Catlin Tucker

JUNE 16, 2024

The first and second blogs in this series focused on providing meaningful choices when students are acquiring information and making meaning. In this third and final installment of our “Would You Rather?” series, we will explore how we can provide students with choices that enable them to transfer and apply their learning effectively. Understanding that not all students express or communicate their understanding in the same way is crucial.

History 380

History Art Essay Physical Education 380

eSchool News

JUNE 28, 2024

The Best of ISTELive 24 Check-out our coverage of the topics, speakers, and technologies showcased at this year’s ISTELive 24

Technology 363

Technology 363

Edsurge

JUNE 17, 2024

As an educator reading headline after headline about AI in education, it’s hard to not get lost in an existential tailspin to the tune of Billie Eilish’s “What was I made for?” (if AI can do all of this.) Integrating generative AI into education is complex. The field of AI is the Wild West right now — we’re working it out as we go. As an assistant professor of edtech, I often think about the implications of AI on teaching and learning, especially as I experiment with implementing various practic

Teachers 218

Teachers Essay Writing Culture 218

EdTech Magazine

JUNE 24, 2024

To help her audience better understand the earthshaking impact of generative artificial intelligence, futurist Sinead Bovell, one of the keynote speakers at ISTELive 24 in Denver, compared AI to electricity. Bovell — the founder of WAYE (Weekly Advice for Young Entrepreneurs)— told attendees at the conference’s opening session on Sunday that AI, like electricity, will soon become so deeply embedded in the fabric of society that educators must prepare students to work with it.

Intelligence 214

Intelligence Education Students Schools 214

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 21, 2024

Online learning offers unmatched flexibility and accessibility, enabling both students and educators to manage their schedules effectively and break down geographical barriers. For example, as an online student, I was able to balance my studies with a full-time job, and as a teacher, multimedia elements and community through discussion forums made my virtual classroom more engaging and interactive.

Online Learning 187

Online Learning Education Learning Quizzes 187

Faculty Focus

JUNE 2, 2024

My first and only fully online class taken as an undergraduate student was a complete disaster. Aside from a bare-bones syllabus, the professor never showed up. Most of our grade was supposed to come from a single class project, but no assignment instructions were ever posted. I emailed the professor and waited…and waited…and waited—silence. Eventually, the professor emailed the class to cancel the big project.

Syllabus 131

Syllabus Course Design Learning Students 131

Catlin Tucker

JUNE 25, 2024

As someone who regularly works with teachers on topics like blended learning, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and student-led learning, one recurring theme I encounter is control. There’s a pervasive fear among educators when it comes to releasing control and allowing students to take more ownership and responsibility for their learning. This begs the question: Why don’t we trust our students?

Students 195

Students Motivation Blended Learning Critical Thinking 195

Edsurge

JUNE 6, 2024

Tech giants Google, Microsoft and OpenAI have unintentionally assigned educators around the world major homework for the summer: Adjusting their assignments and teaching methods to adapt to a fresh batch of AI features that students will enter classrooms with in the fall. Educators at both schools and colleges were already struggling to keep up with ChatGPT and other AI tools during this academic year, but a fresh round of announcements last month by major AI companies may require even greater a

Lecturing 215

Lecturing Education Assignments Syllabus 215

EdTech Magazine

JUNE 27, 2024

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.

Discussions 212

Discussions Technology Schools Education 212

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 5, 2024

World Environment Day , celebrated annually on June 5th, is designed for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly and first held in 1974, it has grown with participation from over 143 countries. Significance World Environment Day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and preserve the environment.

Participation 180

Participation Art Culture Curriculum 180

Faculty Focus

JUNE 13, 2024

Nothing has informed my teaching practice as much as serving as a writing tutor for high school and college students. It has been sobering to see, through their eyes, how unclear our assignments can sometimes be. Believe me, I’m guilty too. In fact, it’s the complaint I hear most often in my tutoring sessions: “I don’t get what this is asking.” I wish I could claim that I am always able to swoop in and decipher the details, thereby delivering the student from confusion and moving toward crafting

Assignments 119

Assignments Essay Writing Questions 119

Catlin Tucker

JUNE 4, 2024

In this second installment of our “Would You Rather?” series , we will delve into strategies for facilitating meaning-making in the classroom. Once students have had an opportunity to acquire information, how can we support them in transforming that information into deep, personal understanding? How can we ensure that every student, regardless of their background or individual learning preferences, has the opportunity to connect with the material in a meaningful way?

Knowledge 195

Knowledge Participation Discussions Writing 195

eSchool News

JUNE 28, 2024

Key points: AI isn’t going anywhere–but students still need to develop their own writing abilities AI’s role in the future of learning AI is the solution to costly and ineffective dyslexia programs For more news on AI in education , visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub As AI cements itself firmly into classrooms, one large and lingering question concerns when and how students can use it appropriately.

Writing 328

Writing Essay Plagiarism Assignments 328

Edsurge

JUNE 5, 2024

As a mathematics education researcher, I study how math instruction impacts students' learning, from following standard math procedures to understanding mathematical concepts. Focusing on the latter, conceptual understanding often involves understanding the “why” of a mathematical concept ; it’s the reasoning behind the math rather than the how or the steps it takes to get to an answer.

Math 210

Math Teaching Attention Students 210

EdTech Magazine

JUNE 25, 2024

Funding school technology continues to be a concern for many K–12 school leaders. And in Illinois, where there are many small, rural school districts that have minimal or nonexistent technology budgets, this need is even more pronounced. In an ISTELive 24 session, Justin Morgan, technology director for Trico Community Unit School District 176, and Melinda Fiscus, director of government affairs for the Learning Technology Center of Illinois, shared their multipronged approach for obtaining connec

Learning Technologies 206

Learning Technologies Technology Schools Learning 206

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 20, 2024

Teaching financial literacy to teens can be made more effective and engaging by using real-world examples, such as interactive apps and hands-on activities like budgeting classroom dollars or planning events within a fixed budget. For instance, when I was younger, my parents set up a “family bank” where I earned interest on my allowance, helping me understand the value of saving and managing money from an early age.

Teaching 174

Teaching Activities Critical Thinking Intelligence 174

Faculty Focus

JUNE 11, 2024

What does mentoring other faculty mean? As a noun, a mentor is a wise and trusted guide and advisor; however, as a verb, mentoring means to serve as a teacher or trusted counselor. When our department was challenged with establishing a requested program for all faculty, three P’s were apparent: People, Place, and Purpose. The purpose of this article is to provide insight from one university department in the southeast region, where we took time to encourage all faculty by entertaining questions

Coaching 118

Coaching Questions Feedback Communication 118

Teach Hub

JUNE 28, 2024

If you’re looking for a new and exciting way to engage learners while enhancing their learning experience, then consider incorporating a podcast. This dynamic and easily accessible tool is revolutionizing classrooms everywhere. Whether you’re a veteran teacher or just beginning your career, integrating podcasts into your lessons can enhance your student’s learning experience.

Learning Styles 115

Learning Styles Learning Assignments Critical Thinking 115

eSchool News

JUNE 7, 2024

Key points: Phenomena-based learning uses concepts and techniques from different scientific disciplines 5 helpful hacks for managing a STEM classroom Why diversity and STEM education are critical to our future workforce For more news on science learning, visit eSN’s STEM & STEAM hub I was terrified, to be very honest, when my district switched to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and I had to begin using phenomena-based instruction.

Science 328

Science STEM Testing Questions 328

Edsurge

JUNE 20, 2024

Something crucial was missing from classrooms over the past school year: millions of students who were part of the chronic absenteeism crisis that plagued districts large and small. Parsing education data into snack-sized servings. Could better communication between schools and parents alleviate the problem? That’s the theory one nonprofit has. It partnered with Google for a massive, AI-powered analysis of 40 million messages in its app to find how parents and teachers are exchanging information

Communication 209

Communication Teachers Language Languages 209

EdTech Magazine

JUNE 20, 2024

No, not everything at ISTELive 24 in Denver will be about artificial intelligence. However, out of the nearly 1,000 sessions being offered, organizers say more than 200 of them will focus on this groundbreaking technology. For K–12 educators paying attention to headline news in the past few years, it will come as no surprise that AI will have a significant presence at one of the nation’s largest conferences on education technology.

Intelligence 200

Intelligence Attention Educational Technologies Technology 200

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 24, 2024

Creative writing techniques can make essays more engaging and original while maintaining the required objective structure. A member of the Ask a Tech Teacher team, when preparing an essay example for her class on the impacts of social media on mental health, used freewriting to brainstorm ideas and created a vivid opening scene describing a teenager’s day (she teaches High School), highlighting moments of social media interaction and their emotional effects.

Essay 174

Essay Writing Attention Feedback 174

Cult of Pedagogy

JUNE 9, 2024

Listen to my interview with Karen Borchert ( transcript ): Sponsored by Alpaca We have a lot of conversations about what should be done to make schools better. In these conversations, I hear a lot of ideas and I have a lot of ideas, but I think there’s one practice that should be done by any school that wants to improve, and it’s simple and free: Ask the people who are directly affected.

Schools 112

Schools Multiple Choice Questions Questions Feedback 112

Faculty Focus

JUNE 30, 2024

Recently I had reason to revisit Paul Pintrich’s meta-analysis on motivating students. It’s still the piece I most often see referenced when it comes to what’s known about student motivation. Subsequent research continues to confirm the generalizations reported in it. Like most articles that synthesize the results of many studies, it’s long, detailed, and liberally peppered with educational jargon.

Motivation 111

Motivation Beliefs Exams Students 111

eSchool News

JUNE 4, 2024

This post originally appeared on the Christensen Institute’s blog and is reposted here with permission. Key points: Podcasts can swap out screen time with audio-based, thought-provoking leisure 5 digital resources to inspire curiosity and engage students 3 things to consider when designing digital learning experiences For more news on learning technologies, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub This piece was coauthored with Daniel Curtis.

Learning 328

Learning Peer Review Science Learning Tools 328

Edsurge

JUNE 11, 2024

Last year, when Jayla Arensberg was a sophomore at Burnsville High School near St. Paul, Minnesota, a teacher showed her a flier saying that a program at the school could save her $25,000 on college. “I said, ‘I really need that,’” the student remembers. She was interested in college, but worried that the cost could keep her from pursuing higher education.

High School 207

High School High School Schools Art 207

EdTech Magazine

JUNE 18, 2024

Google has been digitally transforming the education industry for 10 years since it launched Google Classroom in 2014. Now, more than 150 million students and educators rely on Google Workspace for Education. Replacing an existing software with something new takes more than just the financial investment; it also requires familiarizing users with a new way of doing things.

Education 199

Education Schools Students 199

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 8, 2024

How to Help Students Run a Genius Bar Modeled after Apple’s popular tech support stations, a Genius Bar in a school setting is a student-run help desk where peers provide tech support, advice on digital tools, and assistance with various tech-related issues. Teachers play a crucial role in guiding students to run this service effectively, ensuring it becomes a valuable resource for the entire school community.

Students 174

Students Feedback Culture Communication 174

Teach Hub

JUNE 14, 2024

Communication between parents and teachers is essential for a child’s academic success. It ensures everyone is on the same page and working together to support the child’s academic career. Here we’ll discuss why parent-teacher relationships are so important as well as a few effective strategies that can enhance parent-teacher communication and help to build a strong, supportive relationship.

Communication 105

Communication Teachers Culture Feedback 105

Faculty Focus

JUNE 20, 2024

Why do TED Talks captivate us so consistently? TED Talks captivate us because their speakers apply fundamental principles of communication that, I believe, 99% of speakers fail to follow. Because teaching is first and foremost about communication, these principles apply just as well to teaching, especially to online teaching with videos. Photos Imagery, in either a live talk or online video, is not for projecting your notes.

Teaching 111

Teaching Lecturing Disabilities Communication 111

eSchool News

JUNE 25, 2024

Key points: Educators can embrace AI–with the right training and precautions Why AI in the classroom needs its own ‘doll test’ 70 years post-Brown Despite guidance, generative AI remains a challenge for educators For more news on AI in education, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub It seems educators can’t turn on a device or have a conversation without AI working its way into the mix.

Ethics 325

Ethics Fairness Learning Intelligence 325

Edsurge

JUNE 25, 2024

While her daughter naps, Bridget Collins spends an hour reviewing and role-playing activities with her home visitor, Amanda Pedlar, in the front room of her house in San Antonio, Texas. This week, the pair starts by discussing 3-year-old Brook’s burgeoning curiosity. Pedlar notes that it’s normal, at this stage of development, for Brook to ask “Why?

Language 205

Language Languages Activities History 205

EdTech Magazine

JUNE 3, 2024

For the past few years, K–12 schools have been in the crosshairs of cyberattackers and ransomware gangs. According to Emsisoft’s 2023 ransomware report, the number of school districts affected by ransomware attacks more than doubled, from 45 in 2022 to 108 in 2023. The report notes that “the impacted districts had a total of 1,899 schools between them, and at least 77 of the 108 had data stolen.

Schools 197

Schools 197

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 30, 2024

Navigating the internet is akin to exploring a lively city with its exciting opportunities and hidden dangers, where good digital citizenship provides the legal guidelines that ensure safe and respectful interactions. Imagine if your child or students are trying to explore that glitz safely? Here are tried-and-true ideas from the Ask a Tech Teacher team that provide good starting points to develop habits of vigilance when using the internet: create strong passwords two-factor authentication secu

Internet 33

Internet Knowledge Intelligence Curriculum 33

Teach Hub

JUNE 7, 2024

Teaching is a balancing act, with constantly juggling creating lesson plans , grading papers, and many other tasks. This juggling act can feel like an endless cycle, that’s why finding ways to make your workflow more efficient is so essential. Canva is a free tool designed to simplify your daily tasks so you can work smarter, not harder. By utilizing Canva’s resources you can streamline your workflow to help lighten your load.

Motivation 103

Motivation Quizzes Classroom Management Attention 103

Faculty Focus

JUNE 20, 2024

Why do TED Talks captivate us so consistently? TED Talks captivate us because their speakers apply fundamental principles of communication that, I believe, 99% of speakers fail to follow. Because teaching is first and foremost about communication, these principles apply just as well to teaching, especially to online teaching with videos. Photos Imagery, in either a live talk or online video, is not for projecting your notes.

Teaching 111

Teaching Lecturing Disabilities Communication 111

eSchool News

JUNE 13, 2024

Key points: AI chatbots are only as unbiased as the data they’re trained on and the humans who design them 5 key recommendations for AI in education New group targets AI skills in education and the workforce For more on AI in education, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub As we mark the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, it’s worth reflecting on a simple experiment’s role in dismantling the doctrine of “separate but equal.” In

Testing 321

Testing Critical Thinking Intelligence Ethics 321