March, 2021

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Differentiating in the Personalized Classroom

A Principal's Reflections

I love visiting classrooms around the country to not only support but to see educators in action. In my opinion, I learn just as much, if not more, from them as they hopefully do from me. During the spring of 2020, I connected with the Juab School District in Utah and began what would be two years of longitudinal work to help them take personalized learning to the next level.

Classroom 545
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Self-Regulation in Blended Learning Environments

Catlin Tucker

“Students don’t do the asynchronous work.” “Students don’t work unless I am monitoring them.” “Students will only do the work if I grade it.” I hear statements like this every week. Teachers are frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of focus, engagement, and motivation. I can empathize with their frustration, but I attribute these behaviors to underdeveloped self-regulation skills, especially in online and blended learning environments.

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8 Elements of Effective Coaching

A Principal's Reflections

I absolutely love coaching educators in small groups. During these sessions, I get to see firsthand how they are implementing ideas and strategies into practice to grow. While giving keynotes and facilitation workshops is something I love, both lack an on-going component, which is one of the most critical aspects of professional learning that leads to scalable results.

Strategy 508
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K–12 Teachers Share How They Keep Students Engaged While Learning Remotely

EdTech Magazine

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, as they say. For many teachers, who’ve been stuck at home instructing virtually for nearly a year and a half, making the most of tough circumstances brought on by the global pandemic isn’t just a coping mechanism — it’s also a source of light and inspiration for students who are lacking all of the tangible and intangible benefits of in-person instruction.

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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 impact of digital fatigue in the educational system

Neo LMS

More than a year ago, in the context of the international health crisis we are still facing, the entire world had to deal with unique learning circumstances. With schools being shut down, stakeholders, faculty, and institutional bodies had to reinvent teaching, exploring adequate alternatives to ensure successful learning. Experiencing this new reality in various ways, teachers and students around the globe tried their best to move education online almost overnight.

System 504
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10 St. Patrick’s Day Resources For Your Class

Ask a Tech Teacher

Getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day? Try these fun websites with activities for different grade levels, different classes: Puzzle–St. Pat’s Puzzle. Puzzle–St. Pat’s drag-and-drop puzzle. Puzzle–St. Pat’s slide puzzle. Puzzles and games. Physical Education St. Patrick’s Day Activities from Elementary PE Teacher.com.

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More Trending

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Formative Assessment: Collecting Data & Designing Differentiated Learning Experiences in Class or Online

Catlin Tucker

The more physical distance between the teacher and the learner, the more challenging it is to collect formative assessment data consistently. I’ve taught in person, online, and in blended learning environments. The aspect of teaching that is hard to replicate in the online environment is the teachers’ ability to collect informal data by merely listening and observing.

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The Power of Collaboration

A Principal's Reflections

There is nothing more gratifying, in my opinion than watching people work together to achieve a common goal. In a previous post , I shared how members of the 4th-grade team at Red Cliffs Elementary School in the Juab School district collaborated to create a personalized experience that combined choice and data to differentiate. I was so empowered by what I saw that I captured the story of both teachers.

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Hybrid Hangups: What Teachers Struggle with Most in Hybrid Instruction

EdTech Magazine

K–12 education in the U.S. is all over the board: Some districts are fully online, some are fully in-person, and many have implemented a hybrid model. To learn about the struggles teachers are experiencing, I reached out to educators across the country and compiled a list of the biggest challenges when it comes to the hybrid model, and how teachers are meeting those challenges.

Meeting 521
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6 Ways to build meaningful online teacher-student relationships

Neo LMS

As a teacher, one of the greatest joys is seeing your students’ eyes light up when they learn something new. We’ve all had that teacher who made us like a subject simply because their personality and enthusiasm were enough to spark an interest in anything. A good teacher-student rapport positively impacts students’ learning outcomes, motivation, and socio-emotional development.

Software 488
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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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Meet Digital Promise’s New President and CEO Jean-Claude Brizard

Digital Promise

For more than 35 years, Jean-Claude Brizard has worked in education as a teacher, school leader, superintendent, chief executive, funder, and education advocate. He brings that deep experience to his new role as President and CEO of Digital Promise, at a time when the need for innovation in education is especially critical. During his first official week, Brizard connected with me via Zoom to discuss his thoughts on the future of education, how issues of equity and racial justice shape his work,

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How to Partner with Parents During Pandemic Learning

The CoolCatTeacher

J.T. Taylor shares how schools can better connect with parents From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Some schools need to reset their relationships with parents. Others want to make it stronger as they transition to a different form of learning. At the forefront of all of this is the psychological health of students during this time.

How To 446
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Blended Learning: The Whole Group Rotation

Catlin Tucker

When I work with teachers who are new to blended learning, there is often a knee-jerk concern about the time required to design a lesson that strategically blends active, engaged learning online with active, engaged learning offline. It is true that blended learning requires a higher level of intentionality when it comes to design. I want teachers to think of themselves as architects of learning experiences, sketching out a blueprint that will position the students to do the “building̶

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Digitally-Enhanced Exit Tickets

A Principal's Reflections

I love coaching as it provides a lens to see how teachers and administrators act on feedback to grow and improve. It also provides evidence that strategies aligned to research and sound instructional design are implemented in practical ways. Even though this year has been dramatically different as a result of the pandemic, I have found myself even more busy supporting districts through job-embedded and on-going professional learning.

Strategy 528
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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.

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What It Takes to Get Hybrid Instruction Right

EdTech Magazine

When school districts went fully remote in response to COVID-19, the need for immediate technology — any technology — often superseded the need to choose the right long-term technology. Now, as more schools adopt hybrid learning models, school districts have learned more about what it takes amplify lessons for students both in class and at home. Even after the pandemic subsides, hybrid learning will continue to evolve the K–12 education landscape.

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How edtech strengthens parental engagement in online learning

Neo LMS

Education is a continuous process that starts even before a child goes to school. It starts at home: the first teachers a child has are their parents. While the student goes through the formal steps within the system — from kindergarten to primary school to secondary school and so on — parents are an important part of the big picture. Current distance learning settings have made this crystal clear.

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Tech Tip #105: Create Shortkeys for Windows Tools

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: Create Shortkeys for Windows Tools.

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4 Social Emotional Learning Strategies to Use in the Classroom Now

The CoolCatTeacher

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. We know that to teach students, we must relate to educate and one of the first things we must relate to is their emotions in that moment. In today’s show, Robin Fox shares four techniques you can use in your face-to-face or distance classroom to connect with your student’s social and emotional lives.

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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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Scratch Monster Mash: A Language Arts/Technology Project

User Generated Education

[link]. This project was developed by Colleen Graves. I found information about how to do it at the Makey Makey blog post entitled, Scratch Coding Literacy Project Ideas for Makey Makey micro:bit Inventions. She designed it to be used with Scratch programming and the micro:bit micro-controller. I asked my students to create their monster mash ups using only Scratch programming.

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5 Google Jamboard features you (probably) don’t know

Ditch That Textbook

Jamboard is Google's digital white board tool. Educators have flocked to it because it's very visual, it's easy to use, and it's highly collaborative. Teachers are using it in so many ways.as a digital white board for face-to-face and remote instructionas hands-on, interactive digital activities with drag-and-drop componentsas collaborative thinking spaces for small groupsOne of […].

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3 Ways to Set Students Up for Success in the Digital Age

EdTech Magazine

The past year proved that digital transformation is no longer just important — it’s absolutely essential. During the pandemic, educators and students have increasingly embraced and relied on digital tools, from mobile devices to online learning platforms, to continue learning outside of traditional classroom settings. It’s not just learning enablement that makes digital transformation so critical to school-aged children.

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4 Ways to promote collaboration in digital spaces

Neo LMS

As we prepare for spring, it is always good to have some new ideas to promote student engagement and foster more collaboration in the classroom. Whether we are in virtual, hybrid, or in-person learning, it is important to have a variety of tools that help us transition between these spaces and expand the when and where learning happens. Read more: The pivotal role of edtech in the hybrid classroom.

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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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What I’ve been up to: 5Sigma EduCon scavenger hunt keynote

Dangerously Irrelevant

[ I’ve been fairly quiet here during the pandemic. However, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been busy. I thought that I would share a little of what I’ve been doing for the past year… ]. My very last face-to-face engagement with schools before the pandemic was for the 5Sigma EduCon at Anastasis Academy. Kelly Tenkely is the Founder and Executive Director of this very innovative private K-8 school in Centennial, Colorado.

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How to Close the Learning Gap

The CoolCatTeacher

Dr. Rachael George shares advice on how to help kids now From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis Follow @coolcatteacher on Twitter. Students are returning to school and teachers and administrators know a learning gap is there. What do we do about it? How do we close the gap without stressing everyone out? Turnaround principal Rachael George tells us how.

How To 421
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Choosing Not to Grade Student Work

User Generated Education

I wear many hats as an educator. I teach graduate courses in education and counseling. I am a seminar facilitator for student teachers, and I teach gifted education at three Title 1 elementary schools. I have said for decades that I love teaching but I hate grading. It puts me in a power position over students which is, for me, contrary to my teaching philosophy of creating a learning community where we all become teachers and learners.

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Shine Bright Like a Diamond: Supporting Students with a Justice Lens

Education Elements

Like many this past year, I suffered the effects of deprivation from proximity – that is to say, I miss humans. It was this dearth of face-to-face interaction that led me, quite fortuitously, to reach out to Brittany Barnett , founder and president of the nonprofit organization Girls Embracing Mothers [GEM] to seek out volunteering opportunities. Renowned criminal justice advocate, decorated corporate lawyer, and best-selling author, Brittany is a force of nature.

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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.

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Working Toward Digital Equity in K–12 Education

EdTech Magazine

Digital equity is a complex topic. To begin a conversation around it, we must first define the term. The Consortium for School Networking’s “Driving K–12 Innovation: 2021 Hurdles + Accelerators” report describes digital equity as three interrelated concepts: digital foundations, learning conditions and meaningful learning opportunities. Part of building digital foundations is ensuring students have access to connectivity and devices.

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How to overcome digital fatigue as a teacher

Neo LMS

Teachers have a saying: There’s no tired like teacher-tired. Being a teacher has always been a tough job that can drain the last ounce of energy out of you regularly. In the past year, “teacher-tired” has changed into “digitally fatigued,” moving towards a new exhaustion level. Read more: The impact of digital fatigue in the educational system.

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4 powerful ways to embed media on your Canvas homepage

Ditch That Textbook

This post is written by Jon Kelley, bacon and coffee-loving educator in Delaware, Ohio, and 2019 Canvas National Educator of the Year. Jon is a Teaching and Learning Coach for Delaware City Schools. You can connect with Jon on Twitter @MrKelley64. The homepage of your Canvas course is the first glimpse students and families have of your virtual […].

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50 Fun Virtual Activities for Elementary School Students

Waterford

Teachers, we know how hard it can be to plan remote activities that are engaging and educational. Luckily, there are plenty of Internet resources available at your fingertips—with options for both synchronous and asynchronous learning-based classrooms. We’ve organized this list into two sections to help you better find what you need. The first section includes 25 educational tools that can help you plan online activities for your classroom.

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Building the Foundation for a Modern K-12 Classroom

K-12 looks different these days. But one thing remains the same: you need a reliable learning platform that serves as the foundation for teaching and learning––for all students, in a variety of learning experiences. Discover how the Instructure Learning Platform supports today's K-12 classroom through: A central, consistent, connected hub of the digital learning environment.