Will Richardson will spend the day discussing the paths that a number of “bold schools” are taking to fundamentally redefine their value as places of learning, not of content and teachers. We’ll discuss . . .

• the challenges of remaining an “old” school

• define the main characteristics of “bold” schools

• look at schools that are already bridging the gap

• suggest ways to begin relevant, “bold” conversations around real change in our own schools and communities.

Who Should Attend?

School board members, Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Directors, Directors of Innovation, Technology Coordinators/Integrationists, Instructional Coaches, Teachers, Parents, Students, Post Secondary Educators, and Business & Community Members

1. It's an amazing time to be a learner, but it's a challenging time for traditional thinking about schools and classrooms.

2. We need to stay true to what we believe about how deep and powerful learning happens.

3. Technology can amplify our ability to learn.

4. In a world of ubiquitous access, we need to give kids many more opportunities to be self-determined learners who are constructing knowledge and participating in the real world around things they care about.

5. Educators must engage in sometimes difficult conversations about reimagining schools and classrooms for the modern world.

A parent of two teen-agers, Will Richardson has spent the last dozen years developing an international reputation as a leading thinker and writer about the intersection of social online learning networks and education. He was one of a handful of original education bloggers (willrichardson.com) and his work has appeared in numerous journals, newspapers, and magazines such as Ed Leadership, District Administration, Education Week, The New York Times and English Journal. He is an outspoken advocate for change in schools and classrooms in the context of the diverse new learning opportunities that the Web and other technologies now offer, and has worked with educators in over 20 countries to understand the opportunities and challenges of learning in the modern world. In 2017, he was named one of 100 global "Changemakers in Education" by the Finnish site HundrED.

Will has authored six books, most recently From Master Teacher to Master Learner (2015, Solution Tree Press). In total, his books have sold over 150,000 copies worldwide.

A former public school educator of 22 years, Will is a co-founder of Modern Learner Media and co-publisher of ModernLearners.com which is a site dedicated to helping educational leaders and policy makers develop new contexts for new conversations around education. Most recently, Will has started Change.School, which is an 8-week exploration for educational leaders into creating relevant, sustainable change in schools using a coaching and community environment.

Over the past 15 years, he has spoken to tens of thousands of educators in over a dozen countries about the merits of online learning networks for personal and professional growth.

Will lives in rural New Jersey with his wife Wendy and his children Tess and Tucker.

Website: https://willrichardson.com/
Twitter: @willrich45

The Northwest Iowa AEA Leadership Academy is a partnership between Northwest AEA and Prairie Lakes AEA. The Academy’s goal with a one-day seminar is to focus on theory. Follow-up and support to implement and produce results are roles of the AEA, district, school and leadership in each setting.