May, 2018

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Beyond the Micro-credential: A Teacher’s Unexpected Professional Development

Digital Promise

Over the past 10 years as a teacher (and more recently as an aspiring administrator), I have consistently sought out new and innovative professional development. This work has included gaining a doctoral degree, attending trainings, reading books, going to conferences, and a multitude of other opportunities I have engaged in as others sought to support my personal and professional goals.

Training 219
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Failure is for the privileged.

User Generated Education

This past week I attend the Infosis CrossRoads Institute. It was filled with some great speakers and panels, but the most profound moment for me was a single statement made by Kipp Bradford , “failure is for the privileged.” I have written about failure before in The Over Promotion of Failure : Almost daily I see posts on social media by educators promoting the benefits of failure.

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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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It’s 2018 – Do You Know Where Your Personalized Learners Are?

Education Elements

Personalized learning, like so much of what we value most in our schools, should be aligned to the particular educational needs of individual learners – that’s what it’s all about. Success depends on the ways schools support teachers: providing them with effective professional development focused on making the plan work; embracing their iterations and experiments as they work to continually improve their practices; and ultimately putting them in the position to succeed in targeting instruction,

Outcomes 157
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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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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 112
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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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Assessing Maker Education Projects

User Generated Education

Institutionalized education has given assessment a bad reputation; often leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many teachers, students, and laypeople. This is primarily due to the testing movement, the push towards using student assessment in the form of tests as a measure of student, teacher, principal, and school accountability. Educators should be clear about why they include assessment in their instruction; be strategic and intentional in its use.

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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 225
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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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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 391
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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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Kasey Bell’s 8 Great Ways to Use Google Slides

The CoolCatTeacher

Kasey Bell on episode 322 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Kasey Bell teaches us eight great ways to use Google Slides. From stop motion to video controls and cool add-ins for formative assessment and graphics, learn about this Swiss Army Knife of Google tools – Google Slides.

Google 382
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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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16 Gmail Hacks to Boost Your Productivity

Catlin Tucker

In a blog titled “ 6 Shifts to Maximize Productivity and Happiness ,” I encouraged teachers to designate specific windows of time during their day to check and respond to email. I found it draining to check my email continuously throughout the day, and the incoming messages distracted me from my other work. Even though I follow this practice in my own life, I still have a ton of emails waiting for me each time I log into Gmail.

Education 361
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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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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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Digital Leadership is Not Optional

A Principal's Reflections

“ Leadership has less to do with position than it does disposition.” – John Maxwell I am currently working on a new edition of Digital Leadership for Corwin and I am very excited, as it will be in color. There are many changes I intend to make, but the most significant will be creating a book that is more “evergreen,” a book with less focus on tools and more on the dispositions of digital leaders.

OER 290
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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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District Leadership: Teacher-Driven Curriculum Design

The CoolCatTeacher

Dr. Steven Weber on episode 319 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. More than 60 teachers in Dr. Steven Weber’s district helped write their math curriculum. Now, they are excited. Learn how this process not only helps develop curriculum, it also develops teacher leaders and promotes the important conversations that need to happen.

Company 285
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9 Web Tools for Creating Digital Magazines

Teacher Reboot Camp

“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” – Joseph Pulitzer. When I was a child, my father only accepted homemade gifts. My sisters and I spent several days creating various publications with construction paper and markers, including magazines.

Tools 358
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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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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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5 Steps to Plan a Successful Startup Exit and Come Out on Top

Ed Tech from the Ground Up

It takes planning for founders and board members to craft a startup exit plan that addresses concerns, establishes priorities, and achieves the objectives and aspirations for all involved. The post 5 Steps to Plan a Successful Startup Exit and Come Out on Top appeared first on Market Brief.

Strategy 260
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Finding Comfort in Growth

A Principal's Reflections

" Comfort is the enemy of progress." - Hugh Jackman, The Greatest Showman Have you ever been complacent when it comes to undertaking or performing a task? Of course, you have, as this is just a part of human nature. In our personal lives, complacency can result if we are happy or content with where we are. Maybe we don’t change our work out routines because we have gotten used to doing the same thing day in and day out.

Course 263
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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.

Microsoft 309
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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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Passion Projects in Kindergarten and First Grade

The CoolCatTeacher

Lindsey Danhoff on episode 308 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Kindergarteners and first graders explore their “wonderings” in Lindsey Danhoff’s classroom. Lindsey gives practical advice for passion projects with younger aged children. SMART’s Give Greatness contest is today’s sponsor.

Libraries 271
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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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Elementary Social Entrepreneurship: A Perfect STEAM Lesson

User Generated Education

I am completing a social entrepreneurship unit with my gifted students, grades 2nd through 5th. It was one of my favorite units. ever, and from their reactions, I believe it was one of theirs, too. I call it a perfect STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) unit. The first part of this post explains some of the rationale for this project, and the second part describes the unit, itself.

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Positive focus; Positive behaviors

Ask a Tech Teacher

There’s a lot of chatter about PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) on educator forums I participate in. I don’t have direct experience with it so I jumped at the chance to share Middle School teacher Karessa Parish’s experiences. In this article, she explains what PBIS is, lessons learned rolling it out, and a tool called Hero that helped make it happen in her school: Studies show that students need a ratio of about five positive interactions to every negativ

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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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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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5 Tips That Foster Collaborative Professional Learning

EdTech Magazine

5 Tips That Foster Collaborative Professional Learning. jena.passut_7651. Fri, 05/25/2018 - 14:29. Leveraging new technology for professional learning requires some creative thinking — and it also takes money. A few years ago, a group at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte received a grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction that paid for notebooks and software for creating a professional development program for elementary school teachers.

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Ditch the Clips in Kindergarten (And Here’s What to Do Instead) #ditchtheclips

The CoolCatTeacher

Elizabeth Merce on episode 321 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Moving clips in kindergarten can not only embarrass children but can cause privacy concerns. There are alternatives! Kindergarten teacher, Elizabeth Merce, urges teachers to “ditch the clips” and shares what you can do instead.

Twitter 265
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May the 4th Be With You! 20+ Ideas for Teaching and Learning with the Force

Teacher Reboot Camp

“The force is strong with this one.” – Darth Vader. May 4th is Star Wars day and what better time to teach and learn with the Force as you end the school year! Students of all ages enjoy Star Wars. The movies and books teach us about being heroes , complicated relationships with family, being brave, and picking ourselves up after failing or making mistakes.

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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.