Collaboration of the Minds 2020

Thursday, August 6 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Livonia, MI — Churchill High School

It’s time to turn obstacles into opportunities! Connect with innovative teachers from all over Michigan at Collaboration of the Minds, an annual event where you’ll acquire practical strategies for using technology to personalize student learning and leave inspired to return to the classroom.

Keynote Speaker:
Gerry Brooks

Originally using humorous videos to encourage his staff, Gerry has become a national encourager for teachers through social media and speaking events.

He is a voice for teachers, but his passion is leading others to be responsible for their own personal climate and culture in the workplace.

Turn obstacles into opportunities

As a teacher, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressure to switch to new methods of teaching (e.g., blended, personalized, online, and student-centered, to name a few). There’s a common misconception that once you know how to teach in one format, you can easily switch to another. But each approach has its own unique pedagogy and purpose. It’s not something you or your students can be expected to embrace overnight.

Our philosophy is that little changes can have a ripple effect on your classroom. That’s why our goal is to leave you with easy-to-implement strategies for using technology purposefully in your classroom. At this year’s Collaboration of the Minds, teachers from all across the state of Michigan will come together to share how they’ve turned obstacles into opportunities in their classrooms.

Price = $60 per ticket (includes breakfast, lunch, and 6 SCECHs).

At this event, you will:

Explore what different roles teachers take in the modern classroom
Acquire easy-to-implement strategies for using technology to personalize learning
Get tech tips & tools to support your students and your teaching
Collaborate with other teachers who have similar interests and face similar challenges
Leave feeling re-energized and inspired to innovate learning in your classroom
Walk away with 6 SCECHs and a full belly (lunch & breakfast provided)

Itinerary

Breakfast — Fuel up before the learning begins (included with registration)
Keynote — Laugh along with hilarious and inspiring keynote speaker, Gerry Brooks
Wonder Sessions — Get ready to be amazed by your fellow teachers with brief sessions highlighting a strategy or tool
Breakout Sessions — Choose two 60-minute sessions that provide a deeper dive into a particular strategy
Lunch — Take a break and chat with others while enjoying a delicious lunch (included with registration)
Workshop Time — Apply what you've learned to your classroom and network with other teachers
Experience It For Yourself — Experience student-centered learning from the student perspective and explore strategies for personalizing learning for each of your student’s unique needs.

NOTE: Registration booth and main entrance for Collaboration of the Minds will be directly inside of the Performing Arts Center of Churchill High School.

You know your students best

Because you know your students best, this event involves both collaborative and workshop-based elements that allow you to hear from fellow teachers and apply what you’ve learned to your unique teaching situation.

This is important because your students’ needs may be different than another teacher’s students. Rather than telling you how to run your classroom, we will empower you to share stories and practical strategies with one another. We’re all in this together with the ultimate goal of improving learning for our students!

Keynote Speaker: Gerry Brooks

Gerry Brooks has been an educator for 25 years, beginning as a third grade teacher in Palm Bay, FL. He earned his master’s degree in administration and has been an elementary principal for 15 years. Originally using humorous videos to encourage his staff, Gerry has become a national encourager for teachers through social media and speaking events. He is a voice for teachers, but his passion is leading others to be responsible for their own personal climate and culture in the workplace. His book, “Go See the Principal,” outlines strategies for taking on this responsibility. Gerry and his wife, Kelly, have 3 adult children and live in Lexington, KY.

What last year's participants had to say:

"I enjoy learning practical ways to make teaching online better."

"The atmosphere was very positive and encouraging."

"Every year I leave COM feeling refreshed and recharged and I truly walk away learning so many new things, whether it be something new to try in terms of technology or a teaching strategy."

"Excellent as always. COM is by far the best PD event I have ever attended. I actually get excited to attend."

"I think this is a very worthwhile event for instructors to attend."

"Loved the energy and positive affirmation. I love that everyone is building others up."

"This was well organized with great sessions. I look forward to this every year."

Join us on Thursday, August 6, 2020

Interested in attending Collaboration of the Minds? How wonderful! We can’t wait to meet you, hear your story, and share some new tips & tricks with you!