Whether you are a first-year teacher or a veteran teacher, classroom and system-wide assessments can be a time of high anxiety and stress for everyone involved. In this recent edWebinar, Vernice Y. Jones, a candidate in the M.Ed. in School Counseling Program, Freed-Hardeman University, TN, lays out strategies and ground rules for what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to assessments.
Strategic planning for edtech is an endless journey—and not just because of constantly evolving hardware and software. Upgrading infrastructure, device maintenance, and ongoing professional development, in addition to program and device costs, mean tech initiatives need permanent budget lines that take into account the total cost. In the edWebinar, “Strategic Technology Planning and Investment,” which is part of CoSN’s Empowered Superintendent series for edWeb, three superintendents who’ve been in the trenches for all aspects of district edtech plans discussed effective financial planning for technology.
There’s no secret formula for parent engagement. And when English isn’t their first language, the obstacles seem more daunting. According to Rick Castaneda, a training specialist at Rosetta Stone, the key is to develop a multi-step approach that gives parents several different opportunities to connect with the school and their children’s teachers while also making sure that the parent, no matter their language, feels like a key part of the decision-making process. In his edWebinar, “Involve Parents for Greater English Learner Success,” Castaneda discussed six key areas of parental involvement, based on the work of Johns Hopkins professor Joyce L. Epstein, PhD, and how each one helps build a stronger relationship.
We, as edtech leaders and classroom teachers, must explore pathways where assessments support teaching and learning in the 21st century. According to Matt Renwick, Author and Principal of Mineral Point Unified School District, WI, in a recent edWebinar, complex authentic student learning experiences require complex assignments that not only demonstrate content knowledge but should also gauge enthusiasm, communication skills and habits of mind. Authentic assessments are always about the connections we make with students, each other, and the broader community as indicated in a Gallup poll. Only 47% of secondary students surveyed reported being engaged, enthusiastic and committed to their learning. Students who were able to agree with the statements, “my school strongly is committed to building the strengths of each student,” and, “I have at least one teacher who makes me excited about the future,” were 30 times more likely to be engaged at school when compared with students who strongly disagreed with the same items.
CASEL, The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, defines social and emotional learning (SEL) as the “process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions.” SEL can be the underpinning of every action a principal or classroom teacher makes about their campus, classroom or environment for students. According to Jeff Goelitz, Director of Education at HeartMath Institute, during a recent edWebinar, SEL affects everything from systems and structure to climate, culture, and academics. “Everyone” is interested in SEL and buying into the theory and the models but the how can be a daunting challenge as school districts try to make it a priority. Rachelle H. Finck, Coordinator Social and Emotional Learning for Round Rock ISD, TX, remarks that when SEL programs are planned with intention, they become more of a philosophy than a black binder program.
According to Learning in the 21st Century: the 2019 Digital Promise LVP Survey, 83% of teachers think students are capable of high achievement, but just 26% think students are reaching those levels today. As part of the Learner Variability Project, which “seek[s] to uncover strategies to meet learners where they are across varied contexts and needs,” Digital Promise’s team is examining the key factors for different grades and subject levels that impact student learning. During the edWebinar, “Learning in the 21st Century: What Teachers Think Matters,” the presenters talked about the science of individuality, how they’re using the research to help developers create products to meet these individual needs, and examples that show how the Learner Variability Project can work in the classroom.
Technology has become an integral element in our students’ educational journey. With the influx of diverse and multimedia instruction technology software and 1:1 programs, students have access to technology both in and out of school settings. Laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, and even cell phones are providing students with opportunities to access the internet for researching, communicating and social learning. Classroom teachers are embracing the technology as a means to provide immediate feedback, assess student understanding and interact with both parents and students.
“What are you [teachers] doing right now so that your students have unhindered access to grade-level curriculum each day?” is a question often asked by Dana Blackaby, Dyslexia Specialist at The Academy at Nola Dunn in Texas. During a recent edWeb.net edWebinar, Blackaby and two student-led tech crew members from The Academy at Nola Dunn, 5th-grade student, Gavin, and 4th-grade student, Marley, explained that students with disabilities cannot access grade-level curricula 100% by themselves if they are not yet reading at grade level. Eighty-five percent of what we learn we learn is by listening and students can listen and comprehend two grade levels above their reading levels.
Accessible technologies help students with disabilities unlock their full potential by addressing a diversity of needs that include learning, visual, hearing, mobility, neurodiversity, and mental health. In a recent edWebinar, Lauren Pittman, Graduate Assistant at Vanderbilt University and former special education teacher; Beth Dudycha, Senior Manager of Content Development at Insight2Execution and former educator; and Mike Tholfsen, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft Education, brought to our attention that students with disabilities are not the only ones who benefit from accessibility learning tools.
edWeb.net is excited to announce that The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) will be sponsoring Professional Learning for Effective Practice: Leveraging Title IIA, a free professional learning community on edWeb that provides an online forum where district and state Title IIA leaders can learn about the effective implementation of the federal Title IIA program. The community will highlight program implementation best practices and share examples of evidence-based professional learning opportunities and exemplary professional learning programs at the state and district levels. Potential topics include evidence-based professional learning, creative use of monies, the coaching role, the do’s and don’ts of spending, and more.