August, 2016

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50 Minute Periods Are Killing Teacher Creativity

Catlin Tucker

“I’d love to do [ fill in the blank with some creative idea or activity ], but I just don’t have time. My classes are only 50 minutes.” I hear this lament frequently when I lead professional development. Teachers get super excited about integrating technology or want details about a project, assignment, or routine I do with my own kids.

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Against the Flow Leadership

A Principal's Reflections

Change is uncomfortable for virtually everyone. I am the first person who will say that the process is not easy or absent of difficult challenges. The challenge of change becomes even more difficult when the main adversary is always right in front of us – our mindset. Our complex brains often work against our best intentions at times. This is Maslow’s hierarchy at play in a nutshell.

Policies 376
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How to create beautiful online courses: colors

Neo LMS

Have you ever bought something not because you really needed it, not because it offered much value to you, but simply because it had a nice packaging? Don’t be ashamed if you did; you’re not the only one. It’s not your fault. It’s your brain’s. We simply have this weakness for beauty. Everyone that ever bought a MAST chocolate bar fell into this trap.

Course 321
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3 Ways Technology Can Help Students with Autism

EdTech Magazine

By Meghan Bogardus Cortez Digital tools have the power to help students with learning disabilities communicate and gain confidence.

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Make Tuition Agreements Work Smarter—for Your School and Families

A well-crafted tuition agreement is more than paperwork—it’s a powerful tool for protecting your school and building family confidence. This guide helps private and independent K–12 schools reduce legal risk, improve collections, and foster long-term trust with families. Learn best practices for drafting enforceable agreements, communicating clear expectations, and navigating challenges like payment disputes, custody conflicts, and continuous enrollment.

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3 Ways Teachers Can Say to Parents, “We Want To Be On the Same Team”

The CoolCatTeacher

Setting Up Your Classroom to Win From Day One From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. As a teacher, I want to have a great relationship with my students and their parents. But there are things I can unknowingly do to sabotage (or improve) that relationship. In today’s show, we’re talking with Mike Hall about how to have the best start of the school year ever with our parents.

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20 easy ways to collaborate globally with your class now

Ditch That Textbook

The world is our classroom’s playground. We can see and talk to practically anyone around the world (with an Internet connection) for free. Video calls and collaborative digital tools let us connect in powerful ways. They let our students experience and learn from others in diverse locations in deep ways. Unfortunately, it’s one of the [.].

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A Simple Strategy to Deal With Negative People

A Principal's Reflections

Nobody likes change, but some dislike it more than others. Negative people in every organization can suck the life out of you. These are the people that constantly undermine you and others who challenge the status quo in order to create a better culture. Some have been empowered for all the wrong reasons and take advantage of their “sacred cow” status.

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Goal: Have a Conversation with Your Leadership

Teacher Reboot Camp

Welcome to Cycle 7 of The 30 Goals Challenge: Make it Meaningful ! “Failure is simply an opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford. Goal: Have a conversation with your leadership about implementing an idea or making a change to the school environment. Many of us have innovative ideas to improve our classrooms or school environments.

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Back-to-School Training Equips Teachers for New STEM Curriculum

EdTech Magazine

By Meghan Bogardus Cortez Project Lead the Way’s summer professional development prepares educators for new school year.

Training 280
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Fun Videos from BoomWriter That You’ll Relate to

Ask a Tech Teacher

One of my new favorite online writing tools is BoomWriter. It is a free group writing website for teachers where their students can develop and enhance their writing, reading, vocabulary, and peer assessment skills through three collaborative tools. I won’t go into detail today–that’ll come later–but I did want to share this humorous video I got from them about the Pre-Conference–that meeting teachers have with the principal before he comes in to observe your class.

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The Case for Game Design as an Innovative STEAM Teaching Tool

Speaker: Speakers:

Searching for innovative ways to deliver integrated STEAM education that also help students attain industry-ready skills? Then this punchy 30-minute thought leadership webinar is for you. Join fellow education leaders as we share: National data on STEAM performance and student engagement that indicates post-pandemic learners are craving inspired intervention 10 research-backed reasons why game design is the leading method for practically teaching integrated STEAM education An inside look at live

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Virtual Reality in education brings the future closer

Neo LMS

Out of all the trends in e-learning right now, I have to say that I have a soft spot for Virtual Reality, or VR. The things that it allows you to do and/or see are astonishing. For example, who wouldn’t like to go and visit Mars without leaving the room? Or go inside one of Dali’s paintings ? Or jump off a building without getting hurt? Ok, maybe not everyone would like the last one, but you get the idea.

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10 Tips for Teachers Using Twitter

Catlin Tucker

Today, I began teaching my course “Engaging Today’s Learners with Technology” at Stanford’s Festival of Teaching. One of the first things I asked my students to do was create a Twitter account. I explained that Twitter is ideal for connecting with other educators, engaging in conversations about education, and being inspired by the steady stream of interesting ideas shared online.

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Ensuring Access and Opportunity; Supporting At Home Connectivity

Tom Murray

This post is sponsored by Samsung. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. According to a report released by the Pew Research Center, approximately 5 of the 29 million households with school-aged children lack access to high quality broadband internet while at home. The research indicates that almost one-third of households whose incomes fall below $50,000 and with children ages 6 to 17 do not have a high-speed internet connection.

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A Glitch in the EdReform Matrix: The 2016 EdNext Poll on Blended Learning

Doug Levin

Last year at this time, I had some words about the treatment of technology in the 2015 EdNext Poll on School Reform. My critique (along with that of others who may not have been so public) resulted in a public rejoinder and reconsideration by Paul Peterson and Michael Horn of the magical percent of instructional time that should occur on computers in American high schools.

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Enhancing Higher Education with Generative AI: A Responsible Guide

Generative AI holds tremendous promise for all stakeholders in higher education. But guardrails are needed. Strong governance that empower instructors are at the core of a responsible approach to using generative AI in academia.

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6 Ways Students Benefit from Technology Integration [#Infographic]

EdTech Magazine

By Meg Conlan Implementing technology in the classroom provides richer learning opportunities for students.

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3 Ways to Teach the Way the Brain Wants to Learn

The CoolCatTeacher

A best selling neurologist shares how the brain really works From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. How do exercise, sleep, and the unique composition of the human brain impact learning? Today’s guest, neuroscientist John Medina , shares his views on where schools are falling short. Today’s show is a thought-provoking and edgy discussion sure to evoke a lively discussion in your PLC.

Exercises 239
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Bring Your Textbook to Life! 18 Ideas

Teacher Reboot Camp

“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” – John Locke. Your textbook is just another tool in your teacher’s instructional kit. The problem is that for many of us it becomes a crutch when we first begin lesson planning. The textbook can be very useful for planning curriculums and lessons.

eBook 239
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DIY Furniture Project

Catlin Tucker

In spring, I wrote a blog titled “ Classroom Furniture: Does it impede or improve learning? ” to explore how the design of a classroom impacts learning. I’ve been frustrated by my own bulky furniture, which stifles movement and makes collaboration challenging. Determined to redesign my own classroom, I researched furniture options, toured a retailer in Oakland, visited classrooms with alternative furniture, and presented a proposal to my school board.

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Enhancing School Device Management for Improved Learning

Schools face increasing challenges as technology becomes integral to education. Efficient device management is essential for maximizing technology use and safeguarding investments. Our article discusses the importance of tracking devices, outlines current challenges, and suggests modern solutions that go beyond traditional methods like Excel. Learn how advanced tracking systems can streamline operations, improve maintenance, and offer real-time updates for better resource allocation.

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Making is a Process

A Principal's Reflections

“ No two makerspaces should be exactly alike, because no two school communities are exactly alike. Properly planning your makerspace will ensure that you uncover themes that are unique and meaningful to your school. It will ensure that your space is vibrant and relevant, as well as one that is sustainable into the future. “ – Laura Fleming , author of Worlds of Making When we created our makerspace at New Milford High School many years ago we never fully realized the positive impact it would hav

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Tech-Savvy Seniors: Myth or Present-Day Reality?

Ask a Tech Teacher

A topic I don’t cover enough in Ask a Tech Teacher is how seniors handle the onslaught of technology in their lives. Thankfully, Beata GREEN, Director of HeadChannel Ltd. , London-based bespoke software development company, has experience in this area and was willing to share her ideas. Beata is responsible for overall strategic direction and overseeing the company’s continuing growth, building closer client relationships and maintaining best working practices.

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Should Pedagogy Always Drive Technology?

EdTech Magazine

By Matt Renwick An elementary school principal argues for the importance of letting technology shape education.

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3 Ways Classroom Design Impacts Student Learning

The CoolCatTeacher

Research on classroom design with Peter Barrett From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Peter Barrett gives us an overview of his classroom design research in today’s show. Peter and his co-authors found a 16% impact of classroom design on the learning of 3766 primary school students in the UK. Peter breaks down the study into individual factors like light, air quality, and nature.

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Quickly Create Personalized Learning Experiences that Work

How can we actively engage learners 24/7, on their level and according to their interests, while respecting their learning styles? It’s not impossible. In this guide: Explore how to transform traditional, one-way videos into two-way interactive learning experiences Understand different types of artificial intelligence (AI), including - Generative vs.

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Lesson Planning Survival Tips! 40+ Resources

Teacher Reboot Camp

I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think. – Socrates. Within the garden of learning is the students’ gained knowledge put into use. The way we design our lessons and activities determine how successful our learners will be in grasping new knowledge. We also have to ensure students pass tests and achieve learning objectives. Our lessons can help us achieve both.

Resources 237
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12 tips for using Google Apps with young students

Ditch That Textbook

There’s a common misconception with students and Google Apps: sometimes, they’re just too young to use them yet. Not so, says Christine Pinto. She teaches kindergarteners and previously taught four-year-olds in a transitional class. Regardless of their age, her students use Google Apps. No, more specifically, her students thrive with Google Apps.

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Disruptive Innovation

A Principal's Reflections

Education is ripe for disruptive change leading to innovative practices that improve learning outcomes for our students. What might have worked in the past will not necessarily have the same impact today, as the world has changed dramatically in a short period of time. It’s safe to say that the seismic shifts we are witnessing as a result of technological advances will continue to reshape our world in ways that we could never have imagined.

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10 Tips for Digital Storytelling You Don’t Want to Miss

Ask a Tech Teacher

Here are eight of the top Digital Storytelling articles according to Ask a Tech Teacher readers: 9 Best-in-Class Digital Storytelling Tools. Storyboard That–Digital Storyteller, Graphic Organizer, and more. Digital Storytelling Apps. Digital Storytelling Websites. Common Core Writing–Digital Quick Writes. 42 Great Story Websites You’ll Love. Monday Freebies #28: My Storybook.

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Can Brain Science Actually Help Make Your Training & Teaching Stick?

Speaker: Andrew Cohen, Founder & CEO of Brainscape

The instructor’s PPT slides are brilliant. You’ve splurged on the expensive interactive courseware. Student engagement is stellar. So… why are half of your students still forgetting everything they learned in just a matter of weeks? It's likely a matter of cognitive science! With so much material to "teach" these days, we often forget to incorporate key proven principles into our curricula — namely active recall, metacognition, spaced repetition, and interleaving practice.

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How to Prepare Your Network Before School Starts

EdTech Magazine

By Meghan Bogardus Cortez Schools can get ready for incoming students by testing networks and assessing plans.

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ALERT: Fundraising Program With Clorox And DonorsChoose.org

The CoolCatTeacher

A great fundraising idea for schools From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Clorox has an awesome new way to help teachers. First, if you’re a high-need school, learn how to double your impact on your DonorsChoose.org project to take advantage of the $100,000 donation from Clorox, GLAD and Hidden Valley to Donorschoose.org.

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Visualizing Learning with Infographics: 23 Resources

Teacher Reboot Camp

“Numbers have an important story to tell. They rely on you to give them a clear and convincing voice.” – Stephen Few. This year get your students to visualize difficult concepts or understand a process by teaching with infographics. Use infographics to introduce a chapter, unit, or lesson. Students can work in small groups to decipher the infographic.

Resources 237
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10 sites for students with free time on their hands

Ditch That Textbook

As a teacher, there’s always been a question that I wanted to have an answer to. “I’m done. What do I do now?” Early in my teaching career, my answer was, “If you’re done, you’re done.” That was my veiled answer for, “I don’t know what you should do next.” If you’re ever stuck without [.].

EdTech 220
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Meeting the Evolving Financial Needs of K-12 Private Schools

Private and independent schools rely on tuition to provide excellent learning experiences for all students, so it’s important to have a tuition and billing management solution that fits the unique needs of your school and families. Learn how the right technology provides the following benefits: Automated invoicing and PCI-compliant payment processing Integrations into financial aid solutions and student information systems Reporting and analytics to provide up-to-date financial insights Read thi