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= IOWA Pilot: Communities of Practice and Innovation =

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About the project
The Iowa EdTech "Communities of Practice & Innovation" (CoPi) offers an unprecedented opportunity for passionate, innovative, and dedicated teachers in Iowa. The CoPi is an ongoing year-long commitment that involves working with fellow teachers and specialists as you implement a new eCurriculum. In addition, you will be participating in continuous professional dialogue within the community to determine the eCurriculum's strengths and to contribute to its improvement.

Never before have the transformative opportunities presented by technology, Iowa Core/Common Core, and emerging social networking tools allowed for the collective efforts of those most passionate to truly realize the potential of a systemic redesign of curriculum and educational practice in Iowa.

The Communities of Practice model offers educators a unique approach to professional development and growth. This ongoing, year-long professional opportunity offers committed teachers an exciting and challenging experience of being the first to implement a statewide “eCurriculum”. Implementing teachers will participate in a year long dialogue and discussion as to the merits and difficulties of moving to an online/digitally dense educational environment. As a result of this rich year long exchange of ideas, frustrations, and ultimate solutions, participating teachers will be contributing authors to the development and enhancement of an engaging, student centered, viable eCurriculum to be shared statewide, with the intent that a collective effort will bring our state closer to the promised potential of competency based, authentic and engaging learning experiences.

The Iowa EdTech CoPi project seeks enthusiastic teachers willing to participate in a “break the mold” experience for teaching and learning in Iowa.

Prerequisite Qualities

 * Passionate about teaching and learning, both for your students and for yourself.
 * Invigorated by continuous improvement
 * Seeking new methods of collaboration
 * Ready to embrace innovation and technology
 * Resilient when it comes to overcoming obstacles
 * Must be a secondary teacher assigned to teach one of the following Alg. 1, Eng. 1 Physical Science, or Social Studies

__Expectations of Time and Talents__
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE AND INNOVATION* (5 days f2f and ongoing participation in dialogue & discussion)
 * April 26-27, 2011 Community of Practice - Launch Workshop at Adventureland Inn
 * July 28-29, 2011 Community of Practice cont'd and Launch of eCurriculum in Des Moines, (site TBD)
 * June 19, 2012 Final reflection and next steps (TBD)

FACILITATING eLEARNING IN A BLENDED CLASSROOM (3 credit/6 week online course)
 * Mid May to July, 2011 //Facilitating eLearning in a Blended Classroom// online course (3 credit online course to prepare teachers to teach in a blended classroom)

FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS ONLY: PROJECT BASED LEARNING (3 days f2f)
 * June 22-24, 2011 (Coralville) or June 28-30, 2011(Adel)- Buck Institute for Project Based Learning

__Costs and Compensation__
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE AND INNOVATION
 * April 26-27, 2011
 * Grant will pay for training, venue, breakfast & lunch, lodging for April 26, and sub-reimbursement
 * District is asked to pay for dinner and mileage
 * July 28-29, 2011 ($1000 stipend)
 * Grant will pay for training, lunch, snacks, and lodging for July 28
 * Participant will receive a $1000 stipend to cover time, dinner and mileage
 * June 19, 2012 Final reflection and next steps (TBD) (grant sunsets Sept. 2011 so no funds secured)

FACILITATING eLEARNING IN A BLENDED CLASSROOM
 * Mid May to July, 2011 ($500 stipend)
 * Participant will receive a $500 stipend

FOR SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS ONLY: PROJECT BASED LEARNING
 * June 22-24, 2011 (Coralville) or June 28-30, 2011 (Adel) ($1500 stipend)
 * Grant will pay for training, lunch and snacks and lodging for 2 nights
 * Participant will receive $1,500 stipend to cover time, dinner and mileage

Complete the **Survey of Commitment**
 * To Apply**

For additional information, please contact Nancy Movall (nmovall@gwaea.org). **Deadline to register is April 20, 2011.**

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