October, 2020

article thumbnail

Synchronous Online Discussions: Preparation, Facilitation & Wrap Up

Catlin Tucker

Discussion is a cornerstone of any learning community. Students construct and confirm meaning, in part, through dialogue with their peers. Online discussions offer an avenue to connect students online and facilitate knowledge construction; however, many teachers are frustrated by a lack of student engagement online. Too often, a teacher’s questions in a video conferencing session are met with long silences.

Google 546
article thumbnail

Important Lessons Learned During the Pandemic and How They Can Drive Needed Change

A Principal's Reflections

There is no shortage of challenges that have been leveled on schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. After some time, we have seen an initial move to all remote learning, depending on where you live, a shift to some sort of hybrid model. A spike in cases has led to buildings being closed again and a resumption of remote learning in some locations. Uncertainty and a lack of continuity have had a heavy toll on teachers, administrators, students, and parents.

LMS 545
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

4 Troubleshooting Tips for Smooth Remote Learning

EdTech Magazine

When school districts started to reopen with online and hybrid learning this fall, familiar issues emerged. In some schools, students and teachers couldn’t log in to their learning management systems. Videoconferencing platforms crashed for many. Internet connections at home and in school buildings failed. Device shortages and cyberattacks prevailed, even pushing some districts to delay reopening.

Learning 515
article thumbnail

Current Research and 4 Trauma-Informed Principles to Help Students Now

The CoolCatTeacher

Dr. Eric Rossen from NASP shares From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Current Research and 4 Trauma-Informed Principles to Help Students Now with Dr Eric Rossen Students experiencing the coronavirus crisis are experiencing trauma. So are teachers and parents. In today’s show, learn the ten principles to help us encourage and help others as we work through this crisis together with Dr.

Company 509
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

How to facilitate meaningful discussions in hybrid or virtual classrooms

Neo LMS

As a teacher for more than a quarter of a century, I have been intimately involved in trying to move education from the factory “assembly line” model to one that is more student-centered. One of my favorite experiences in the classroom has been to watch and listen as students interact during meaningful discussions – developing critical thinking, listening, and persuasion skills in the process.

How To 502
article thumbnail

Traveling to America’s Heartland!

Ask a Tech Teacher

I am out of pocket the rest of this week and next. I’m visiting my wonderful sister in the rural Marion Indiana. I can’t wait to live a measured, natural life for at least a week where we can veges, check on her bee hives, and eat indoors at a restaurant! I probably won’t do much commenting until next weekend but then, I’ll get everything caught up.

394
394

More Trending

article thumbnail

How to Create Effective Learning Playlists

A Principal's Reflections

Educators have been working valiantly to make either remote or hybrid learning work. In the midst of this challenging time, we have seen innovative practices embraced more at scale. These represent new methodologies for some, while others are now applying what they had already been doing to the current situation in the form of blended learning. It is essential for me to reiterate what I have been saying for years as there is still some confusion as to what this actually entails: Blended instruct

article thumbnail

How to Ensure Data Remains Safe in the Age of Ransomware

EdTech Magazine

Whether you are a teacher, parent, student or IT professional, you have witnessed the extraordinary transition the education sector has recently undergone. Despite schools having already facilitated distance, digital and remote learning for some years now, there is no doubt that the global lockdown has acted as a catalyst for further rapid and momentous change.

Data 470
article thumbnail

How I Plan My Lessons Digitally with Planboard

The CoolCatTeacher

Why I Use Chalk and Planboard for Planning Now From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter It’s no surprise that the pandemic has caused a lot of headaches for educators. I bet you’re having your share as well, from adapting to hybrid learning, to planning curriculum and lessons, to keeping sane throughout all of this.

Company 492
article thumbnail

Teaching SEL skills in online education

Neo LMS

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process that helps kids and adults alike to understand and manage their emotions so that they can develop positive and meaningful social relationships. When socialization alone is not enough to develop those skills, educators should step in and offer support, as social and emotional skills are essential for each individual.

LMS 380
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Long-needed and Welcome Table Tool From JotForm

Ask a Tech Teacher

Education has changed. No one knows yet if it’s for better or worse but we all understand that nothing’s as it once was. That means many traditional teaching tools are no longer the best choice for the new norms. Over the past few months (well, since March), I’ve spent a lot of time reinventing my teaching protocols, doing a rigorous evaluation of whether my standard practices are best suited for the new best practices for teaching at home and school (click here for lots of inf

Tools 387
article thumbnail

Design a Choose Your Own Adventure Learning Experience

Catlin Tucker

It’s only two months into the school year, and teachers are exhausted. This year has made everyone, regardless of their years of experience, feel like a brand new teacher. Teachers are designing learning experiences for a range of learning landscapes. Some are navigating a hybrid schedule that blends synchronous in-class time with asynchronous online time.

Learning 546
article thumbnail

Give and Take Ideas to Support Teachers

A Principal's Reflections

The pandemic has really put a strain on educators, yet they continue to rise to the occasion on behalf of kids. This has come at a cost both mentally, socially, and physically. Something has to give. There has been a great deal of conversation lately about what can be taken off the plates of teachers. I have to commend those administrators who are working to find ways to put their staff more at ease in these challenging times.

article thumbnail

Remote Learning Calls for More Coordinated Cybersecurity

EdTech Magazine

The new school year had barely begun for some K–12 districts before cybercriminals struck. In early September, several ransomware attacks against schools made headlines. The attacks halted online learning or forced officials to postpone the first day of classes — costly setbacks that compound ongoing challenges with remote learning. Security experts are reporting an increase in the frequency of cyber incidents such as ransomware attacks, which have plagued not only schools but also businesses

Learning 468
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

H?para: The Essential Tool for Every Google Classroom School

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter I’ve seen one tool improve student engagement in Google Classroom significantly — H?para. While Google Classroom is can be taught, there are some problems with Google Classroom regarding engagement and simplicity. Google Classroom isn’t always simple to use for students who struggle.

Google 460
article thumbnail

Game show classroom: Comparing Kahoot!, Quizizz, Quizlet Live and Gimkit

Ditch That Textbook

The best features of game shows can be used to review and teach in the classroom. Kahoot!, Quizizz, Quizlet Live, and Gimkit can help. See their pros, cons and what makes them different.As a child, I remember one specific thing I always looked forward to on days when I stayed home sick from school — […]. The post Game show classroom: Comparing Kahoot!

Classroom 363
article thumbnail

Inspire Young Writer’s with Young Writers Program

Ask a Tech Teacher

A warm welcome to Sean Clark, Instructional Aide, and his first time contributing to Ask a Tech Teacher. He’s also a Teacher-Author with a wonderful experience involving his students in November’s NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program: School-age kids these days are bridging huge linguistic and literary gaps almost every day: reading books checked out from the school library, but also online assignments, texts, and instant messages from parents and classmates.

eBook 385
article thumbnail

Back to Basics: Lesson Planning for the Concurrent Classroom

Catlin Tucker

Teachers juggling the concurrent classroom with some students physically attending class and others joining remotely via video conferencing are trying to balance the demands of teaching in two learning landscapes simultaneously. In a previous post, I described how blended learning models could make this challenging teaching assignment more manageable ; however, that post assumes that teachers are familiar with blended learning.

Classroom 546
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Time is What Teachers Need Right Now

A Principal's Reflections

At first glance, this post's title might be perceived that hybrid learning is not working in many districts and schools. I can state unequivocally that it is based on firsthand experience coaching in schools the past couple of months. I have seen incredible lessons and activities that have both engaged and empowered learners through the purposeful use of technology, sound pedagogy, and personalized strategies.

article thumbnail

Best Practices for Securing Your Online Classrooms

EdTech Magazine

School looks vastly different today. For many students, it requires using a school-issued device to continue learning from home. It also involves logging in to digital platforms to attend live classes, view and submit assignments and connect with peers. This new learning environment is certainly necessary during the pandemic. But as school leaders start to think about long-term plans for online learning, it’s even more imperative to prepare for the inevitable: increasing cyberattacks.

Classroom 463
article thumbnail

9 EdTech Ideas to Use Now

The CoolCatTeacher

Spanish and STEAM teacher Rachelle Dene Poth shares her favorite EdTech tools From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter 9 EdTech Ideas to Use Now with Rachelle Rene Poth Spanish and STEAM teacher Rachelle Dene Poth shares 9 of her favorite EdTech ideas that you can easily use now, no matter what your classroom environment requirements are.

EdTech 456
article thumbnail

30 collaborative Google Apps activities for schools

Ditch That Textbook

G Suite Apps are collaborative, which makes them highly powerful. They offer opportunities for students to engage unlike ever before. Here are 30 ideas for using them with your class. G Suite has revolutionized education. With its highly collaborative, online/offline format — and its attractive price tag (free!) it provides students and teachers with effective […].

Google 363
article thumbnail

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

article thumbnail

Tech Tip #158: Why Learn Keyboarding

Ask a Tech Teacher

In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education. Today’s tip: Why Learn Keyboarding? Category: Keyboarding.

article thumbnail

Strengthen Professional Learning with Micro-credentials

Digital Promise

Micro-credentials present a unique opportunity to link professional learning to practice. Through each competency-based credential, educators demonstrate application of their learning. School districts are seeing the value of embedding micro-credentials in existing professional learning pathways to promote educator agency, recognize educators developing their practice, and expand competency-based learning practices with students.

article thumbnail

5 Ways in which educational videos enhance online learning

Neo LMS

Education experts have been talking about the rise of remote learning for years and years. However, it’s only recently that it has become not only widespread but nearly compulsory, as the COVID-19 pandemic has turned it into the only possible way for safe learning. Too many educational institutions weren’t prepared nor equipped to provide remote courses.

article thumbnail

4 Ways Schools Can Improve Cybersecurity — Even When Budgets Are Tight

EdTech Magazine

Whether schools choose to continue remote education, use a hybrid education model or return full-time to campus, some form of virtual teaching system will figure into every school’s plan, even if only as a contingency. With every jurisdiction constructing their own approach to virtual education — then adjusting it in response to a rapidly evolving pandemic — cybersecurity risks abound.

System 458
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Smiling Behind the Mask: Face to Face School and SEL

The CoolCatTeacher

Fourth Grade Teacher Erica Boomsma Talks about Face to Face School From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Smiling Behind the Mask: Face to Face School and SEL with Erica Boomsma Erica Boomsma is in South Dakota where they have been teaching in face-to-face school for the last four weeks. She talks about the fears she had in going back, the protocols they are using, and the positive experiences they are having amidst the masks and shields.

Company 423
article thumbnail

20 juicy questions to ask students (#5 will REALLY get them talking!)

Ditch That Textbook

A great question can make or break a learning activity. Here are some ideas for asking juicy questions. A great question is a springboard into a fascinating discussion. Phrase it the right way and students will start thinking. Then they'll start talking. Then you won't be able to get them to stop! Great questions can make […]. The post 20 juicy questions to ask students (#5 will REALLY get them talking!

article thumbnail

Halloween Projects, Websites, Apps, Books, and a Costume

Ask a Tech Teacher

Three holidays are fast-approaching–Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If you’re a teacher, that means lots of tie-ins to make school festive and relevant to students. Here are ideas for Halloween projects, lesson plans, websites, and apps: Websites and Apps. 30-day Halloween fitness challeng e. Build a Jack-o-lantern (in Google Slides).

article thumbnail

The Power of Networks in Education Innovation

Digital Promise

For the past six years, Digital Promise has convened a national network of Education Innovation Clusters (EdClusters)—leaders working to collaborate outside the traditional silos of sector and institution to design and implement transformative learning tools and programs in their communities. The origin, learnings, and impact of the EdClusters movement offer vital lessons.

Education 351
article thumbnail

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.