December, 2018

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Be proud of your pockets of innovation. AND…

Dangerously Irrelevant

Every school system has pockets of innovation. Those three forward-thinking teachers in the elementary school, that one grade-level team in the middle school, the department that’s really trying to do something different at the high school, that amazing principal over there, and so on. As school leaders we’re proud of – and point to – that cutting-edge work and rightfully so.

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Walkthroughs And Observations: There Is A Difference

The Web20Classroom

As a former Director of Instructional Technology I was tasked with training all district and school leadership on the process of walkthroughs. We’d spend 2 days reviewing protocols, analyzing data and how to lead conversations. Afterwards they would go out and conduct their walks. When I would visit schools and talk to teachers about walkthroughs, their purpose or how they were using the data they were often confused with observations.

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Why Students Need More ‘Math Talk’

Digital Promise

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Test scores , school report cards and Facebook posts complaining about homework problems often drive critiques of how math is taught in schools. Amid the debates, it has become increasingly clear that one ingredient is necessary for success: opportunities for students to talk about math.

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It’s 2018, not 1918. Basic skills are not enough.

Dangerously Irrelevant

Here is a quote from Kentucky Education Commissioner, Dr. Wayne Lewis (who is a friend of mine). The context is a statewide conversation about higher education standards for Kentucky high school graduates. On Tuesday, Lewis said the current system already penalizes students by not actually preparing them for success. “When we give them a diploma without ensuring that they have basic skills and they go to post-secondary education and they hit a brick wall – when they get into those En

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Make Tuition Agreements Work Smarter—for Your School and Families

A well-crafted tuition agreement is more than paperwork—it’s a powerful tool for protecting your school and building family confidence. This guide helps private and independent K–12 schools reduce legal risk, improve collections, and foster long-term trust with families. Learn best practices for drafting enforceable agreements, communicating clear expectations, and navigating challenges like payment disputes, custody conflicts, and continuous enrollment.

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Take the Manage Out of Classroom Management

Catlin Tucker

When I lead blended learning workshops or coach teachers implementing blended learning, I get a lot of questions about classroom management. I’ve never liked the idea that as teachers it is our job to “manage” students, but it wasn’t until I was reading research about human motivation for my doctoral program that I understood why I was feeling such a knee-jerk reaction when I heard the phrase “classroom management.” On some primal level, I know that I don̵

Classroom 419

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3D Printing in a STEM Classroom

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. David Ternent, a teacher in a middle school STEM classroom in Ohio, shares how he has used his 3D printers to transform and excite kids about learning STEM concepts. His students are 3d printing tiny houses, drones with cameras and VR glasses and so much more. He shares his workflow, how his students sculpt in VR before printing, example projects, and how he manages supply costs.

STEM 418
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The Skinny on Hashtags

A Principal's Reflections

Upon getting on Twitter in 2009, I was not only baffled about how to use the social media site but also about all the symbols associated with it. There was no apparent rhyme or reason to using these in any messages whether long or short. One of them was the hashtag (#). Before Twitter I referred to this as the “pound sign” on the telephone and only used it as such.

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Create Effective Feedback With Education Technology

ViewSonic Education

The Promise of Education Technology: Effective Feedback. Giving effective feedback is one of the best ways to improve student learning. Constructive feedback allows a teacher to build and maintain a conversation over time. Education technology empowers teachers to help students on an individual basis. With the right technology, instructors deliver timely, effective feedback with the power to achieve greater learning.

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Help Students Share Their Stories with 360° Media Production Kits

Digital Promise

Since 2016, Digital Promise Global’s 360° Story Lab has supported young people’s creation of immersive stories that share their perspectives and inspire positive action on issues they care about. In partnership with the United Nations SDG Action Campaign and Oculus , the 360° Story Lab will release its second MY World 360° playlist in May 2019 at the Global Festival of Action in Bonn, Germany, featuring immersive stories told by youth worldwide to advance positive action toward the Sustainable D

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The Case for Game Design as an Innovative STEAM Teaching Tool

Speaker: Speakers:

Searching for innovative ways to deliver integrated STEAM education that also help students attain industry-ready skills? Then this punchy 30-minute thought leadership webinar is for you. Join fellow education leaders as we share: National data on STEAM performance and student engagement that indicates post-pandemic learners are craving inspired intervention 10 research-backed reasons why game design is the leading method for practically teaching integrated STEAM education An inside look at live

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Math Journals: Adaptive Software + A Metacognitive Practice

Catlin Tucker

As a blended learning coach, I spend time in classrooms where teachers use adaptive software to provide students with personalized math practice. Often a station rotation lesson for math is composed of: a teacher-led station for direct instruction and modeling. an online station at which students work with an adaptive math software program, like Aleks, IXL, or Dreambox. an offline station where kids work offline to practice problems on a worksheet. bit.ly/mathjournaltemplate.

Software 419
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The Current State of Education Technology and Where It Is Going [#Infographic]

EdTech Magazine

The Current State of Education Technology and Where It Is Going [#Infographic]. eli.zimmerman_9856. Thu, 12/13/2018 - 11:11. The evolution of education technology has been swift. Interactive whiteboards hang in place of chalkboards, students use Chromebooks in the classroom and schools are investing in emerging technologies such as virtual reality. As K–12 schools continue to evolve, having a firm grasp on current ed tech trends is crucial for educators, administrators and IT teams. .

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Webinar: Teaching with Augmented Reality with #ARVRinEDU Classroom Enthusiasts

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Join a lively conversation with Jaime Donally , the host of #ARVRinEDU chat on Twitter, some leading AR in the Classroom enthusiasts and me as we discuss the changing pedagogies around Augmented Reality (AR) in the classroom in a free webinar on Wednesday, December 19th at 9pm ET.

Classroom 418
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Making is in Our DNA

A Principal's Reflections

I have such fond memories of the time I had with both my grandfathers, albeit much too short as one of them was taken from us too soon. Each of them had such a great fondness for the outdoors, which influenced my decision to pursue degrees in marine environmental science and biology. William Sheninger, or “Pappy” as we called him, was always outside fixing things and my brothers and I would often hover around to see what he was doing.

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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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The Benefits of Video in the Digital Classroom

ViewSonic Education

The evidence is in. Digital-based learning benefits students. 1:1 student-to-device ratios. Tech-fostered collaboration. Student response clickers. Blended learning and flipped classrooms. When teachers leverage technology, learning outcomes improve. Whether to enhance a lesson or be the lesson, options are virtually endless. From virtual labs and games to digital textbooks and online curriculum, digital classrooms rely on video.

Video 329
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The best 10 free EdTech tools and websites every teacher should know about

Neo LMS

As a teacher, you are charged with a great responsibility: to equip the young people, the future of the world and the next generation. A lifetime ago, information was hard to find on anything. People did most things instinctively, superstitiously or based on their beliefs. However, in today’s age, information is everywhere. In fact, one can say that information is at our fingertips.

EdTech 314
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Blended Learning: 8 Respectful Routines

Catlin Tucker

One of the biggest challenges many teachers face when shifting from traditional teacher-led instruction to blended learning models is the release of control from the teacher to the student. Ideally, blended learning models are designed to give students more control over the time, place, pace, and path of their learning. As a result, students enjoy more agency and autonomy which can have a positive impact on their motivation and engagement.

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How the Internet of Things May Change K–12 Culture

EdTech Magazine

How the Internet of Things May Change K–12 Culture. jena.passut_7651. Wed, 12/05/2018 - 21:12. The Internet of Things is making a big splash in K–12 school districts. Connected IoT devices provide school IT pros with helpful real-time data to share with educators and students. Some of those connected systems include smart lighting and HVAC, facial recognition technology, wireless door locks and temperature monitors, interactive whiteboards, IP surveillance cameras and other sensor-equipped items

EdTech 418
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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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Strategies to Help Kids Love Reading

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter Barb Gilman (known as @barbinnebraska) has a classroom rich with a love of reading. Today she talks about strategies any teacher can use to help kids love reading. She starts with a sign posting what she’s reading now! I’ve heard other educators (including my friend Todd Nesloney) who have teachers in their schools post what they are reading.

Strategy 391
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How a Second Language Can Boost the Brain

Digital Promise

Even when you’re fluent in two languages, it can be a challenge to switch back and forth smoothly between them. It’s common to mangle a split verb in Spanish, use the wrong preposition in English, or lose sight of the connection between the beginning and end of a long German sentence. So — does mastering a second language hone our multitasking skills or merely muddle us up?

Study 311
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Why Should Students Learn Computer Science? A Teacher’s Perspective

Ask a Tech Teacher

If you participated in December’s Hour of Code, you may have come to realize the importance of Computer Science to students. Greg Beutler is the Director of Techscool.org , a school devoted to teaching kids this fundamental skill through the lens of robotics, coding, competitions, and more. The school’s tagline is Learn to code; Code to learn.

Learning 307
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14 Awesome examples of Critical Thinking EdTech

Neo LMS

Critical thinking is a part of the much celebrated 4Cs (Creativity, Communication, Collaboration & Critical Thinking) — skills which many futurists, pedagogues and educators believe will be critical in navigating the world, economy and environment of the future. The hope is that students who have been taught not only the facts and figures, but who are also able to think, dialogue, create and work with others will be better able to produce the solutions the world, in many cases, so desperatel

Examples 308
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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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I Connect, Therefore I Learn

Catlin Tucker

Is it possible to learn without being connected? How does the strength of an individual’s network impact their value as an employee? Why should employers encourage their employees to build robust personal and social networks? Established learning theories, like behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism, are grounded in the idea that learning occurs inside the human brain.

Learning 307
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Social-Emotional Learning Competencies Get a Boost from Classroom Technology

EdTech Magazine

Social-Emotional Learning Competencies Get a Boost from Classroom Technology. eli.zimmerman_9856. Wed, 12/19/2018 - 16:59. As K–12 educators seek ways to help students develop social-emotional skills, they are finding that some of the same tools they use in modern learning environments can also facilitate collaboration, empathy and other soft skills.

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Games and Play Based Learning in Middle and High School

The CoolCatTeacher

C. Ross Flatt in Episode 399 of the 10-Minute Teacher Podcast From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Play can be used to teach. C. Ross Flatt from the Institute of Play, talks about exemplars and best practices for play in the middle and high school classrooms. Listen to the Show. Listen to the show on iTunes or Stitcher.

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Unleashing the True Potential of Video for Learning

A Principal's Reflections

The best job on the planet is that of a parent. I can’t begin to explain how awesome it has been over the years watching my kids grow up and being actively engaged in their lives. Sure, there are some lows along the way, but the highs are what bring so much joy and purpose into our own lives. If you are a parent, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Video 307
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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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3 Techniques for Promoting Resilience in Adult Digital Literacy

Digital Promise

During a recent trip to the doctor, the office’s affiliate hospital was in the midst of transitioning to a new electronic medical records system. At every single phase of my visit—from checking in, to the nurse evaluation, to accessing my chart for lab work—this new system wreaked havoc. The results were a challenging customer service experience, the haphazard—and quite possibly inaccurate—entry of my medical information due to an inability to locate the correct codes, and even conflict between

Software 305
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3 Free SEL Activities from SafeSchools

Ask a Tech Teacher

Life is much simpler when you–as a parent or teacher–can point to one solution for a problem, solve it, and everything is golden. Success in school was like that when grades were the barometer and studying harder was the tool. Now, we know that academic achievement is much more complicated. “Students are telling us there’s a big missing piece in their education” –John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic.

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Your Phone May Be Getting in the Way of Startup Progress

Ed Tech from the Ground Up

The habit of checking your phone can be disguised as productivity, but for entrepreneurs it can present a barrier to goals. The post Your Phone May Be Getting in the Way of Startup Progress appeared first on Market Brief.