“Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.” — Chinese Proverb
Today’s issue:
January 12, 2021
A CHAT WITH EDUCATORS
JCPS partners with Microsoft 
Image courtesy JCPS
Since its release in 2011, the sandbox video game Minecraft, in which players build a virtual world, has become the best-selling video game of all time. Now Microsoft is using Minecraft as an Immersive Education Creative Computing platform for K-12 schools. JCPS was one of only three districts in the world chosen to pilot the Minecraft Education Edition (MEE) on Chromebooks.
Now the school district has become the global leader in getting kids to leverage Minecraft for learning during Non-Tradition Instruction (NTI).
Heather Warrell, Executive Administrator for Digital Innovation at JCPS, who leads all of its digital strategies, told Louisville Future, “Microsoft partnered with Google to give kids the opportunity to do Minecraft on Chromebooks. We have distributed over 70,000 Chromebooks to students in JCPS and started training teachers with Minecraft boot camps where they could get certified in how to integrate Minecraft into their instructional design.”
Susie Tinker, the Director of Microsoft’s Minecraft Learning Platforms explained why JCPS was chosen:
“JCPS was chosen to be a pilot district to test Minecraft: Education Edition on Chromebook because they have been strong partners with the Minecraft Education team. Their leadership team supports Game Based Learning and M:EE, and provides opportunities for educators from across subjects and grade levels to receive professional development on how to use M:EE to promote STEM learning and engagement," Tinker told Louisville Future. “The Minecraft Education team knew that JCPS had the experience needed to successfully pilot the application in classrooms and provide the feedback needed to make the product and deployment process as easy as possible.”
"Our students, teachers, and IT3 department get to make decisions and suggestions that affect a global product’s final outcome. This is so powerful for students."
— James Unger, JCPS
And it appears to be the right choice. As of today, 12,000 JCPS students and teachers are using the platform. With the platform, students are building virtual worlds to demonstrate learning. “Some kids use poster boards or dioramas to demonstrate what they’re learning. These Chromebooks offer a different way to do that. Third-graders at Alex R. Kennedy Elementary, for example, are building a Minecraft animal shelter. In science, they’re learning how to use Minecraft to build a hurricane-proof house,” Warrell said.
James Unger is the Zone 2STC Leader for JCPS. He told us, “While it is certainly advantageous for Microsoft to field-test their software in real-world scenarios, we in JCPS gain experiences otherwise unavailable. Our students, teachers, and IT3 department get to make decisions and suggestions that affect a global product’s final outcome. This is so powerful for students!”
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INNOVATORS PODCAST
Healthcare data for a healthcare city Flyover Future launched its inaugural Innovators Podcast with Microsoft's Future of Work Initiative in Louisville. Each episode shares stories from experts at the forefront of data and artificial intelligence. Listen to gain valuable insight and inspiration for your own data strategy. Here are episodes that cover data and AI innovation related to healthcare. Your next big idea is one podcast episode away!
You can also listen to these episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, or wherever else you get your podcasts.
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HOT COFFEE! 
KY sees surge in business applications Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the number of business applications in the U.S. are at their highest level in 13 years. Kentucky alone has seen nearly 800 new business applications filed in 2020. Why the surge? 2021 Scale Up Program Heads up entrepreneurs in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio! Endeavor is launching its five-month 2021 Scale Up program. There will be two cohorts of the Scale Up program this year: from February to June, and from August to December. You can apply for the program here. Preparing kids for the future workforce JCPS’ Academies of Louisville initiative aims to evolve public education to equip students with the skills and know-how to meet the needs of a 21st Century workforce by building and executing a talent development system that’s fully aligned with the regional economy. RevIt accepting apps for Customer Growth program UofL's Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship is now accepting applications for RevIt - Accelerating Customer Growth. The program selects up to six Louisville early stage companies and matches them to a team of multi-disciplinary marketing experts for in-depth analysis, strategy, growth and execution plans. The application deadline is Jan 17, 2021. You can apply here. Share these stories!
ON OUR RADAR
Who is innovating in Louisville? 
Louisville Future created the Innovation Radar so you have a resource to track and connect to the most innovative companies and people in our region.
Here is a look at who is innovating and investing in Louisville:
Find out if you're on the radar! If you're not, you can always add your company. Maybe it will lead to a future story in Louisville Future. The Innovation Radar is free for all newsletter subscribers. Log in with your email and password Future. Share the Innovation Radar!
KNOW YOUR CITY
Have you checked your "Louis-Q" recently?
Today, we're going to talk about some minutiae about Louisville tourist attractions. Here are the questions:
Click here for answers.
AROUND THE REGION With 
We hope you enjoy these headlines from the latest issue of Flyover Future, chronicling innovation throughout the Midwest. If you'd like to subscribe to Flyover Future, click here.
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