October, 2020

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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.

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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
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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
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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.

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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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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 477
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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!

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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

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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
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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.

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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.

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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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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 […].

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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
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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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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 429
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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!

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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Sir Ken Robinson: A Brief In Memoriam [guest post]

Dangerously Irrelevant

Amidst the chaos of 2020 we lost a true leader in education in late August just as schools were trying to reopen. In the event that you might have missed it, I wanted to circle back and offer a brief tribute. Like most of you that knew Sir Ken Robinson’s impact on education, I first learned about him through his wildly popular TED Talk in 2006. It was, of course, not the first impactful thing he said, nor the last.

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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.

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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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15 ways to create unforgettable multimedia with Adobe Spark

Ditch That Textbook

Creating great images, pages and video can spark students’ interest in learning. Adobe Spark makes that possible for free. This post is written by Claudio Zavala Jr., an edtech and creative media consultant based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He is passionate about fostering creativity in all and loves storytelling.Claudio is an accomplished photographer, avid […].

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Strategies for Motivating Students: Start with Intrinsic Motivation

Waterford

“Curiosity is,” said writer Samuel L. Johnson, “in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.”. This quote is a great reminder that if we can get students curious and motivated to learn, we can set them up for a lifelong love of learning. And as a teacher, you have the power to help them find that passion for learning while they are young.

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9 Things That Matter When Hiring Black Teachers

Education Elements

This year has exacerbated the national crisis of staffing in schools. Attrition was already a looming challenge, but with all of the changes in education this year alone teachers are leaving schools and the profession en masse. That, combined with the racial reckoning taking place this year has prompted many leaders to reflect on their hiring processes and look for ways to recruit more Black teachers.

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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.

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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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Books I read in September 2020

Dangerously Irrelevant

Books I finished reading (or rereading) in September 2020… Parable of the Sower , Octavia Butler [sci fi]. Parable of the Talents , Octavia Butler [sci fi]. All Systems Red , Martha Wells [sci fi]. Lord Foul’s Bane , Stephen Donaldson [fantasy]. The Illearth War , Stephen Donaldson [fantasy]. The Power That Preserves , Stephen Donaldson [fantasy].

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What Is Distance Learning’s Impact on Educational IT?

EdTech Magazine

The global pandemic accelerated K–12 education’s digital transformation. With remote and hybrid learning turning mainstream, today’s teachers and students are increasingly reliant on mobile devices and digital tools. Efforts to close the homework gap are more urgent than ever, and cyberthreats — particularly ransomware attacks — are only intensifying.

Education 423
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How to make an FAQ page for parents and students

Ditch That Textbook

An FAQ (frequently asked questions) can save us time and provide resources for parents and students. Here's how to make one. As educators we field a LOT of questions -- from students and from parents. When is that permission slip due again?Can I turn that assignment in late?What does the atomic number mean in the periodic […]. The post How to make an FAQ page for parents and students appeared first on Ditch That Textbook.

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Be Kind (to Yourself), Unwind!

EdNews Daily

By Tamara Fyke For the past decade, I have been advocating for the integration of social-emotional learning and screens in schools. I never imagined that we would be living in 2020 when families are forced to make the choice between face-to-face and online classes due to a pandemic. Now that we are here, I find myself continually listening and learning, researching and re-evaluating.

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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.