Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve
the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth. Our Goals • Increase learning growth for students • Decrease the gap in achievement • Increase annual graduation rates • Increase gateways to post-secondary success
School is changing. As the world grows ever-more complex, the education system meant to build and unleash the individual potential of every student is undergoing a revolution. However, the very students whose future depends on education are often unaware and uninvolved in this process.
We want to change this. We are organizing the second annual Iowa Student Learning Institute, an education conference for over 200 students with the theme "Students of Iowa: how can your learning change the world?" The morning will feature speakers (including Jeff Herzberg of Prairie Lakes AEA, Zach Wahls who is an author, advocate, and entrepreneur, and Mike Draper who is the founder and CEO of Raygun) to spark transformative thinking. Then in the afternoon students will collaborate in breakout sessions to formulate their vision for education and explore ways in which they can improve their schools and communities. They will also be invited to facilitate their own sessions to share projects they are doing at their schools. We want students to take home two messages: that they have a critical role in shaping the future of their schools, and that the world beyond needs them to take a stand and fight for change.
ISLI 2014 will be Sat., Nov. 8 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Waukee High School. Get a group of students together from your school and join us! Registration is free through Nov. 1. For more information, please check out our website at www.iowasli.org or contact us directly. We hope to see you at ISLI 2014!
Please find the a copy of the November issue of Each and Every Child, the Iowa Department of Education’s e-newsletter that goes to over 15,000 Iowans who are a part of the special education community. In this issue, you will read about two special education teachers who are unpacking the Iowa Core, and loving it.
In November Heartland AEA will begin offering Zoom sessions related to Chapter 62 requirements, FAST assessments and implications for our practice. Mark your calendars for these optional sessions. Details about joining the November session are below. Watch The Administrator Connection for details on how to join the December session.
Nov. 3, 2014 1-2 p.m. Facilitated by Wendy Robinson and Martha Condon Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/776587538
Or join by phone: +1 (415) 762-9988 or +1 (646) 568-7788 US Toll Dec. 10, 2014 10:30-11:30 a.m. Facilitated by Wendy Robinson and Martha Condon
Find an overview of the early literacy conversation that will be conducted by staff from the DE and the Iowa Reading Research Center as part of the HAA meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4. All meeting materials are also posted at: http://tinyurl.com/k96lt5a
From engine parts to human organs, 3D printing opens a wide variety of creative solutions for the world's problems. And now, students have access to that technology though Heartland AEA! After a successful pilot year with the Stratasys UPrintSE Plus 3D printer, the agency is ready to offer 3D printing services to area schools.
Industrial tech and tech classes will find immediate applications. As you read more about the 3D model applications, we think other teachers will also see the potential in their classrooms. Make those math and science abstractions concrete with a 3D model!
Using special software, students will be able to submit designs electronically to our Creative Services and then the printed object will be shipped back to the school via the Heartland van mail. Visit our 3D Printing page for more information.
Did you recently upgrade your iPhone or iPad? If you’ve got 8 minutes, look at the tutorials to learn about the features you didn’t know you need to know! Go to www.atomiclearning.com, enter the your school’s online database username/password (available by asking your school librarian) and search for “iOS8.” Topics include: Interactive Notifications, QuickType, Family Sharing, iCloud® Drive, Spotlight® and more!
The CenturyLink Foundation and Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency are working together to award technology mini-grants to Iowa educators who are interested in fostering innovative classroom uses of digital learning tools. Visit the CenturyLink Foundation website for more information.
