Over 250 colleagues from every school at Northwestern and 30 local and national institutions descended upon the Pritzker School of Law in downtown Chicago last week for TEACHx 2018, Northwestern’s annual celebration of innovation in teaching and learning through technology. It was an action packed day of engaging presentations focusing on this year’s themes of inclusive teaching and student perspectives.
The day kicked off with a poster session and some tech demos to get the brain juices flowing!
Wouldn't be an Ed tech conference without a VR demo. #TeachX18 pic.twitter.com/nrWGCWTznL
— Jeremy Van Hof (@jvanhof) May 23, 2018
Using escape room games for education? What a great idea! #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/jHyFXIsKLx
— Heather Haseley (@hhaseley) May 23, 2018
Sharing Java Battleships @TEACHxNU how we helped incoming @illinoistech freshmen learn CS by designing and battling virtual ships! Now supported as a free, open source curriculum project by @MimirHQ https://t.co/Pjy4uZJk2y #TEACHx18 #iteachcs pic.twitter.com/CMbUpms0KX
— Vinesh Kannan (@vineshgkannan) May 23, 2018
Despite seemingly at odds with the vibe of an EdTech conference, the ambiance of Lincoln Hall was a hit with attendees as they waited for the keynote to begin.
#TEACHx18 Excited to be back at Hogwarts waiting for the Keynote pic.twitter.com/kuOfLzBSlY
— Melissa Kolski (@KolskiMelissa) May 23, 2018
Attending an academic IT conference in Northwestern's "House of Lords." Left my cloak and wig at home. #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/NMot6h5kB2
— Brian McNurlen (@bmcnurlen) May 23, 2018
Once everyone was feeling suitably inspired, plenary speaker Dr. Yevgeniya V. Zastavker, Director of the Research Institute for Experiential Learning Science at Northeastern University and Associate Professor of Physics at Olin College of Engineering, boosted the crowd into the stratosphere with her heart-felt and though-provoking, “Learning in an Era of ‘Wicked’ Challenges.”
Keynote Wicked Challenge: creating an educational paradigm in which the entirety of the student is heard and respected. @Craniumation & @kate_sonka , #TeachX18 is right in sync with our whole Spartan conversation.
— Jeremy Van Hof (@jvanhof) May 23, 2018
Microstory 3: the power of real world learning as students teach themselves physics #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/uRjIrt7feB
— Marcia Dority Baker (@MarciaLDB) May 23, 2018
Keynote, Key quote ‘strong back, soft front, wild heart’ - Yevgeniya V. Zastavker #TEACHx18
— Bridget M Thomas (@B_thomas212) May 23, 2018
"We are storytellers and designers of learning experiences and environments" #teachx18 pic.twitter.com/ktsw89U7AZ
— Shakir Hussain (@fibonaccifreak) May 23, 2018
Brilliant keynote from Yevgenia Zastavker on Learning in an era of “Wicked” challenges. “Vulnerability breeds creativity” is a lovely takeaway for me. #TeachX18
— Stephan Martone (@StephanMartone) May 23, 2018
Following Dr. Zastavker’s inspirational address, concurrent sessions covered a great variety of topics and emerging tools.
Marcia from University of Nebraska-Lincoln presenting on inclusive teams at #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/8T7jb6uUtG
— david long (@_dmlong) May 23, 2018
Sami Hermez from @NUQatar talking about @perusall at #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/l40U76qLFt
— Shakir Hussain (@fibonaccifreak) May 23, 2018
Like a summer heat lightning storm, lightbulbs over heads began flashing.
Main reason why I came to #TEACHx18: connecting the skills we teach at 2ndary level to what they will need at post-2ndary, and adapting these ideas to students at my level.
— Ronell. Period. (@MisterWhitaker) May 23, 2018
Meet people where they are - literally! Sometimes tech is the answer, sometimes it's not - but talking about it opens doors to talking about pedagogical challenges. - @hhaseley #TEACHx18 @nu_digitallearn
— Jackie (@jacwic) May 23, 2018
Following lunch, one particularly popular session focused on combining two seemingly unrelated things – chemistry instruction and comics!
Comics in the classroom? YES! #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/MIZSupFE9B
— Kelly Roark (@specialkroark) May 23, 2018
@squirrelchomp Veronica Berns sees using her own comics with students as a way to "outsource" parts of her instruction. As much as I use #comics in the classroom, I never saw it that way. Brilliant! #TEACHx18 #
— Ronell. Period. (@MisterWhitaker) May 23, 2018
The day rounded out with talk of gamification, gender inclusivity, flipping the classroom, and assessments.
Gamification in discussion boards, or everyone wants to be a villain! TEACHx18 #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/ATLkFx3KeH
— Marcia Dority Baker (@MarciaLDB) May 23, 2018
Helpful “Do” and “Don’t” list when discussing gender in the classroom #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/YYeGQlDj7C
— Marcia Dority Baker (@MarciaLDB) May 23, 2018
Moving away from lecture towards active learning, discussion on instructional design process #TEACHx18 pic.twitter.com/khSN9ebU7u
— david long (@_dmlong) May 23, 2018
#TEACHx18 thinking about how to categorize types of assessments: 2 axes of technical knowledge and depth of analysis...each quadrant has its pros and cons! pic.twitter.com/s4YWmAhAP3
— Veronica (@squirrelchomp) May 23, 2018
Until next year, Cody Connor said it best:
No #education conference would be complete without a colorful wheel of #blooms! #teachx18 Thanks for the great day of networking, learning, and sharing! pic.twitter.com/WHyKXJ6XZg
— Cody Connor (@codyconnor) May 23, 2018
See you at #TEACHx19!