Educators Gather in Iowa for Agile Learning for Future Students

Press Release

For Immediate Release:

5/31/2017 4:00:00 PM

Media Contact:

Heather Leigh
Public Relations & Communications Director
720-443-7314
[email protected]
http://www.scrumalliance.org

DENVER, CO — Scrum Alliance®, a global professional membership and certification association representing Scrum and Agile practitioners who are transforming the world of work, today announced its support of AgileEDU, taking place June 2 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This workshop is the first event of its kind in Iowa, with a focus on rethinking how teachers teach and students learn, today and in the future. 
 
“Scrum Alliance is proud to support the Agile in Education movement in the United States and around the world with educators who are making it their mission to change the way students learn and teachers teach. This type of event in Iowa this week demonstrates another way Scrum Alliance is committed to help transform the world of work, by teaching the next generation of workers a better way to do their work,” said Lisa Hershman, interim CEO for Scrum Alliance. 
 
Scrum Alliance joins NewBoCo and Iowa BIG to present this unique opportunity for forward-thinking educators in Iowa to learn about the use of Agile principles and methods in schools.
 
NewBoCo is an aggressive user of Agile in aligning organizational strategy with performance. Iowa BIG is an innovative school pioneering unique ways to create engagement and accountability with students and teachers. Together, they strive to bring new ideas to teachers and educational leaders in Iowa.
 
“With the innovative Iowa BIG program happening in this building, our statewide computer science curriculum and STEM clubs, and our deep focus on Agile with entrepreneurs, this was a logical next step for us. This event brings together a group of the world’s best thinkers and our region’s educational leaders for a day to explore the future of education. Iowa truly is a leader in education innovation,” said Eric Engelmann, executive director of NewBoCo. 
 
This gathering will explore the global Agile movement and its potential impact on schools, as well as lessons learned from other schools already experimenting with Agile in classrooms around the world.
 
“Iowa BIG is an exemplar of what public education can become if we dream big enough,” said John Miller, founder of Agile Classrooms. “I am excited and humbled to be part of this event to share how Agile can help this group and other Iowa schools accelerate and strengthen their work. With the knowledge and tools these professionals will take back to their classrooms, together we are growing and expanding the number of innovative 21st-century learners.”
 
Short term, AgileEDU aims to expose educators, educational leadership, and legislators to Agile and how it can be used in their classrooms, schools, and districts. Long term, the goal is for Iowa to continue to be a leader through innovative educational practices, with AgileEDU as a resource for educational leaders worldwide.
 
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About NewBoCo
The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative is a nonprofit with the mission to accelerate world-changing ideas, from Iowa. The organization aims to create impactful startup businesses that grow here through its Iowa Startup Accelerator program and more; to foster world-class technical and creative talent via innovative educational programs for kids and adults; to assist thriving, innovative companies in developing new products and attracting the best talent through corporate innovation programs; and to make an outstanding social impact and make the world a better place. Since 2014, the program has grown dramatically, helping hundreds of startups get off the ground and grow, and thousands of children learn to code.
 
About Iowa BIG
Iowa BIG is Iowa’s initiative-based high school experience and is a partnership of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, the College Community School District (Prairie), and the Linn Mar Community School District. Iowa BIG helps students become makers, designers, social entrepreneurs, and storytellers by creating curriculum with business, nonprofits, and government agencies.
 
About Agile Classrooms
With the first Agile Classroom of fourth graders in 2010, educators saw their students grow into collaborative, self-directed, and innovative learners integrating 21st-century skills throughout their learning. Since then, Agile Classrooms has partnered with educators throughout the world to transform their schools into authentic 21st-century learning environments that achieve in today’s educational landscape and prepare students for the future.

About Scrum Alliance
Founded in 2001, Scrum Alliance® is the largest, most established and influential professional membership and certification organization in the Agile community. Scrum Alliance is a nonprofit association with more than 500,000 certified practitioners worldwide. Its vision is to "Transform the World of Work" with a mission to guide and inspire individuals, leaders, and organizations with practices, principles, and values that create workplaces that are joyful, prosperous, and sustainable. For more information, please visit scrumalliance.org.
 
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