2024

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30 K–12 IT Influencers to Follow in 2024

EdTech Magazine

This year’s K–12 IT influencers have been in their educational technology era since long before the Federal Communications Commission’s cybersecurity funding pilot, the revision to the National Educational Technology Plan or any other federal ed tech topics in the spotlight this calendar year. These fervent ed tech experts come from across the U.S., from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains.

Trends 545
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Compliance vs Engagement

A Principal's Reflections

One of the best aspects of the work my team and I at Aspire Change EDU do is getting into leaders as part of the coaching process. During this time, we begin to collect qualitative evidence aligned with growth opportunities that they have set during initial meetings. No matter where our travels take us, one of the most common areas districts and schools want to improve is shifting from compliance to student engagement.

Examples 491
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Keep, Start, Stop: A Student Feedback Strategy

Catlin Tucker

At this point in the school year, you have had time to establish classroom routines, nurture your relationships with students, and design and facilitate entire units of study. It’s the perfect time to ask your students for feedback. Employing a simple feedback strategy like “keep, start, stop” helps you quickly take the temperature of the class and make any necessary adjustments to ensure the rest of the year is as productive and positive as possible.

Strategy 524
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A Thanksgiving Poll–What does ‘Turkey’ mean?

Ask a Tech Teacher

A few years ago, I did a poll on the meaning of the word ‘turkey’ This was to demonstrate how powerful symbols are to your students and do so with an authentic use of technology to support discussion on math, language standards, and the holidays. As a summation to your discussion with students on symbols, idiomatic expressions, geography, farms, or another topic, post this on your class screen.

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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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Digital Promise Awarded $10 Million to Lead IES Research Center to Support English Learners’ Reading Skills through Generative AI

Digital Promise

The post Digital Promise Awarded $10 Million to Lead IES Research Center to Support English Learners’ Reading Skills through Generative AI appeared first on Digital Promise.

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VirtCon 2024: Discovery Education Invites Teachers and Administrators to Free Day of Professional Learning

EdNews Daily

Discovery Education invites teachers and administrators around the globe to participate in its 13th annual Fall VirtCon, which will be held this year on Saturday, October 19th from 11 AM to 3 PM Eastern. A no-cost, virtual professional learning conference designed for users of Discovery Education’s digital resources, VirtCon provides a unique opportunity for educators to learn new, classroom-tested techniques and strategies for designing engaging learning experiences with innovative educational

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For Teens Online, Conspiracy Theories Are Commonplace. Media Literacy Is Not.

Edsurge

How often do you come in contact with a conspiracy theory? Maybe on occasion, when you flip through TV channels and land on an episode of “Ancient Aliens.” Or perhaps when a friend from high school shares a questionable meme on Facebook. How confident are you in your ability to tell fact from fiction? If you’re a teen, you could be exposed to conspiracy theories and a host of other pieces of misinformation as frequently as every day while scrolling through your social media feeds.

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OPINION: Everyone can be a ‘math person,’ but first, we have to make math instruction more inclusive

The Hechinger Report

How often have you heard someone say: “I’m just not a math person?” People are reluctant to say they are illiterate but proud to share their low math identity. We tend to think of math as a subject that’s accessible only to certain types of people. But that’s a false assumption, and it’s holding back achievement for far too many students. With the right instructional approach, everyone can learn and do math.

Report 141
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How AI can unleash student curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking

eSchool News

Key points: Teachers must accept that there’s no putting the AI genie back in the bottle How much AI is too much? AI’s impact on education: Wider and wiser curricula For more on AI in education, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub Maybe it’s just me, but it feels as though AI is starting to take over the world. To be clear, I don’t mean this in an “evil robots” sort of way.

Robotics 133
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8 Of The Most Important Critical Thinking Skills

TeachThought - Learn better.

Critical thinking is the ongoing application of unbiased analysis in pursuit of objective truth. Although its name implies criticism , critical thinking is actually closer to ‘ truth judgment ‘ based on withholding judgments while evaluating existing and emerging data to form more accurate conclusions. Critical thinking is an ongoing process emphasizing the fluid and continued interpretation of information rather than the formation of static beliefs and opinions.

Examples 139
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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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ISTELive 24: Takeaways From the National Cybersecurity Framework for K–12

EdTech Magazine

With rising cyber insurance rates, more stringent insurance requirements, tight budgets and slim staffs, K–12 school leaders cannot afford to make any errors with their cybersecurity strategies. So, when one panelist at a packed ISTELive 24 cybersecurity session asked how many audience members had already adopted a national or international cybersecurity framework and only one hand went up, Rob Dickson, CIO at Wichita Public Schools in Kansas, said firmly, “We’ve got work to do.

Strategy 527
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Accountability Drives Growth

A Principal's Reflections

These days, it seems that everyone says they want change. However, the fact is that those asking for it might not be as open to the idea as they want others to think. The number dwindles even more when considering who wants to lead the process. No matter how you slice and dice it, improving outcomes aligned with change relies on the dreaded “A” word – accountability.

Outcomes 453
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3 Reasons Teachers Should Use the Playlist Model

Catlin Tucker

Let’s start with a quick review of the playlist, or individual rotation, model for those who have not heard of it. A playlist is a sequence of learning activities designed to move students toward a desired result. Most playlists culminate in a performance task or artifact intended to demonstrate students’ ability to transfer or apply what they learned working through the playlist.

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6 Tips for Managing Google Drive

Teacher Tech with Alice Keeler

Google Drive is an incredibly powerful tool for storing, sharing, and collaborating on files. But if you’re not careful, it can quickly become a disorganized mess. Let’s dive into some essential tips to help you with managing Google Drive and maximize its potential. 1) Review Your Google Drive Settings Google Drive has lots of new. The post 6 Tips for Managing Google Drive appeared first on Teacher Tech with Alice Keeler.

Google 132
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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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Inspiring Understanding Using Personal Stories

MiddleWeb

Exploring human experiences through personal stories promotes discussions that focus on facts and individual realities rather than generalizations and stereotypes and helps students develop empathy, compassion and understanding, writes Kasey Short. Reading suggestions included! The post Inspiring Understanding Using Personal Stories first appeared on MiddleWeb.

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8 Ways to Create AI-Proof Writing Prompts

techlearning

ChatGPT and other AI tools are smart but I’m smarter. okay maybe not, but these are strategies for writing AI-proof writing prompts that I’ve used effectively in my classes.

Strategy 137
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How to make custom songs for your class in a minute with Suno

Ditch That Textbook

Music can help your students learn. Suno (suno.com) creates custom songs for you in a minute -- songs that can support learning and the classroom. Here's how. Music is a connector in learning. Want to connect students to a new concept so they can remember and understand it? Put it to music. Want to connect WITH your […] The post How to make custom songs for your class in a minute with Suno appeared first on Ditch That Textbook.

How To 313
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What Happens When a School Closes Its Library?

Edsurge

HOUSTON — On a Saturday morning in August 2023, a crowd gathered outside the Houston Independent School District administration building with protest signs in hand. The brutal, sticky heat of Texas summer already had people wiping sweat from their brows and handing out bottled water from ice-filled coolers. Teachers, parents and politicians took turns at the microphone, united in their criticism of the controversial state takeover of Texas’ largest school district.

Libraries 218
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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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Three reasons why so few eighth graders in the poorest schools take algebra

The Hechinger Report

Like learning to read by third grade, taking eighth grade math is a pivotal moment in a child’s education. Students who pass Algebra 1 in eighth grade are more likely to sign up for more advanced math courses, and those who pass more advanced math courses are more likely to graduate from college and earn more money. “Algebra in eighth grade is a gateway to a lot of further opportunities,” said Dan Goldhaber, an economist who studies education at the American Institutes for Research, in a recent

Survey 131
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A look at AI use in schools across the country

eSchool News

Key points: AI use can be tricky–and it varies by state and district AI use guide helps students navigate AI in learning AI’s transformative role in accessibility For more news on AI use policies, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub Educational technology and digital learning tools are classroom essentials, and each day, educators make decisions surrounding how to integrate edtech intentionally and effectively–particularly as AI makes its way into districts across the nation.

Policies 123
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Strategies To Help Students Retain What You Taught Them

TeachThought - Learn better.

15 Reflection Strategies To Help Students Retain What You Just Taught Them by Terry Heick Reflection is a natural part of learning. We all think about new experiences–the camping on the car ride home, the mistakes made in a game, or the emotions felt while finishing a long-term project that’s taken months to complete. Below I’ve shared 15 strategies for students to reflect on their learning.

Strategy 140
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FETC 2024: Could Esports Reverse the Trend of K–12 Boys Falling Behind?

EdTech Magazine

The numbers don’t lie. Compared with K–12 girls, boys are disciplined at higher rates and are more likely to be expelled than girls. Additionally, their test scores are lower, and they are less likely to graduate from high school. These devastating numbers are a cause for action, said Kristy Custer, president of educational innovation for High School Esports League.

Trends 539
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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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Ditch the Drill and Choose to Thrill: Personalization with Student Choice

A Principal's Reflections

There is a saying out there that I hear often: learning is learning. While I don’t discount this view, I firmly believe there is so much to it at the individual level. Preferences and experiences play a significant role in how we all learn, and interests do as well. When asked to do the same thing at the same time in the same way, it is pretty much a fact that a few people will thrive, some will get by, and others will struggle.

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AI Terminology Cheat Sheet

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

With the boom of aritificial technology and its infiltration into our daily lives, a large collection of technical terms have now become common parlance. Most of us use these terms without even knowing what they exactly mean and sometimes we use AI certain terms interchangeably while in fact each has its own semantic use (e.g., AI and generative AI).

Tools 116
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Time to Ditch the Social Media Algorithm

Teacher Tech with Alice Keeler

Remember the good old days of Twitter when you could jump on really quick and get some positive encouragement or teaching ideas? Things seem to have gone downhill a bit on the site formerly known as Twitter (I will never call it X). It’s time to ditch the social media algorithm and look to other. The post Time to Ditch the Social Media Algorithm appeared first on Teacher Tech with Alice Keeler.

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7 Principles of a Heart Centered Classroom

MiddleWeb

Educator and author Regie Routman considers heart-centered principles that can help us go a long way to ensure that what we do and are asking our students and loved ones to do will result in personal and professional growth, gratitude, generosity, and even sparks of greatness. The post 7 Principles of a Heart Centered Classroom first appeared on MiddleWeb.

Classroom 136
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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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As Schools Cope With a Cybersecurity ‘Wild West,’ Advocates Roll Out Guidelines for Vendors

Marketplace K-12

Public and private organizations have set cybersecurity guidelines for ed-tech companies, in an effort to shift some of burden for policing away from districts. The post As Schools Cope With a Cybersecurity ‘Wild West,’ Advocates Roll Out Guidelines for Vendors appeared first on Market Brief.

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The SAMR dozen: 12 AI strategies for educators

Ditch That Textbook

This post is written by Becky Keene, an educator, author, and speaker. Becky has been advocating for modern pedagogies in public education around the world for over twenty years. Currently, her favorite topics include generative AI, esports, and instructional coaching. You can get in touch at beckykeene.com In the past year, the idea of using artificial […] The post The SAMR dozen: 12 AI strategies for educators appeared first on Ditch That Textbook.

Strategy 329
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Which Language 'Superpowers' Do Bilingual Students Bring to U.S. Schools?

Edsurge

Los datos ya llegaron, y revelan algo interesante sobre los estudiantes bilingües de los Estados Unidos. Parsing education data into snack-sized servings. No need to hop over to Google Translate. Chances are good that if you were one of the 5.3 million English learners in public schools, you’d know the opening line explains that recent data has something interesting to reveal about the U.S.’s bilingual students.

Data 216
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Why an end-of-the alphabet last name could skew your grades

The Hechinger Report

A dashboard from the Canvas learning management system is displayed to students in this college lecture hall. A University of Michigan study finds that students with last names at the end of the alphabet are penalized when instructors grade in alphabetical order, a default setting in Canvas and other widely used learning management systems (LMS). Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images If your last name starts with an A, that could mean that you’re also more likely to score an A on a test.

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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.