Webinars

State Leadership for Interoperability: Leveraging Data for Academic Excellence

Data Interoperability: Beyond Accountability and Reporting

Jun 8, 2018

Teacher. Classroom facilitator. Database analyst? This new role for educators is a direct outcome of the data-driven classroom and the quest for accountability. While teachers may understand the need to collect the information, they resent inputting the same data over and over again in every learning management system, educational application, and state and federal accountability report. More important, the data entry can seem pointless when the outcomes aren’t applicable to the students. In an edWebinar for edWeb, Dr. Tracy Weeks, executive director for SETDA, and her co-presenters discussed how implementing data interoperability standards can turn data from a daily chore into a productive tool that can provide educators with a more complete picture of the student, class, school, or district.

Navigating the Digital Shift

For two states, the digital transition requires an overhaul of the process

Jun 1, 2018

Refocusing classrooms around up-and-coming digital materials requires more than just adding a new tech-based product or two as many processes for reviewing and purchasing instructional materials are still built around print textbooks. Now, though, some states are going back to the beginning and rethinking how they review instructional materials and allocate funds to ensure that they are focused on the realities of the 21st century classroom.

Key Strategies to Making Access and Equity a Reality for ELL Students

Strategies for Supporting ELL Students in Math

May 24, 2018

For many of the 4.5 million English Language Learners (ELLs) in U.S. elementary and middle school classrooms, learning and understanding the language of mathematics can be a challenge. Supporting ELLs requires a commitment to a shift in practices which involves the entire school and also branches out to the community. Michele Dawson, Senior Director of Instructional Technology in Compton Unified School District, CA; and Kelly Urlacher, Senior Curriculum Designer at DreamBox Learning, had a conversation of essential approaches for supporting these students in “Key Strategies to Making Access and Equity a Reality for ELL Students.”

Bringing Hands-On Coding and STEAM into Your District or Classroom

Keys to Bringing STEAM into Your District or Classroom

May 18, 2018

STEAM lessons offer educational benefits beyond technological literacy, such as collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Educators who incorporate STEAM into the classroom are preparing students now for jobs that don’t exist yet by giving them confidence in problem-solving, noted Dr. Azadeh Jamalian, Adjunct Assistant Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, Head of Education Strategy at littleBits. For many educators, though, blending STEAM with traditional subjects can still seem daunting. During the edWebinar “Bringing Hands-On Coding and STEAM into Your District or Classroom,” Dr. Jamalian offered attendees insights into four key factors that can support successful STEAM integration.

Children looking at tablets

Using Augmented Reality for Engaging Learning Experiences

May 11, 2018

Augmented reality is emerging in the education space as a tool for motivating children to learn. Using this 3D technology can help students significantly whether they’re struggling to learn reading or math, or just to engage. Cynthia B. Kaye, CEO and Chief Zoo Keeper at Alive Studios, discovered this technology while in search of a way to support her own two ELL children. She discussed the benefits of using augmented reality in the classroom in “Engaging Early Learners with Augmented Reality.”

Evaluating Digital Curricula for the 21st Century District

Evaluating Digital Curricula for the 21st Century District

May 4, 2018

Many schools and districts are prioritizing the adoption of digital content and curricula, but the challenges of effectively evaluating, selecting, and implementing solutions still persist. However, with the right tools, technology can improve student achievement and empower educators. In “The 21st Century District’s Framework for Evaluating Digital Curriculum,” Dr. Tim Hudson reviewed important steps in finding the right digital curricula for your students’ needs.

Current and Emerging Technology for Individuals with Autism

Technology Holds Great Promise for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum

Apr 19, 2018

Research indicates that due to a heightened interest in visual materials combined with strong visual processing capabilities, many individuals with autism are attracted to and benefit from using technology. From devices, to apps, to smart home implementations, technology can help improve daily life for those on the autism spectrum immensely, and software and devices that are currently in development offer great promise for the future. In a recent edWebinar, Christian Karter, MA, Educational Technology Specialist at Monarch Center for Autism, reviewed the benefits of some of this helpful technology.

Dyslexia: Hidden Costs and Money-Saving Techniques for Districts

How Early Intervention with Dyslexia Benefits Your Students and Your School

Apr 4, 2018

Early intervention: it’s a common mantra for any student with learning difficulties, including dyslexia. But as Terrie Noland, National Director of Educator Engagement for Learning Ally, pointed out in a recent edWebinar, those services are not consistently available to students across the United States. In “Dyslexia: Hidden Costs and Money-Saving Techniques for Districts,” Noland makes a case for front-loading the funding to shrink the learning gap at an earlier age and offers cost-effective solutions to help students engage in their education.

STEAM: Innovations That Solve Real World Problems

Six Strategies for Implementing STEAM as Your School’s New Approach to Learning

Apr 1, 2018

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) has become more prominent as an effective approach to interdisciplinary learning. However, implementation is not as simple as following a new curriculum or purchasing materials. During the edWebinar “STEAM: Innovations That Solve Real World Problems,” Cheri Sterman, Director of Education, Crayola; Lucie Howell, Director of Learning and Engagement, The Henry Ford; and James Wells, Innovative Teaching & Learning Manager, Crayola, explained the movement’s genesis and offered strategies for a successful transition.