May, 2018

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Don’t add. Make better.

The Principal of Change

Having just received an email from someone starting a new “technology” position in their school, they asked me what advice I would give. I shared the following advice: My only suggestion for you is to start from the curriculum and work backwards from there, not try to force technology into the curriculum. If teachers can see a new and better way to teach, they are way more open to it.

MOOC 78
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Two studies point to the power of teacher-student relationships to boost learning

The Hechinger Report

Two studies on elementary schools published in June 2018 point to the importance giving teachers and students plenty of time to form relationships. Students may learn more. Photo: Jamie Martines. Two studies on how best to teach elementary schools students — one on the popular trend of “platooning” and one on the far less common practice of “looping” — at first would seem totally unrelated other than the fact that they both use silly words with double-o’s.

Study 111
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What 15,000 Kids Taught Me About Creativity

The Web20Classroom

When I walked into the Houston Convention Center a few weeks ago I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had never attended a FIRST LEGO League World Championship. Walking through the doors I was in awe. 15,000 kids from nations all over the world gathered to show off their robotic and LEGO creations and compete for the title of World Champion. I heard multiple languages, adults reminding kids about how they got there and some of the craziest chants you’ve ever heard.

Robotics 185
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10 great education books for summer reading

Ditch That Textbook

Summer … the time when all teachers spend carefree days sitting by the pool and drinking fruity drinks, right? Myth! Many teachers I know (especially the best ones!) spend at least part of their summers honing their craft. It’s a time to do things we were too busy to do during the school year, and […].

Education 245
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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 Implement Library Makerspaces in STEM Programs

EdTech Magazine

How to Implement Library Makerspaces in STEM Programs. jena.passut_7651. Wed, 05/09/2018 - 11:57. What’s the best way to define a makerspace? For Laura Fleming, library media specialist at New Milford High School in New Jersey, a library makerspace is a unique learning environment that encourages tinkering, play and open-ended exploration for all. Fleming, who also runs and manages her own business, Worlds of Making , says too often schools build library makerspaces just for the top engineering

Libraries 372
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Tic Tack Toe in the Blended Classroom

A Principal's Reflections

The other day I was conducting some learning walks with the administrative team at Wells Elementary School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD). Throughout the school year, I have been assisting them with digital pedagogy as it relates to blended learning and the use of flex spaces. The primary goal has been to take a critical lens to instructional design with a focus on increasing the level of questioning, imparting relevance through authentic contexts and interdisciplin

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Why should teachers encourage Computational Thinking?

Neo LMS

In your edtech journey and research you may have come across the term “computational thinking”, and like me, you may have delved into a few definitions of the term; at which point you may have also have come across a variety of definitions, most of which have their origin in computer science. What is Computational Thinking? The most cited of these definitions being Jeannette M.

Data 289
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Lesson reflection sheets

EdTech4Beginners

I have recently been looking for new ways to end lessons. Aiming for more of a focus on reflection, I created a poster for my classroom: *Click here for the high-quality, printable PDF version. I also wanted something to stick in the books, that children could self or peer assess work on, so I created this: *Click here for the high-quality, printable PDF.

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20+ ways to supercharge your summer learning

Ditch That Textbook

Summer is a time for rejuvenation and relaxation. It’s a time to focus on our lives outside of education and recharge. It can also be an opportunity to grow as an educator. Whether it’s through professional development training, online courses (check out information on the NEW Tech to Learn course below) or tackling that pile of […].

Learning 250
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Digital Signage Growth Helps K–12 Schools Get Their Messages Out

EdTech Magazine

Digital Signage Growth Helps K–12 Schools Get Their Messages Out. jena.passut_7651. Mon, 05/21/2018 - 09:49. Cluttered bulletin boards, garbled loudspeaker announcements and missed memos are becoming a thing of the past as a growing number of schools turn to digital signage. The tools make communicating with students, staff and parents easier, more effective and even less expensive.

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Reimagining Chickering & Gamson's Principles Post-Pandemic: Technology's Central Role in Modern Edu

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.

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7 Ways to Close the Access Gap

Tom Murray

Over the past few years, districts have been working diligently to close the access gap (coined in D.C. as the “Homework Gap”) to support students, particularly those most in need. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 5 million families do not have connectivity at home. According to the numbers, it’s our black and hispanic students that make up a disproportionate percentage.

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STEAM Up Learning Outdoors! 15+ Ideas to Try Now or this Summer!

Teacher Reboot Camp

“[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world.” – Barack Obama, Former U.S. President. Many of the missions in my new book, Hacking Digital Learning with Missions , are aimed at inspiring students to think critically, focus on questions versus answers, conduct hands-on research, and ma

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This Is Why Education Begets Education

EdNews Daily

Welcome back to our “Teacher Feature Series,” where we chat with educators who work online across borders. Today, please read about Serena Bloom’s journey with 51Talk American Academy, or now known as HAWO American Academy. Serena, please tell us all about you and your work with 51Talk/HAWO American Academy. My name is Serena Dawn Bloom, and I’m an ESL Teacher, and I hold a BS in Human Development, and AS in Business Administration.

Education 231
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How PBL Changes the Teacher

Battelle for Kids

At the end of this school year, I will have finished my twentieth year in education and my tenth as a facilitator of Project-Based Learning. Practicing PBL as my “day job” has changed me in many ways that I absolutely did not expect. And I am not just talking about improving as an educator. So even though my PBL time is half of my career, it is definitely the case that far more than 50% of my personal and professional growth have occurred during the past decade.

Education 214
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Behind the Bell: The Underlying Impact of Tardiness in K-12 Schools

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

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Awesome Teacher Summer: 12 ways to grow and learn

Ditch That Textbook

Our lives as educators totally change in the summer, don’t they? During the school year: hustle and bustle. Plan. Teach. Grade. Answer emails. Go to meetings. Collapse into bed. Repeat. In the summer, though, the pace changes. Many of us are still busy. (I’ve been to SO many baseball and softball games already!) But it’s […].

Learning 209
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Microsoft to Use TV White Space to Put Wi-Fi on Rural School Buses

EdTech Magazine

Microsoft to Use TV White Space to Put Wi-Fi on Rural School Buses. jena.passut_7651. Wed, 05/02/2018 - 11:41. Microsoft wants to outfit school buses in Hillman, Mich., with high-speed internet to help bridge the “homework gap” that many rural students face because of lack of internet access at home. The tech giant plans to use empty television airwaves to accomplish this mission.

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New Educational VR App Teaches Kids About Recycling

EdTech4Beginners

The educational potential of VR technology in today’s classroom is still for the most part uncharted waters. What seems certain, however, is that this technology promises to open up some of the most exciting horizons in the education of tomorrow. Inroads are being made in certain areas, and one of the most exciting examples to have emerged to date is a VR app that lets school children operate a recycling facility from the comfort of the classroom.

Education 187
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Encourage Students to Reflect on Their Growth with This Free Slides Portfolio Template

Teacher Reboot Camp

“We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” Paraphrase of John Dewey’s work . One of the most important ways to end the year is by getting students to reflect on the learning journey in your class. They need to reflect on the purpose of different tasks and projects. They need understand what learning they achieved and think about how to use this learning in their future classes and life.

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The Battle of the Authoring Tools: A 10-Point Comparison for Picking the Right One

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.

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Generation Z’s Are Starting College, But Are Universities Ready For Them?

EdNews Daily

Guest article by Dan Lauer. This aphorism has always rung true, but when it comes to educating the next generation, it’s an essential mantra. The oldest members of Generation Z — defined by Pew Research as those born after 1997 — are on the cusp of adulthood, and while they’re ready for college, are universities really ready for them? After all, in the same way Millennials presented unique challenges and opportunities, so will Generation Z.

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Engaging Parents & Families in Language Learning: Lessons Learned the DCPS Way

Battelle for Kids

Scholars have long known that learning multiple languages benefits overall academic achievement. Research dating back as early as the 1960s demonstrates the positive impact of studying another language on cognitive function. The federal government recognized the critical need for world language in the 2005 Call to Action for National Foreign Language Capabilities , a historic gathering of minds from across government, industry, language associations, and academia that resulted in a shared vision

Learning 187
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30+ ways to Ditch That Textbook: Ideas for teachers by teachers

Ditch That Textbook

The best thing about Twitter is the community of educators who share freely with others. Aaron Hogan, the author of Shattering the Perfect Teacher Myth, wrote that “Twitter is not going to change your life, but the educators you meet there will.” It’s true, the connections you make on Twitter will help you create a […].

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Digital citizenship lessons aren’t going to crack filter bubbles and echo chambers

Dangerously Irrelevant

C Thi Nguyen said: Jamieson and Cappella’s book is the first empirical study into how echo chambers function. In their analysis, echo chambers work by systematically alienating their members from all outside epistemic sources. Their research centres on Rush Limbaugh, a wildly successful conservative firebrand in the United States, along with Fox News and related media.

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The Roses and Thorns of an LMS Strategy: How to Flourish with the Right LMS

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.

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A new maths mastery scheme: Power Maths

EdTech4Beginners

A huge project I have been working on over the past year has been Power Maths : a new maths mastery scheme of work by Pearson. It was created in partnership with White Rose Maths and recommended by the DfE! As a ‘mastery expert’, I have written lessons, teacher guides and video scripts for the project. What is Power Maths? Are there any sample materials to look at?

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When Students Design Their Own Games They Learn Way More Than Coding

Edsurge

Last year, my eighth-grade student Nathan made a game that was banned from Scratch. If I stopped there that would sound bad of course, but hear me out. It wasn’t bad; in fact it was amazing. He wanted to make a jump scare game—and boy did he succeed. If you aren’t familiar with the genre, think of that moment in a movie when it’s dark, and the ominous music is playing, and it is eerily quiet. then BAM!

Schoology 161
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10 of The Best Educational Apps for Learning Grammar

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

Learning grammar can be more fun for students if it is taught through the use of interactive games and activities that both entertain and challenge students linguistic skills. Below are some popular.read more.

Learning 145
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15 Ideas to Ensure That Project Based Learning is Grounded in Content And Standards

21st Century Educational Technology and Learning

You might know that I am a big proponent of PBL. I believe that as we work on helping students understand the content standards, PBL provides teachers with the how. I do hope you enjoy this content driven article. Also, please take a moment to subscribe to this blog by RSS or email and join me on twitter at mjgormans . I have some great posts coming your way involving PBL, STEM, tech integration, and a continuing series on Professional Learning Communities!

Learning 114
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Building the Foundation for a Modern K-12 Classroom

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.

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25 tips for connecting families with the classroom

Ditch That Textbook

When families are part of the learning community it has profound effects on the students. We want parents and guardians to feel involved in their child’s learning and welcomed in our classroom. Some families are involved and engaged from the moment their child steps foot in your classroom. Others may be more difficult to hook in […].

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A Better List Of Ideas For Project-Based Learning

TeachThought - Learn better.

A Better List Of Ideas For Project-Based Learning by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’re huge fans of project-based learning. While there is no magic bullet of practice, program, or framework that automatically produces progressive and effective learning, what makes project-based learning exceptional is its flexibility. As it is, first and foremost, simply a curriculum planning […].

Learning 112
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OPINION: We’re not doing enough to support teachers of color

The Hechinger Report

Sept. 14, 2016 — Former U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. visits a school in Tennessee during his tenure in the Obama administration. Photo: Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal/ZUMAPRESS.COM. Each year in May, America observes Teacher Appreciation Month — a time when we pause to reflect upon and honor the life-changing impact that educators have on our children, and the important contributions that educators make to our communities and our country.

E-rate 111
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A Case For Flipping Learning—Without Videos

Edsurge

When professor Lorena Barba talks to other educators about flipping their classrooms, the approach she hears is often similar. Faculty assign homework to expose students to a new concept before they arrive to class, and use class time to ask questions and do more-active learning. In most cases, what professors ask students to do outside the classrooms is watch video lectures, and Barba thinks that part of the flipped approach needs to go, and that professors are relying too much on such videos a

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Transform Your Classroom with Apple

Speaker: Aaron Webb, Jamf

Apple empowers educators and students by design. Whether using Macs, iPads, or Apple TV, Apple devices encourage creativity and can simplify teaching with apps to make the classroom more flexible, collaborative and personalized for each student. To unleash the full potential of the technology and create the best learning environment, you need to understand the tools and resources available, and develop an education-focused, comprehensive plan, from equipment purchase to deployment, management an