COLLABORATION

COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS:
CONNECTING WITH PEERS AND THOUGHT LEADERS

ABC CREATE promotes a culture of sharing among teachers in its 14 participating school districts, business partners and in the community.

ABC CREATE promotes a culture of sharing and collaboration among its teachers, school districts and educational partners. By facilitating multi-district professional development, showcases and strategic planning sessions, ABC CREATE helps educators develop a network of peers with which to exchange best practices, co-author Learning Pathways and share resources. Educators find support for ongoing exploration and implementation of innovative ideas from peers, thought leaders and STEAM experts. These unique collaborations and partnerships, fostered by ABC CREATE, help educators to develop regional STEAM-fluent students who are empowered to learn, create, lead, and succeed in the 21st Century.

ABC CREATE COMMUNITY QUOTES

“There’s an art to teaching, and there’s a nuance to it. Oftentimes, in a 15 minute conversation with another educator, you can pluck out these small things that help you become a better educator. The opportunities to connect with other educators have been a really great thing that ABC CREATE has done.”

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
Quote submitted anonymously by an ABC CREATE teacher, ABC CREATE END OF THE YEAR SURVEY REPORT 2020

CS DISCOVERIES COHORT

In the summer of 2019, ABC CREATE formed the CS Discoveries cohort made up of educators from 11 of its participating school districts. Members of this cohort participated in training for code.org’s CS Discoveries curriculum to help develop their skills and confidence in computer science and to begin moving their students from block-based coding to more advanced programming languages.

Members of the CS Discoveries cohort convened 9 times throughout the course of a year. They explored curricula, technology, equity, and the impact of CS in the digital world. Each meeting provided opportunities for cross-district collaboration and team-building. When asked about the value of the CS Discoveries cohort and training, one member responded, “In addition to learning how to use the code.org curriculum in my courses, I gained a network of colleagues as a resource which is priceless. Sharing resources and experience with other educators is valuable and impacts my instructional practice all school year.”

CROSS-DISTRICT COLLABORATIONS

ABC CREATE helps educators develop a network of peers with which to exchange best practices, co-author Learning Pathways and share resources. Educators find support for ongoing STEAM exploration and implementation of innovative lessons and learning units.

The Learning Pathways are an excellent example of cross-district collaborations within the ABC CREATE community. Teachers come together for learning pathway writing sessions during which they often work with other teachers or educational partners to create learning units/lessons, which are published and shared on the ABC CREATE website. In the Producing a Piano with Makey Makey learning pathway students learn how to produce a working piano using a Makey Makey circuit board and Scratch code. This pathway was designed and written as a cross-district collaboration between Michele Thomas of Kiski Area School District and Jessica Berberich of Freeport School District.

ABC CREATE PARTNERS

ABC CREATE partners with a host of organizations and businesses throughout the Pittsburgh region. These partners including the Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment Lab (CREATE Lab) at Carnegie Mellon University, BirdBrain Technologies, CodeJoy, the Consortium of Public Education, the Digital Foundry at New Kensington, community organizations and workforce partners, make it possible for ABC CREATE to provide impactful experiences for educators and students in the Alle-Kiski region. In turn, ABC CREATE educators share their teaching and pedagogical expertise with partners, creating a two-way street of learning and leading where everyone brings their own strengths, assets and areas for growth.

PSNK, Nextovation and the Digital Foundry

With Penn State New Kensington as host, ABC CREATE is embedded in many university programs and initiatives. PSNK initiatives like Nextovation engage ABC CREATE school districts, business and industry, government entities, investors and community members in the revitalization of a Rust Belt area into a vital and competitive community in the digital age. ABC CREATE educators and students benefit from the business relationships, entrepreneurial opportunities, innovative technologies and future ready skills sets these types of initiatives present.

The Digital Foundry at New Kensington, currently under construction in this area, will provide a new opportunity for companies and community members to work with ABC CREATE educators and students to explore innovative solutions to Rust Belt and rural challenges in relation to adoption of digital technologies and skill sets. The lab will serve as an asset for the 14 school districts who are part of Penn State New Kensington’s ABC CREATE collaborative effort, to enhance innovation and Industry 4.0 skill sets in students aged kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as college students.

COLLABORATIONS + PARTNERS IN ACTION

Tom Lauwers, founder and CEO of BirdBrain Technologies, is a long-time partner and friend of ABC CREATE. Tom joined ABC CREATE educators at the Elementary: Computer Science & Coding Fall Convening 2021 as both a presenter and a participant. Tom first shared his expertise on the benefits of building computational thinking skills in early learners and led a series of Finch activities that demonstrated engaging ways to teach these skills. He then collaborated with ABC CREATE educators to discuss and share ideas for CS activities that are currently being taught throughout ABC CREATE schools districts.

Sherri McCleary, Executive Director of the Digital Foundry at New Kensington, first joined ABC CREATE as a conversation partner at the ABC CREATE Teachers’ Summer STEAM Retreat 2021. Here, Sherri joined other nationally-recognized thought leaders to explore the ‘why’ for the shifts in education and work. Sherri shared her perspectives and expertise on bridging the gap between students and the workforce and addressing inequities in education. Sherri also joined ABC CREATE educators at the Middle + High School: Future Ready Skills with Real World Connections Fall Convening 2021. She updated educators about current and upcoming opportunities with the Digital Foundry and helped brainstorm and plan professional development for teachers and field trips for students that will engage educators and students with industry professionals and with the technologies and processes available through the Digital Foundry.

COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS: CONNECTING WITH PEERS AND THOUGHT LEADERS