February, 2019

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Preparing Students to Innovate with Computational Thinking

Digital Promise

Dr. Brooke Morgan is the Coordinator of Instructional Technology at Talladega County Schools in Talladega, Alabama. Talladega County Schools is participating in Digital Promise’s Computational Thinking Pathways Challenge Collaborative. Talladega County Schools prepares students to use computing skills and knowledge in future career and college opportunities by offering pathways for computational thinking from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Industry 318
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Digital literacy vs. Computer literacy: Students need to develop both

Neo LMS

Computer literacy training: many teachers, and adults, assume this to be a non-critical issue – haven’t students these days more or less grown up in front of screens, and behind computers? In my last post we explored surprising findings that many recent high school graduates (and by definition digital natives) arrive in the workplace or college, without sufficient computer skills.

Google 342
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The Two Most Important Questions to Ask to Determine if Learning is Taking Place

A Principal's Reflections

There are so many thoughts and ideas as to what learning really looks and feels like. From these conversations, educators form their own perspectives and opinions that best align with the vision, mission, and goals of their classroom, school or district. However, a consensus is critical if the goal is scalable change that results in improved learning outcomes.

Learning 393
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Ask Yourself, Why Am I Grading This?

Catlin Tucker

“If I don’t grade it, students won’t do it.” This reasoning leaves teachers with piles of work to grade, but I wonder how much of that time spent assigning points to student work results in improved student performance. I fell into this trap at the start of my teaching career. I gave points for completing annotations, bringing books to class, and completing homework.

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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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K–12 Teachers Use Virtual and Augmented Reality Platforms to Teach Coding

EdTech Magazine

K–12 Teachers Use Virtual and Augmented Reality Platforms to Teach Coding. eli.zimmerman_9856. Thu, 02/28/2019 - 15:20. Virtual and augmented reality in the classroom has proved to be effective for history and chemistry lessons. However, a new use for these tools is now emerging: teaching computer science. . Currently, one of the few setbacks to integrating virtual reality is a lack of readily available content. .

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How to Teach AI in the Classroom

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Michelle Zimmerman, author of Teaching AI: Exploring New Frontiers for Learning , talks about Artificial Intelligence and what we should be teaching kids in our classrooms today. Today’s Sponsor: Metaverse is a powerful augmented reality app. They have a new classroom management tool called Collections.

How To 382

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Entrepreneurs Should Pay Attention to Advice They Don’t Want to Hear

Ed Tech from the Ground Up

So many startup legends lead us to believe that a single piece of advice—either taken or not—can be pivotal to the success of a company. The post Entrepreneurs Should Pay Attention to Advice They Don’t Want to Hear appeared first on Market Brief.

Company 344
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Are Students Off-Task in Class on Phones? There's an App for That!

A Principal's Reflections

As teachers and administrators, grappling with off-task behaviors and distractions when it comes to student phones in the classroom has occurred at some point. Recently I recently learned about Pocket Points , an app that educators are using to promote better decision-making amongst students with the goal of keeping them off their phones when not being used to achieve learning outcomes associated with the class.

BYOD 419
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Use Digital Notebooks to Facilitate Book Clubs and Literature Circles at the Secondary Level

Catlin Tucker

Different books appeal to different readers. Many students do not become readers until they encounter “the book.” It’s the book that grabs them and pulls them into the story. Once a person has had an immersive experience with a book, they usually become readers. Unfortunately, most secondary curriculum relies on a one-size-fits-all approach to reading.

Secondary 419
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How to Protect K–12 Networks From Student Hackers

EdTech Magazine

How to Protect K–12 Networks From Student Hackers. eli.zimmerman_9856. Wed, 02/20/2019 - 12:35. It’s no secret that school districts are a gold mine for hackers, who can exploit all of the confidential student, parent and employee data available for financial gain or to assuage a personal grudge. . While schools — rightfully — fear hacking of their computer systems by professional criminals, students increasingly breach their school’s cybersecurity safeguards , giving educators and administrator

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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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Beware of Time-Wasting Low Level Technology Learning

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Tom Murray reflects on his first 1:1 program seventeen years ago with Palm Pilots. He’s concerned that we often celebrate low-level learning. “Just because something is digital does not mean it is any good,” says Tom. The 2019 Teacher’s Guide to Technology from Jennifer Gonzalez is here!

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Maker-Enhanced Writing Workshop: Character Development

User Generated Education

Readers of my blog know my thoughts and feelings about effective student learning. I have written blogs on: All Lesson Should Be Interdisciplinary Learning – [link]. The Imperative of Experiential and Hands-On Learning – [link]. Authentic Learning Experiences – [link]. Intentional Creativity – [link]. The Magic of Making: The Human Need to Create – [link].

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4 Steps to Boost Social-Emotional Learning in Your Classroom

Ed Tech from the Ground Up

These social-emotional learning strategies can make a difference in classrooms and schools and provide students and teachers with support. The post 4 Steps to Boost Social-Emotional Learning in Your Classroom appeared first on Market Brief.

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Blending with Playlists

A Principal's Reflections

In an effort to personalize learning more and more educators are turning to blended learning strategies. Before getting into the specifics of this post, it is important to flesh out each concept to ensure the efficacy of these shifts in pedagogy. When it comes to personalized learning , the “personal” should be emphasized. Putting all kids in front of a device and having them engaged in an adaptive learning tool all at the same time is not personalized.

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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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Blended Learning: A Bridge to Personalization

Catlin Tucker

Blended learning is the combination of active engaged learning online and active engaged learning offline with the goal of giving students more control over the time, place, pace, and path of their learning. Blended learning can take many different forms and the various models give students different degrees of control over their learning. Some educators use blended learning and personalized learning synonymously.

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How Primary Students Can Use Technology Effectively

EdTech Magazine

How Primary Students Can Use Technology Effectively. eli.zimmerman_9856. Mon, 02/18/2019 - 10:45. One question I hear a lot in my travels is, “Can primary students use tech effectively?”. My answer, always, is, “Of course!” Like any classroom tool, the youngest learners need good guidance and examples when it comes to engaging with technology in the classroom.

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Revealing the Heart to Breakthrough to the Unreachable Student

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Basil Marin’s story of struggle to success will inspire every teacher to reach the unreachable student. He is now an assistant principal and spreading the word of what happens when a teacher believes in the unreachable child. We all have unreachable stars in our classroom if we’ll just look for them.

Twitter 360
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14+ Fabulous Valentine’s Day STEAM Activities Students Will Love

Teacher Reboot Camp

“The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of.” – Blaise Pascal. Valentine’s Day is around the corner! This holiday is a great time for students to be creative and share how much they appreciate and care for others. You can also get students to think and problem solve with the fabulous STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math) activities and resources below.

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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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Why teachers should consider differentiated instruction

Neo LMS

This post was originally published on September 26 2018 in The Teaching Factor. Students (like all people actually) have this paradoxical characteristic: they’re all the same; except when they’re not. They function the same from a physical point of view, they dress annoyingly the same (even when — or especially when — there’s no compulsory school uniform) they all have to learn almost the same things in school and they all use their brains to do that.

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Utilizing Augmented Reality as an Impetus for Learning

A Principal's Reflections

Technology continues to make inroads in classrooms across the world at a dizzying pace. This makes complete sense as every learner in our classrooms at this point have known nothing but a digital world. In many cases, they’ve grown up with access to incredibly immersive technology practically since birth. As a result, it can be difficult at times to compete for attention using traditional teaching methods like whiteboards, worksheets, and extended direct instruction.

Learning 300
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Google Slides interactive notebooks + 20 activities to fill them

Ditch That Textbook

Interactive notebooks have taken lots of classrooms everywhere by storm. The idea: a central space where students can create, write and make meaning. When they’re done well, students get that spark of excitement. Learning goes to a different level. When they’re done poorly, it becomes worksheets glued to pages. Interactive notebooks don’t have to go […].

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Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams for Education: Find the Blended Learning Tool that Works Best

EdTech Magazine

Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams for Education: Find the Blended Learning Tool that Works Best. eli.zimmerman_9856. Wed, 02/13/2019 - 14:12. There are a number of digital classroom offerings available for K–12 teachers to use. However, none are more widely adopted than Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams. . While both have similar features, they each offer unique tools that suit some classrooms better than others. .

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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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Empatico: A Breakthrough Way to Promote Empathy (And It’s Free)

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Empatico is a free platform, targeted to students aged 7-11, that helps classrooms connect in powerful ways. I’ve been collaborating globally since 2006 and have created more than 30 global collaborative projects in that time, co-winning the ISTE Online learning award with that first project in 2006.

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Developing a “National Geographic Explorer” Mindset in the Classroom

Digital Promise

Teachers are constantly engaging with others—students, parents, and colleagues—yet they are the only ones with a complete understanding of their classrooms and practices. As a result, being a teacher can be lonely. I taught at a small school. I loved my colleagues on my social studies team; we shared resources and supported each other. Still, if I wanted to integrate new ideas into my curriculum, I usually had to do a lot of the heavy lifting myself.

Classroom 276
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4 Ways to Support K-12 District Implementation of Your Ed-Tech Product

Ed Tech from the Ground Up

This CEO's ed-tech company is signing more district-wide contracts. Here are tips for making sure your product is implemented properly across schools. The post 4 Ways to Support K-12 District Implementation of Your Ed-Tech Product appeared first on Market Brief.

Company 272
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Best-in-Category Winners for 2018

Ask a Tech Teacher

During the last month, Ask a Tech Teacher readers voted on which tech tools had the greatest impact on their teaching. For this Best in Category award, we asked them to look for the ones that made them say Wow and rush to share with colleagues everywhere. Then we looked for the following qualities: how dependable is it. how versatile is it for time-strapped teachers. does it differentiate for the varied needs of students and teacher. do educators like it (fairly subjective, but there you have it

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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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10 educational podcasts you’ll love to listen to

Ditch That Textbook

There are hundreds of educational podcasts available to teachers on almost every subject you can think of. We see new podcasts launching all the time and some we have been hearing about for years but haven’t had the chance to check out. What are the podcasts that other educators love to listen to? And how can […].

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How to Redesign the K–12 Media Center

EdTech Magazine

How to Redesign the K–12 Media Center. eli.zimmerman_9856. Fri, 02/08/2019 - 11:31. New, 21st-century pedagogies that focus on interactive curricula and collaborative assignments require new classrooms and media spaces to match. As we know, technology is an essential part of any modern classroom. Schools and districts outfitting new classrooms and modern media spaces must remember that digital solutions are not just cool to use, they also should inspire.

How To 374
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Fantastic Apps I Use Every Day

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter I have picked five of my essential classroom tools. Pick one today to try with your students. I’ve also added some of my favorite new productivity tools for my smartphone, iPad, and a few new ones for my Mac. Today’s Sponsor Thank you to Advancement Courses for making today’s show possible.

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3 Teachers that are crushing assessments with ed-tech

Neo LMS

Assessments are the unloved orphan of schooling — no-one likes them. They are typically named as one of the most time-consuming activities for teachers, and debates continue on how effective current standards of assessment are in actually measuring what students know, vs. simply measuring teacher and school performance. For starters let’s briefly define the three basic forms of educational assessment.

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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.