Doug Levin

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

While I’d be the first to admit that there are both benefits and challenges to the fact that increasingly powerful technology tools are becoming ever more commonplace in our lives (in and out of schools), by and large I am decidedly optimistic about the long-term impact these new tools will have for individuals and society. For that reason, I am excited that this coming week the White House is set to shine a deserved light on one domain where the benefits of abundant access to powerful tec

Gamification 322

Gamification Wiki Android Policies 322

The Journal

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development just released a detailed study of the use of computers in the classrooms in 70 countries. It was no surprise that he study did not find improvement in student achievement due to computer use. It was a surprise, though, that OECD Director Andreas Schleicher named what he saw as the root cause of that failure!

Report 273

Report Study Learning Classroom 273

The CoolCatTeacher

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Useful Pedagogies and Tools for Educators Sketchnoting is not just an attractive way to take notes, it can improve retention and learning. These sketchnoting resources will get you started with your students. You don’t have to have a ton of talent, just a little know-how. I’ll update these sketchnoting resources, so tweet me or leave a comment to add your favorites.

Resources 318

Resources How To Handbook eBook 318

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

Mark your calendars! On Wednesday, October 14th I’ll be doing an extended Q&A about blended learning and my bestselling book Blended Learning in Grades 4-12. I’ll share my journey shifting from a traditional approach to teaching in a low-tech classroom to a blended learning model by capitalizing on my students’ connectivity and devices.

Blended Learning 212

Blended Learning Common Core Learning Technology 212

Advertisement

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.

Personalized Learning

Ed Tech from the Ground Up

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Research shows an adult needs to know 65,000 to 75,000 words to read and write well. That can be pretty overwhelming for a teacher of vocabulary. Ed-tech startups can also get overwhelmed when thinking about their future markets. Click the headline to read the full post. Questions? Email websupport@epe.org.

Learning 268

Learning 268

Ask a Tech Teacher

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

I’ve taught Preschool-8th grade for thirty years. Throughout, one factor stood out as the most reliable barometer of student achievement: Parent involvement. It didn’t mean parents as tutors, homework helpers, or classroom volunteers–although it could be those. It meant parents showing they cared about their child’s success. Today’s education model is catching up with the fundamental part parents play in student achievement.

Edmodo 200

Edmodo LMS Digital Citizenship Assessment 200

The Journal

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

Charter schools, vouchers and now venture capital! Uber is the model: Squeeze out cost relentlessly, use software and everything will be wonderful! Where do teachers fit into this model?

Software 170

Software 170

The CoolCatTeacher

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

Hot Research, Trends, and Teacher Resources Today I’m going to be experimenting again with a news feature that I ran a few years back. I’ll summarize some of interesting research, trends, and helpful resources. Let me know in the comments if you like me bringing back this feature and if you find it useful. I plan to try this for a while and measure the response.

Trends 240

Trends Education Outcomes Mobility 240

A Principal's Reflections

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

I remember back to my days as an elementary student. Boy did I have a warped sense of what leadership really was. Back then at recess leaders (on the playground that is) were perceived as those who had the most athletic ability. It was these individuals who were always in a position to select the kickball teams or control the organization of literally every activity.

Elementary 281

Elementary Examples Meeting How To 281

EdTech Magazine

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

By D. Frank Smith The company wants to reach 30,000 students across 33 states with its new computer science outreach plan.

Company 250

Company Education STEM Classroom 250

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.

Training

Ask a Tech Teacher

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

If you are using the SL K-5 Technology Curriculum , you’ll love this new free service. Starting Sunday, Structured Learning will offer online, virtual Office Hours. Any questions you have about how to unpack lessons, teach a skill, or tie into class inquiry can be asked at this weekly real-time Google Hangout: Sundays, 2pm PDT. Just like your college professor, doors are open to whoever shows up.

Wiki 175

Wiki Digital Citizenship Google Resources 175

Digital Promise

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Jennifer is the Director of Educator Micro-credentials. You can reach her on Twitter: @JenCohKab. According to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, states and school systems spend $18 billion annually on professional development for educators in the United States, and almost all teachers participate in some form of professional development. Educators want and need this development for themselves and for their students.

Professional Learning 256

Professional Learning Learning Survey Twitter 256

Voyager Sopris Learning

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

Being a technology teacher, I am always looking for new projects for my students. I’m all over anything that can both engage them and teach them new content. For this blog post, I’ve come up with my Top 5 favorite technology projects that my students have done. These projects aren’t tied to a specific content area and can be used across a wide range of grade levels.

Examples 109

Examples Technology Education 109

The CoolCatTeacher

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

An Every Classroom Matters Episode. Beth Kanter is a leading social media expert for nonprofits. She gives advice on how schools should manage their Facebook, Twitter, and social media efforts. Most schools need more volunteers and donors (or at least positive press). Schools can even motivate students to share positive things. Social media can help if you know how.

Social Media 256

Social Media How To Facebook Twitter 256

This white paper examines and proposes revisions to the "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education" introduced by Arthur Chickering and Zelda Gamson in 1987 for today's technology-driven world.

Technology

Battelle for Kids

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Volume 2, Issue 10, Number 16. The power of educators is that they take on learners from every walk of life, and every challenge imaginable. The promise of 21st century learning is that it can give students the skills they need to succeed in life. This month's posts brought some powerful stories of educators immersing special needs students in the same kinds of personalized, engaging learning experiences as their classmates.

Learning 195

Learning Education 195

EdTech Magazine

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

By Steve Zurier Districts recognize that DRaaS costs less than building and maintaining redundant facilities.

Data 194

Data 194

Ask a Tech Teacher

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

Here’s along list of websites that focus on math automaticity for the K-5 classroom. I’ve broken it down by grade level, but you can decide if your second graders are precocious enough to try the websites for grades 3-5: K. K Math Skills. Math Videos (not practice, but fun to watch). Money flashcards. Numbers. 1 st. First Grade math skills.

Digital Citizenship 243

Digital Citizenship Elementary Resources Video 243

Dangerously Irrelevant

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Jen LaMaster said: I’ve been reading this post … from EdTech Magazine about how millennials use technology. Not the usual “how to make a millennial happy” stuff… but data on their use of mobile technology to create, consume, and collect information. The article claims that cellphones are the most popular device but that “computers” are a close second for productivity.

Mobility 197

Mobility EdTech Policies Data 197

Advertisement

Managing a K-12 campus with constant pressure to meet performance metrics is challenging. And tardiness can significantly limit a school from reaching these goals. Learn more about why chronic lateness matters, and key strategies to address the following impacts: Data errors caused by manual processes Low attendance and graduation rates that affect a school’s reputation Classroom disruption, which leads to poor academic performance High staff attrition and “The Teacher Exodus” Unmet LCAP goals t

Classroom

Brilliant or Insane

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

Brilliant or Insane. You know you’ve made it, when other people create apps that enhance ways people can use the original application that you created. Twitter tools are popular and plentiful these days. If you’re using Twitter in the classroom, why not help your students become power users with help from some 3rd-party applications? 8 Twitter tools for […].

Twitter 168

Twitter Tools Classroom Social Media 168

Ditch That Textbook

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Today, I was stuck. Being Monday, it was time for a new blog post. Many days, I have ideas ready to go. I keep a list of them and add to it whenever I get a new one. Today was not one of those days. Nothing on my blog post ideas list was speaking to [.].

Learning 180

Learning 180

Battelle for Kids

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

Volume 2, Issue 10, Number 16. Driving Question: How can teachers think about learning that benefits all learners? As a special education teacher, I have dedicated my career to making inclusion for all a reality for as many of my students as possible. Firstly, inclusion is a central part of the more recent reauthorizations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Classroom 100

Classroom Education Learning 100

EdTech Magazine

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

By D. Frank Smith The competition for cloud-based notebooks in the classroom is heating up.

Classroom 251

Classroom 251

Speaker: Chris Paxton McMillin, President of D3 Training Solutions

There are plenty of great authoring tools for developing eLearning, but the one you select could directly impact your course's outcomes. Depending upon your learners’ needs and your organization’s performance goals, you could be overlooking considerations that impact the both effectiveness of your courses and how long it takes to finish them. From general capabilities to specific workflow structures, some aspects are critical when it comes to learning objectives and deadlines.

Comparison

Nik Peachey

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

In my first post in this series - Getting students' attention - I mentioned the use of backchannels. This post should give you more information about the use of backchannels within the classroom. If you are working in a classroom where your students have internet connected devices, either through wifi or their mobile phone, using a backchannel can have a transformative impact on the way you can use technology with your students.

Classroom 111

Classroom eBook Tools Examples 111

Class Tech Integrate

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

As we continue to go 1:1 in our district in Springdale, AR, one of our biggest challenges is finding great apps for our Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade classrooms to use. Here is a short list of just a few FREE apps to get you started: ABC - Magnetic Alphabet Lite for Kids - Learn to write! By Dot Next Just as the title of the app suggests, this is simply a magnetic letter board for your students to use.

iPad 87

iPad Classroom Mobility Course 87

Brilliant or Insane

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

Brilliant or Insane. I’ve been a strong proponent of grade reform, but as I discard traditional grades, many have accused me of being soft. I frequently hear, “This is a competitive world and we’re falling behind,” or “We need to stop coddling kids, telling them everyone is a winner and everyone gets a trophy.” But grade reform is not simply about […].

Assessment 173

Assessment 173

TeacherCast

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

The Setup. One of the first tasks I was asked to accomplish upon starting my new positing of Technology Integration Coordinator was to create a series of PD courses for the new school year. My mission was simple. Teacher takes a PD course, and then they need to have a customizable certificate generated for them … they also needed to have a survey at the end of this process.

Survey 110

Survey Google Video Course 110

Speaker: Amanda Davis, Chief Experience Officer and Liam O'Malley, VP of Association Solutions

The "new normal" is now a little less new, a little more normal. Does that mean your current LMS strategy is in need of a refresh? Is your organization or association leaning into the always-evolving eLearning environment to ensure you have the tools and content to remain relevant through all this change? There are many complex decision-making processes within your learning & development strategy and LMS lifecycle management, including: Selection.

LMS

Battelle for Kids

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Volume 2, Issue 10, Number 15. Driving Question: What if a school taught all students as mindful learners? When I was discussing posts for this issue, I heard over and over a recurring theme from the exemplar classroom teachers and principals who were writing to this month's theme. When asked what had been their biggest challenge in introducing 21st Century practices such as project-based learning, it was "worrying that my special needs students" could participate.

Classroom 180

Classroom Learning 180

EdTech Magazine

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

By Karen J. Bannan Learn what areas workers must be adept in to navigate this shift.

Learning 242

Learning Training 242

Nik Peachey

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

Competing with a computer or mobile screen for students' attention can be a challenge at best and at worst extremely frustrating. In this posting I will share some techniques and approaches for dealing with these problems. Ban devices Obviously this is the simplest way to deal with the problem, however, banning devices in class can be hard to enforce especially with teen students and older.

Classroom 88

Classroom Mobility Social Media Tablets 88

Class Tech Integrate

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

Digital Badges have started to become a big deal in the everyday classroom. In a way, you can think of them as the new paper certificate. As stated in the title, they are a simple way to motivate students. Why do students care about badges? The answer is Gameification. In all of the video games and apps that your students are playing, they earn badges.

Digital Badges 84

Digital Badges Video Classroom Gamification 84

Advertisement

K-12 looks different these days. But one thing remains the same: you need a reliable learning platform that serves as the foundation for teaching and learning––for all students, in a variety of learning experiences. Discover how the Instructure Learning Platform supports today's K-12 classroom through: A central, consistent, connected hub of the digital learning environment.

Classroom