{"id":45537,"date":"2018-09-06T19:04:17","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T19:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.microsoft.com\/?p=417435"},"modified":"2018-09-06T19:04:17","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T19:04:17","slug":"video-back-to-school-for-the-first-time-at-wilburton-elementary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2018\/09\/06\/video-back-to-school-for-the-first-time-at-wilburton-elementary\/","title":{"rendered":"Video: Back to school for the first time at Wilburton Elementary"},"content":{"rendered":"

For students and educators around the world now heading back to school, it\u2019s a time filled with emotions and opportunities to make new friends, connect with old ones, and embark on new learning opportunities.<\/p>\n

For one school in Bellevue, Washington, it\u2019s been a momentous week: Wilburton Elementary opened its doors to a new community of students, parents, and educators, for the very first time. Over the past year we\u2019ve been sharing this school\u2019s journey, from its earliest planning stages<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to partnering with Wilburton to bring the Microsoft Education Transformation Framework<\/a><\/strong> to life every step of the way.<\/p>\n

More than 400 Wilburton Wolves are in for an amazing year ahead, and I couldn\u2019t be prouder of what the teams have accomplished in creating a holistically impactful environment for these students to dream big, expect more, and give back.<\/p>\n

A framework for leadership<\/h3>\n

For Bellevue School District Superintendent Dr. Ivan Duran, the new school represents a big step forward in the transformation of learning. \u201cWilburton Elementary is the first school we\u2019ve built from the ground up in over 25 years, in order to serve a fast-growing and diverse area in our district,\u201d Superintendent Duran tells us. \u201cThe state-of-the-art campus reflects the district\u2019s commitment to creating innovative approaches for equitable and inclusive learning, enabled by Microsoft technology. Working in partnership with Microsoft Education, we\u2019ve created a learning environment that will give students the skills and opportunities they need to be affirmed and inspired as creators of their future world.\u201d<\/p>\n

What I\u2019ve learned over the years, through our Showcase School program<\/a>,<\/strong> is that amazing schools are the output of an incredible leader. Beth Hamilton, Wilburton\u2019s passionate and energetic principal, is a testament to turning a vision into a real-life, fully functioning school. Hamilton has been a leading light throughout the entire project, ensuring that every detail\u00a0 \u2013 from the building construction, the design of the learning environments, through to the learning approach \u2013 has placed students at the heart of every decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to help each other, take risks, get things wrong,\u201d Hamilton says. \u201cWe\u2019re going to laugh and cry, but it\u2019s all to make sure that we have a relevant, adaptive, and rigorous learning experience for all of our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a privilege to work alongside Beth and listen and learn along the way. And what we\u2019ve learned throughout the journey will help inspire and educate the next generation of new schools.<\/p>\n

The Microsoft Education Transformation Framework (ETF) has been instrumental in helping Hamilton to consider every aspect of learning and design. Across Leading and Policy, Modern Teaching and Learning, Intelligent Environments, and Technology Blueprint, we\u2019ve trialed and tested various approaches and options to best craft this amazing new place to learn.<\/p>\n

And the new teachers at Wilburton couldn\u2019t be more excited.<\/p>\n

From day one to the first day<\/h3>\n

\u201cOn day one, the teachers were excited, but tentative,\u201d Hamilton says. \u201cToday, they\u2019re excited and full of energy \u2013 all because of the relationships and trust they\u2019ve built with each other. They believe in each other; it\u2019s the mindset we\u2019ve created.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Wilburton\u2019s educators, some of them brand new, spent the summer getting their classrooms ready and investing in their own development. Leveraging the Teaching and Learning component in the ETF, along with resources like the Microsoft Educator Community<\/strong><\/a>, these educators participated in over 100 hours of professional development, with a focus on connecting as a team and going deep with the innovative technologies designed to take student learning and experience to the next level.<\/p>\n

First-grade teacher Mandy Sin says, \u201cComing in as a first-year teacher, I\u2019m nervous about this whole new chapter in my life, but after our PD there\u2019s a sense of togetherness. We\u2019re a wolf pack \u2013 a family \u2013 and it feels like whatever I do, say, or try \u2013 it\u2019s ok.\u201d<\/p>\n

And all of Wilburton\u2019s staff is looking forward to the new resources they can access \u2013 including their partnership with nearby Bellevue Botanical Garden and the school\u2019s learning terrace, which is an indoor\/outdoor environment connected to their Maker Space. It\u2019s an area for raised gardens, creativity, community building, with all the resources of a classroom. The school is also designed with pods that create open spaces, for students in different classes to connect as a community.<\/p>\n

Built for today, built for everyone<\/h3>\n

From the very beginning, the school was designed to consider opportunities for technology to play a key role in driving digital transformation in both the learning environments and the efficiency and effectiveness of the school and facility itself. Using the Microsoft Education Transformation Framework, they executed on a plan that identified the tools their students and educators need today, and the systems and solutions the school needs to be more productive, efficient, and secure.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Wilburton Elementary provides every student with access to a device while they are at school, where they will use Office 365 with digital inking and a stylus to support their ability to collaborate with each other and be more productive. Microsoft Teams<\/a><\/strong>, OneNote<\/strong><\/a>, Forms<\/a><\/strong> and more will be used throughout the school to enable learning, improve feedback and assessment, and provide more personalized learning to every student.<\/p>\n

The school is also taking a holistic approach to accessibility and inclusion, using Microsoft Learning Tools<\/a><\/strong> to support every student, regardless of learning differences. STEM is considered fundamental in the curriculum, with the Maker Space leading to hands-on experiences, Minecraft and MakeCode introducing coding and creative thinking, and computer science serving as core<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Technology leads the way<\/h3>\n

Katherine Gorin, a 2nd<\/sup> grade teacher, is most excited about using technology to differentiate learning and make her classroom more inclusive and equitable. \u201cWhen technology wasn\u2019t as integrated in the classroom, it was a lot more difficult to make all the materials accessible,\u201d she tells us, \u201cbut with technology that we\u2019re extremely lucky to have, it\u2019s so much easier to make sure all students have the opportunity to access what they need to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Physical Education teacher Marnie Kazarian looks forward to bridging the connection from the classroom into the gym with technology. \u201cI need to assess and check for understanding, and technology creates that environment where classroom teachers and I can connect to talk about health and skill concepts outside of the 40-minute class period,\u201d she explains. \u201cWe\u2019ll know what\u2019s happening in both worlds and can make that connection visible to students so that they come into the gym with a focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lessons learned<\/h3>\n

Building a new school \u2013 and a new community \u2013 from the ground up has presented its share of challenges. The lessons Hamilton and her team have learned in the process apply not only to new schools, but to any school seeking to transform learning:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Relationships, relationships, relationships<\/strong>. According to Hamilton, leading any school is all about building relationships, both within the broader school community and between teachers. \u201cYou can have all the procedures and routines figured out, but if you don\u2019t have the relationships, it\u2019s never going to work,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s the culture, climate, and relationships that staff, families, and students are creating with each other that will make the school amazing.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. Less is more.<\/strong> The work of leading a new school requires Hamilton to wear many hats. \u201cMy Type A personality wants me to have everything in order and done,\u201d Hamilton shares. \u201cI\u2019ve learned this year to focus what\u2019s the most important \u2013 what we need to do right now \u2013 because an overwhelmed teacher is never going to be at their best.\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Model the technology.<\/strong> Hamilton stresses that school leaders can\u2019t just tell teachers about technology tools, they have to use them. \u201cIf you want teachers to use technology in an innovative way that is intentional and purposeful, you have to show them and model how it can be done,\u201d says Hamilton. \u201cAnd if they use it as a student, they have a better understanding of it\u2019s potential, and they can pass that on to their students.\u201d<\/li>\n
  4. Throughout the journey, Wilburton leaned on the advice and support<\/strong> of many partners and stakeholders in the process, including Microsoft, ISTE, NPDL, Sam Labs, ST Math, Steelcase and local community partners.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Wilburton\u2019s journey has been a learning experience for Microsoft, too. Putting innovation into practice continues to inform our products and our relationships with schools, educators, and students. We\u2019re also excited to share the Wilburton story with the many education officials, school leaders, and educators, who visit the Microsoft Redmond campus every year. As part of our collaboration, Wilburton has a dedicated space for Microsoft to welcome those who want to learn more about the school from both students and educators.<\/p>\n

    As this part of the journey ends, another one (this time, with students!) begins, and we\u2019ll be there every step of the way to provide support. Congratulations and best of luck to the entire Wilburton Elementary community! Thank you for an amazing journey. I am humbled that you chose Microsoft be a part of it.<\/p>\n

    Learn more about becoming a Microsoft Showcase School<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

    Catch up on the full Wilburton Elementary story, start to finish:<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Building for innovative learning: A new elementary school takes shape<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
    2. A new community breaks ground on creativity<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
    3. Staffing from scratch<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
    4. Professional development and the art of vulnerability<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
    5. The women of Wilburton Elementary are reinventing STEM for K-5<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
    6. Building community, one parent and one student at a time<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
    7. Making it personal: New approaches for inclusive learning at Wilburton Elementary<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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