based organizations.
---3) Stockbridge High School (Underwater Robotics Team and Heritage Exploratory Academy discussing their recent trip to Palau to look for WWII airplanes with the BentProp organization "Expedition Palau")
---4) The DeWitt Creativity Group and DeWitt Research and Development Laboratory-- the main focus of the DCG is to promote student creativity in connection with project-base learning, public service, lifelong learning, and entrepreneurialism. Another area of emphasis is to prepare students for the creative economy by focusing on 21st Century Skills. The DCG celebrates and showcases the talent of students while helping people develop and exercise skills and forms of knowledge such as: critical thinking, technological proficiency, the willingness to accept the differences of others, networking, constantly reinventing themselves and utilizing their passions and talents to enhance schools, change the culture of education, and help communities, the economy, as well as society.
--- 5) TechSmith --Publishes software that enables users to capture, edit, and share anything appearing on their computer screens. Provides Fortune 500 companies with the ability to share information in compelling multimedia formats.
11:45 - 12:15 Keynote Speaker ---Nikhil Goyal: author, speaker, entrepreneur from New York listed on Forbes 30 under 30 list of people to watch, the Washington Post called him the "Future Education Secretary" --17 year old looking to radically change the education system in order to meet the needs of students living in an ever-changing global society
12:15 - 1:15 LUNCH BREAK ----------------------------------
1:15 - 1:30 A few words from Kimberly M. Mathiot: Educational Researcher and Composition Editor at the Michigan Department of Education
----Instructions for group activity
1:30 -1:45 Introduction to Group Discussions -- Jerry Jennings
1:45 - 3:00 Exchange of Ideas ---Group Dialogue -- A compilation of students, teachers, administrators, members of the business community, and the general public will work together to offer solutions and project-based initiatives that will address the question: How can K-12 students, teachers, parents, and others collaborate to build a more prosperous Michigan?" Educational issues as well as social issues will be discussed as participants will exchange ideas and work together to come up with solutions and ideas to implement positive changes in education. These will serve as "Action Plans" for success which will be shared at the end of the day. Each group will have a student liaison who will take notes, lead discussions, and give a five minute recap at the end of the day.
3:00 - 3:05 -- Jerry Jennings --- Transition into the Student Voice component ------
3:05 - 3:30-- Sharing of Ideas -- "Becoming the Solution" Students share five minute recaps of group work/discussions/ideas/solutions -- (These recaps will primarily be delivered by the Student Liaison who served as the group discussion leader)
3:30 - 3:40 Closing Remarks and Challenge-- Jason Lafay and Jeff Croley, Co-founders of the DeWitt Creativity Group (DCG)
3:40 - 4:00 Networking
**Other aspects will include -- Student filmmakers who will gather footage and interview people throughout the day. They will gather interviews pertaining to thoughts and opinions about the Summit, as well as what role they think creativity, innovation, and project-based learning should play in the future of education.
**Student performers and artists will also provide atmosphere ---Performing inside and/or outside the museum -- The "entertainment" will most likely include things such as: -- SLAM Poems, Musicians playing acoustic guitar tunes, Modern Dancers, and an Improvisation Troupe which will perform sketches from a recent show focusing on "diversity issues" in secondary schools
Below are a few links which offer further information pertaining to the DeWitt Creativity Group:
http://news.artservemichigan.org/2011/05/the-dewitt-creativity-group-asking-all-the-right-questions/
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/bathdewittconnection/2011/04/28/dewitt-creativity-group-promotes-innovation-and-creative-thinking/
http://www.capitalgainsmedia.com/features/dewitt0347.aspx
http://primacivitas.org/News-Media/PCF-News/ID/262/categoryId/23/019--DeWitt-Creativity-Group