The Learning Counsel Lauds Leaders in the Shift to Digital Curriculum and Technology

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Nov. 11, 2015 - PRLog -- The Learning Counsel’s National Gathering and Annual Awards event is a platform for innovative action and collaboration for the future of teaching and learning. The second annual gathering, held at the Hyatt Tamaya resort in New Mexico, drew nearly 70 educators from leading schools and districts to celebrate their exemplary progress in the shift to digital curriculum and technology.

“In this increasingly global economy, it is so important to embrace a digital curriculum that will educate tomorrow’s leaders and promote equality in education,” said Dr. David Kafitz, Vice President of School Relationships and Consulting with the Learning Counsel. “We established this national gathering as a place where innovative school and district executives can hear the latest trends and research, collaborate, and share successes as well as factors to watch for. It is also a chance to honor those who have truly lead the way in integrating technology into their curriculum in a way that will transform the way we teach our young people.”

The two-day event began with a broad review of national education statistics and research concerning the transition to digital curriculum from the CEO and Publisher at the Learning Counsel, LeiLani Cauthen.

“We put the gathering together to create a unique collaborative experience,” Cauthen said. “We took a look at all the different types of education conferences and realized there was a missing link that was necessary in the shift in education that we are all experiencing. It’s a relatively small group. But these are leaders from every size of district who are individually doing incredible things with technology. Then we also have companies that we invited who have solutions for the confusions and stumbling blocks that executives are facing.”

The first day ended with an evening fireside telling of student security “ghost stories” as the sun fell and darkness enveloped Sandia Mountain and the New Mexico desert surrounding the resort.

The second day of the Gathering started with a curriculum game in which attendees made decisions about which software solutions to choose, the platforms to run them on, and the constraints of budgets and standards—all using hundreds of labeled, colored balls. The “ah-ha” moments electrified leaders who gained an understanding of what is going on within districts all across the country.

Six TED Talk-like presentations followed from educators who shared their visions, experiences, successes, and failures in transforming their schools or districts with digital curriculum and content. Pre-selected audience members were given the challenge to choose the best presentation for the “Gathered Thought” award. The coveted award went to Dr. Michelle Zimmerman, an educator and researcher at the Renton Preparatory Academy in Seattle, for her intriguing and envelope-pushing take on experience-based education.

The two-day event concluded with awards from the Learning Counsel to ten attending schools and districts who stood out as leaders in the Counsel’s nationwide survey of digital curriculum and technology innovation.

“An event like this doesn’t have hundreds or even thousands of people like some others I’ve attended—it’s intimate enough for you to meet the right people and build lasting relationships with peers as well as companies who you need to have conversations with,” said Cleon Franklin, Director of Virtual Learning at Shelby County Schools. “You leave here with things you can implement as soon as you hit the office.”

To see a photo gallery of the National Gathering and Awards Event http://thelearningcounsel.com/Event-News.

About The Learning Counsel

The Learning Counsel is a mission-based organization focused on helping education professionals in the K-12 sector gain context on the shift to digital curriculum. Serving as an intermediary between schools, curriculum publishers, and high tech companies, the Learning Counsel provides perspective and organizational tools on the transition to digital for school systems across the country.