Apps bring technology, functionality, and creativity into your school library program. Since apps are a part of our everyday lives, especially those of students, they have the power to totally change the way students and teachers think about learning. In “Virtual Library Program Development,” Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair, New Canaan High School, CT, reviewed an A to Z list of 50 apps to virtualize your school library program.
edWeb.net was named the Best Professional Learning Solution for Faculty and Administrative Staff of 2017 as part of the annual SIIA CODiE Awards. CODiE Award recipients are the companies producing the most innovative business and education technology products across the country and around the world.
As students are released for the summer, is sending them off with a summer reading list the best way to promote independent reading? Since research indicates that attention spans are waning for learners of all ages, teachers must do more to keep students interested in reading over the summer and prevent the summer slide. In “Summer Reading 501: Helping Generation App Read This Summer,” Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair, New Canaan High School, CT; and Jane Lofton, Teacher Librarian, presented creative ideas to get students excited about summer reading.
edWeb.net is announcing Amplify Fractions as the new sponsor of the Adaptive Math Learning free professional learning community on edWeb. Fractions are the single greatest predictor of high school math achievement; by sixth grade, 100% of math standards assume a knowledge of fractions. Amplify Fractions uses engaging stories to provide students with personalized instruction, feedback and practice so they can learn to make sense of fractions.
Snapchat is turning into more than just an amusing app that lets people send pictures and videos, only to disappear after a few seconds. Many educators are finding ways to make learning fun for their students by incorporating Snapchat into their lessons. In “Snapchat: Creating an Engaging Learning Experience,” Shannon Holden, Assistant Principal, Republic Middle School, MO, reviewed why educators should consider bringing the app into their classrooms and specific ideas on how to integrate the app into their lessons.
edWeb.net and Learning.com have started a new, free professional learning community geared toward helping educators prepare students with the skills they need to excel in today’s increasingly digital world. By 2020, it is estimated that nearly 80% of jobs will require some level of technology proficiency. Students must be given the opportunity to learn and develop digital literacy skills, and Learning.com makes it easy for educators to teach students these critical skills with online tools and lessons.
In a marketplace saturated with options, the search for curriculum and other instructional resources can be a difficult process for educators. All K-12 stakeholders from curriculum directors to classroom teachers should know the methods districts employ to discover and evaluate the resources that make it to students. In “7 Ways to Conquer a Curriculum Search,” Mindy Sinyak, VP of Customer Success, Noodle Markets, reviewed essential tips schools and districts can use to succeed in their search for curriculum and instructional resources.
Access to online resources including digital content, interactive education apps and websites, videos, experts and peers is no longer a “nice to have” but rather a necessity. Unfortunately, teachers and students are often unable to be sure there will be dependable, robust access outside of school depending on family and community circumstances. In “Closing the Homework Gap: Equity of Access for All Students Outside of School,” SETDA hosted a panel of experts that presented solutions for providing out-of-school access and digital resources to students based off their own experiences.
Traditional public schools must ensure continued success in order to compete for students against charter schools, online learning, and other forms of education. Dissatisfied students, parents, and even staff leave schools needing to work harder than ever to regain the confidence of everyone. In “The Public School in an Age of Choice: How to Compete for the Win,” Kevin Baird, Chairman of the Board at the nonprofit Center for College & Career Readiness, presented the issues traditional public schools currently face in retaining students and staff, and solutions leading to higher retention and student success.
Creative experiences that challenge students to observe, articulate, reimagine, and take risks help build their confidence and leadership capacity. Art can be used to develop new approaches to student leadership, while being fun for students. In “Art-Infused Student Leadership Projects,” panelists discussed how to develop leadership qualities in students through art activities.