Programming trends at SXSW EDU 2018
ver the years, SXSW EDU has facilitated thousands of key conversations within the education community by hosting thought leaders from around the world each March. As the 2018…
Can I give you some feedback? And other ways to not offer ideas
Have you ever heard the question, “Can I give you some feedback?” Did you want to say “No” immediately? Did your fight-or-flight reflex go into hyper mode? If…
App of the Week: LearnToMod
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find ... Read more
Video of the Week: Backchanneling with TodaysMeet
Ed. note: Video of the Week picks are supplied by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech ... Read more
10 steps to developing a powerful professional-learning culture
Professional learning in many districts must undergo radical reform, from a model that’s outdated and ineffective to one that’s personal, empowering, and owned by the learner. How can…
3 ways to help students think and act as scientists
I enjoy challenging students to engage in hands-on scientific inquiry. In fact, I’m always telling my students and colleagues that I don’t want our students to think and…
3 smart ways to fix your PD
The benefit of professional development (PD) for teachers is well known: improving teaching practices means greater student achievement. What’s less frequently acknowledged is that PD programs are often…
How to talk with your students about social media
Who hasn't sent a text or email to the wrong person? Who hasn't posted something online they later regretted or seen something in their feed that made them…
Why I love my job
Every February 14, millions of couples gush about why they love each other. Since this is the season for proclaiming passions, we asked six educators a simple question:…
Want to host a hackathon and teach real-life STEM skills? Here’s how
On Saturday, January 27th, Warren Township High School in Illinois celebrated our 2nd annual hackathon, Devil Hack 1.01. This two-day event featured teams of high schoolers hacking out…
3 ways to prepare students for online assessments
Online assessments are becoming more common, and students who have strong digital literacy skills often score higher on them. Students who lack these skills may not be able…
How to use social media in the classroom
Today’s educators have a love-hate relationship with social media. They recognize that five-year-olds know how to use tablets better than their parents and that many kids have smartphones…
A student’s perspective on the promise of technology
To be a young adult in 2018 means to have gone through school during a very revolutionary time, technologically speaking. Throughout the 2000s, classrooms in America saw everything…
Video of the Week: How to Assign Group Work in Google Classroom
Ed. note: Video of the Week picks are supplied by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech ... Read more
App of the Week: OER Commons
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find ... Read more
AI helps younger students better understand math concepts
To truly become proficient in math, students need a solid foundation built on conceptual understanding. However, the benchmark assessments students take at the end of the year—designed to…
3 key levers for school improvement
District and school leaders today are being asked to do more with less. Shrinking budgets and changes to federal and state policies have made their jobs harder. In…
Creating the future of education
The power to create the future of education technology is very appealing. The ability to fabricate and then implement a technological universe that could lead our future generations…
It’s time for CoSN’s Failfest & Awesomefest
As educators, we know the unexpected happens and failure is inevitable. But failure isn’t often talked about. That’s why one of the most anticipated sessions at the CoSN…
Video of the Week: 3 Great Ways to Power Up Your Parent Communication
Ed. note: Video of the Week picks are supplied by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech ... Read more
App of the Week: Clips
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find ... Read more
Everyone has a role to play in education today
As we enter a new year, education is a topic that continues to resonate well beyond the classroom into the core aspects of daily life, from home and…
My tech essentials: A superintendent’s guide to instructional coaching
Teacher effectiveness is the number one school-related factor that impacts student achievement. The question then becomes: How do I as a superintendent support my teachers and ensure they…
5 tips for managing low-tech assessment with high-tech tools
While most large-scale assessments are moving toward online delivery, many still integrate a traditional pencil-and-paper element. In today’s digital world, paper may seem comparatively low tech, but there…
4 ways technology can improve SEL skills
Today’s classrooms are full of immersive high-tech tools—but at the same time, schools and districts are being pushed to promote social-emotional learning (SEL) and improve school climate. Since…
Why schools need a knowledge base
When I have a problem with my iPad, I look to Google. Google is my worldwide knowledge base for fixing my toilet, unsticking my iPad, and figuring out…
How to use data to increase student success rates
Roughly 10 percent of freshmen class students nationwide find themselves struggling to earn enough credits to pass ninth grade, leaving them with only a 20-percent chance of graduating…
How to be a collaborative leader
When the word “collaboration” is spoken in a school, it is not always welcomed with open arms. Educators or leaders who have had success or are comfortable working…
How to bring global learning to your classroom
The sun was high overhead as we stood in the open, slowly baking in the hundred- degree heat, which was abnormally hot for late October, even by southern…
App of the Week: Math Science Music
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find ... Read more
Can creativity be taught?
I recently attended a conference and enjoyed the sessions and topics ranging from professional-development strategies to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI). Like everyone else, I am eager…
Video of the Week: Take classroom video to the next level
Ed. note: Video of the Week picks are supplied by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech ... Read more
“My Tech Essentials” for students with dyslexia
Reading is essential in today’s world, from reading instructions on a test or a job application, to reading legal documents and safety information. Dyslexia can make reading even…
15 metrics every superintendent should know
From interoperability to dashboards, data accessibility is one of the most prevalent topics in edtech circles these days. For superintendents, simply knowing what to look for can be…
What’s happening at FETC 2018?
Even if you didn’t need a reason to travel to sunny Orlando in January, the opportunity to attend FETC should have you packing your comfy walking shoes and…
How to ask the questions people want to answer
“How was your winter holiday?” “What are your resolutions for 2018?” “How are you today?” Lots of eager ears are awaiting your responses. Or are they? And are…
How to find an LMS that supports student privacy and data security
As the stewards of student data and information, our school district doesn’t take that role lightly. Proud to be one of just 13 districts nationwide to receive the…
In the wake of Chromebooks, education needs to focus on collaboration
Lately, technology additions in classrooms have focused on providing each student with his or her own laptop; for many schools, it’s become the new normal to issue every…
4 questions to ask about E-rate funding
Today’s K-12 schools are facing a complex web of needs, technologies and regulations. Digital transformation has led to an expectation by students and faculty of constant connectivity to…