Teacher Toms Blog

MAY 30, 2025

It seemed like each time I spoke with him he was enthusiastic about some new hobby or other -- outer space, collecting knives, electric trains, bicycles, playing guitar -- all self-motivated. She's recently learned that his teachers were dangling these mandated breaks as a "reward" for completing this or that assignment.

Motivation 101

Motivation Assignments Testing Writing 101

Catlin Tucker

MAY 3, 2021

So, how do we design and facilitate learning experiences to remove barriers and allow all students to succeed? How can we leverage technology to provide meaningful choices within a learning experience and create the time and space needed to work with individual students or small groups of learners? Second, technology is here to stay.

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Universal Design Blended Learning Learning Motivation 545

Catlin Tucker

MARCH 8, 2021

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. Blended Learning Environments Require Self-regulation Skills.

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Blended Learning Metacognitive Skills Learning Motivation 543

Catlin Tucker

DECEMBER 31, 2020

Yet, it seemed wrong to pretend the year didn’t happen or that I learned nothing from it. When it comes to connecting with your colleagues, I’ve seen teams of teachers commit to a book study as a way to connect and learn. 2 Providing a one-size-fits-all experience doesn’t work in any learning landscape.

Learning 544

Learning Blended Learning Assignments Feedback 544

Catlin Tucker

DECEMBER 9, 2021

This cloud reflects the actions or physical manifestations of engagement, such as learning, interest, participation, focus, attention, and curiosity. However, to truly understand teacher engagement we must understand the dimensions of this motivational construct. What is teacher engagement?

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Blended Learning Teachers Coaching Learning 533

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

In my last blog, I focused on the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principle of engagement. I highlighted how blended learning can help educators more effectively provide multiple means of engagement to increase student motivation and ensure all students can successfully engage with learning experiences. Comprehension.

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Universal Design Blended Learning Learning Feedback 546

Catlin Tucker

MARCH 28, 2023

What barriers make designing for deeper learning in schools challenging? In today’s rapidly changing educational landscape, educators face numerous challenges when designing instruction that promotes deeper learning for all students. How can teachers weave social-emotional learning (SEL) skills into the fabric of their lessons?

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Blended Learning Universal Design Learning Motivation 460

Catlin Tucker

JUNE 21, 2021

I like to compare the teacher’s work designing learning experiences to the work of an architect. In my new book with Dr. Katie Novak, UDL and Blended Learning , I share a story about working with an architect to design a new home after my family lost our house in the Tubbs Fire in 2017. 1 Get To Know Your Students.

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Blended Learning Learning Lecturing Motivation 518

Catlin Tucker

OCTOBER 5, 2021

When I work with teachers shifting to blended learning, I strive to establish the WHY driving our work together. I want teachers to understand the purpose and value of the shift to blended learning. Blended learning is not a reaction to a moment. In training sessions, I ask teachers to think about why they use this model.

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Blended Learning Metacognitive Skills Learning Motivation 544

k12 Digest

MAY 19, 2025

Mind, brain and education science combines knowledge in the fields of cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and education to inform methods of teaching and explore the impact of those strategies on learning, helping to transform the field of education.

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Science Education Motivation Lecturing 246

Catlin Tucker

DECEMBER 20, 2020

The events of the last nine months have launched the phrase “blended learning” into the mainstream. I worry that instead of articulating the value of a powerful blend of online and offline learning, teachers are receiving the message that they “must” adopt blended learning to meet the demands of the moment.

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Blended Learning Learning Online Learning Activities 545

Catlin Tucker

MAY 18, 2021

I host a podcast called The Balance and wrote a book titled Balance with Blended Learning because I see teachers struggling with balance in every coaching and training session I facilitate. When we design learning experiences with balance in mind, the output of a lesson will feel more balanced too.

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Blended Learning Feedback Learning Online Learning 521

eSchool News

JUNE 9, 2025

And don’t forget about the Innovation Arcade , where attendees can experience immersive learning in real time. This AI, VR, and AR exploration zone is where innovation meets education in a dynamic virtual learning environment. We blend math, robotics, reading, and writing for engaging, collaborative learning.

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Art Math STEM Participation 293

eSchool News

JANUARY 6, 2025

In a TEDx talk titled The Super Mario Effect–Tricking Your Brain into Learning More , Mark Rober highlighted how video games like Super Mario can motivate people to achieve their goals by viewing failures as learning opportunities. This approach especially helps reluctant readers.

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Failure Motivation Gamification Cognitive Development 330

Catlin Tucker

DECEMBER 22, 2021

Teachers Find their Role as Designer of Learning Experiences Cognitively Engaging. In my research on teacher engagement in blended learning environments, the most significant factor impacting cognitive engagement was a teacher’s work as a designer of learning experiences. Teachers as Architects of Learning Experiences.

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Blended Learning Teachers Learning Grades 535

Catlin Tucker

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

Could approaching the design, instruction, and facilitation of learning (in class, online, or a combination of the two) with a “would you rather” lens improve student motivation and engagement? Choice has been shown to improve retention, transfer performance, and motivation (Schneider, Nebel, Beege & Rey, 2018).

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Laboratory Motivation Fairness Participation 543

k12 Digest

MAY 15, 2025

As we witness the rapid evolution of educational technology, the convergence of bite-sized learning modules with intelligent virtual tutors is creating unprecedented opportunities for personalised education. Todays educational chatbots analyse learning patterns, identify knowledge gaps, and adjust difficulty levels in real time.

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Education Knowledge Learning Feedback 167

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

First, I do not think grades are an effective long-term strategy for motivating most students. In his book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us , Daniel Pink points out that extrinsic rewards–points, grades, or the promise of a class party for good behavior–are not effective ways to motivate people over time.

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Teachers Motivation Assignments Students 544

eSchool News

JULY 15, 2024

In exploring the pros and cons of AI instruction versus human educator instruction, a hybrid model emerges that leverages the strengths of both to maximize learning and knowledge retention. They excel at motivating students, managing classroom dynamics, and offering personalized feedback based on nuanced observations.

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Ethics Education Learning Quizzes 319

eSchool News

MAY 26, 2025

Support must be personalized, often requiring collaboration among educators, families, and specialists to overcome socio-economic barriers, learning differences, or other challenges. Consistent support, combined with motivating strategies and evidence-based reading instruction, helps students develop both competence and confidence.

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Disabilities Learning Disabilities Reading Motivation 246

eSchool News

JULY 17, 2024

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Building a foundation Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides a foundational framework for understanding human motivation and development. For students, feeling safe emotionally and physically in their learning environment is fundamental. Takeaways for educators 1.

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Learning Spaces Culture Motivation Learning 310

eSchool News

MAY 16, 2024

AI tutoring systems spearhead this learning revolution by reimagining the tutoring concept, offering interactive and adaptive learning experiences customized to each individual’s learning capabilities. A significant advantage of AI tutoring systems is the personalized learning experiences they can offer students.

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Learning Styles Learning Students Gamification 314

eSchool News

MAY 19, 2025

While communication challenges can arise for physical education teachers, technology like mobile instructional audio systems can increase communication, boosting motivation, performance, and overall classroom connection for all students. Research over the past 40 years has highlighted the critical link between hearing clearly and learning.

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Physical Education Education Communication Motivation 249

eSchool News

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Incorporate hands-on activities and experiments Hands-on activities let students engage directly with STEM concepts, making learning tangible and memorable. Plus, when they make mistakes, they’re motivated to try new approaches to test theories. Allowing students to vote on projects or learning topics can boost engagement.

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eSchool News

AUGUST 29, 2024

One significant development is collaborative e-learning, which integrates social interactions among peers and teachers. From podcasts, YouTube captions, personalized learning dashboards, and social annotation, teachers now have a variety of e-learning methods at their disposal. What types of e-learning are there?

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Learning Universal Design Syllabus Quizzes 310

eSchool News

APRIL 1, 2024

But despite these challenges, there are bright spots in teaching and learning. Inspiring district leaders, classroom teachers, and school staff have found unique and innovative ways to engage students in learning, motivating students to see beyond classroom walls and truly immerse themselves in learning.

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eSchool News

JANUARY 10, 2025

Key points: Education in 2025 will prioritize the unique needs of each student more than ever before Information literacy is key in the age of AI Where AI and multimodal learning will go in 2025 For more news on digital trends, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub 2024 has been a transformative year within education.

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Testing Learning Learning Styles Achievement 309

eSchool News

MAY 30, 2024

Key points: Probeware helps connect students to in-depth learning opportunities Black students need more STEM career exposure 5 helpful hacks for managing a STEM classroom For more news on science learning, visit eSN’s STEM & STEAM hub Are you looking for effective ways to integrate three-dimensional learning into your science classroom?

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Science Mobile Devices Teaching STEM 319

eSchool News

MAY 10, 2023

To facilitate effective teaching and learning, modern schools must equip every classroom with interactive touchscreens and utilize gamification techniques. Understanding the Basics of Gamification in Education Gamification means adding interactive gaming elements to processes such as learning. Finally, gamification is more fun.

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Gamification Interactive Learning Disabilities Learning 330

eSchool News

APRIL 8, 2025

Key points: Probeware is key in helping students make sense of scientific concepts 5 powerful ways to link STEM lessons to real-world applications Rural areas are poised for unique STEM education, but need more resources For more news on STEM learning, visit eSN’s STEM & STEAM hub STEM careers are on the rise. According to the U.S.

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STEM Learning Science Critical Thinking 315

eSchool News

JANUARY 19, 2024

Today, pandemic-related learning loss is still a very real concern for educators, and student learning is one of education’s biggest priorities as the nation strives to move further away from the pandemic’s impact on education. Education doesn’t have to mean students do all of their important learning in classrooms.

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Learning Students Motivation Teaching Methods 297

eSchool News

JUNE 18, 2025

What routines supported a positive learning environment, and which caused friction? Thinking back on what worked, what didn’t, and what motivated students can help educators equip themselves not only to repeat successes, but to evolve. Teachers might ask themselves: Which lessons sparked curiosity? Priorities have sharpened.

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Schools Motivation Science Teaching 212

eSchool News

OCTOBER 8, 2024

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Lingvano, a start-up sign language learning app, is thrilled to announce they have reached 2.5 The platform offers an engaging method to learn sign languages, enhancing communication between Deaf and hearing communities. They are motivated to learn out of curiosity or a desire to be more inclusive.

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Language Languages Gamification Communication 259

Edsurge

MAY 21, 2025

Student Achievement About two-thirds of teachers agreed that their students were motivated to get good grades and on track to succeed in school. Most also said their students are excited about what theyre learning. Less than half said they were satisfied with their level of pay and opportunities for advancement.

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Teachers Fairness Achievement STEM 202

eSchool News

APRIL 29, 2024

Key points: Online learning is critical for connecting students to opportunities Where does blended learning fit in post-pandemic classrooms? So, our school has been offering them courses from VHS Learning in grades 9 and 10. It is engaging, authentic learning. Having engaging learning is extremely important.

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High School High School Schools Motivation 297

Edsurge

MAY 12, 2025

Solving this motivation problem is tricky. Will Learn for Jobs Experts have spotlighted the need to change high school graduation requirements for math, focusing them more tightly on skills that will translate to better working lives for students, an approach that will emphasize data literacy, economics and financial literacy.

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Math Motivation High School High School 177

eSchool News

DECEMBER 4, 2023

Editor’s note : This story on collaborative learning originally appeared on CoSN’s blog and is reposted here with permission. And those benefits are even greater when educators and students learn together, especially as we navigate new tech enablers like AI apps and tools.

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