Darlington ELA-8 science teacher Randy Smith will join presenters on the collegiate level when he speaks at the Lilly International Conference on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning in Bethesda, Md., May 28-31, 2015. Smith will deliver a presentation titled "Are You Out of Your Flippin' Mind?" about the flipped classroom model and technology integration.
Smith has self-produced more than 350 video clips with over 30,000 views on his Youtube channel. Online he uses these multimedia lessons to “pre-teach” students, deliver course materials and review content. Smith's students can learn at any hour of the day, any day of the week, contributing to stronger student engagement in the classroom.
“Randy was the master of the flipped classroom before the concept was mainstream,” said Rebekah Kinney, Darlington’s technology integration specialist. “Several teachers would be reluctant to create videos of themselves, but Randy is not hesitant to do so daily.”
Smith has spoken at numerous conferences and conventions on the concept, conducting several tutorials and presentations to other educators about how to effectively integrate technology and discover new ways to enhance learning.
He has presented at the 2013 and 2014 Georgia Independent School Association conferences, the 2013 and 2014 iSummit Technology conferences, and the 2014 Atlanta Area Technology Educators conference. Last fall, he spoke at the regional Lilly Conference in Michigan, where he debuted "Are You Out of Your Flippin' Mind?" Earlier this year, Smith was a featured speaker at the Midwest Education Technology Community conference in Missouri and the Georgia Science Teachers Association conference.
In early June, Smith will be a returning presenter at the 2015 iSummit in Atlanta, and will also be speaking at the Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School Teaching & Learning Conference in St. Louis.
“Randy is constantly researching the latest trends in technology. He learns how to utilize them and never hesitates to use what he has learned in his classroom,” said Kinney. “He is innovative, motivated, willing to try new ideas, and always willing to share his own ideas with colleagues.”
Smith has taught science at Darlington since 2000, and has over 20 years of experience in the classroom. He holds a B.S. from Georgia Southern University, an M.Ed. from Georgia State University, and an Ed.S from Georgia State University. He also serves as head coach for the boys' Middle School soccer and wrestling teams.
Smith is the recipient of Darlington’s Brown Faculty Award, a co-recipient of the 2012 Carla and Leonard Wood Faculty Professional Development Endowment Award, and a co-recipient of the 2014 Beachum Master Teacher Award.
Smith and his wife, Leigh Ann, live on the Darlington campus and have three children: Rand (’18), Lila and Bradley (‘23).
For 35 years, Lilly Conferences have provided opportunities for educators, administrators and graduate students across the United States and abroad representing any and all disciplines to come together and share ideas about evidence-based teaching and learning.
