5 key steps to safeguarding student data
As uses of student data continue to expand, districts must be prepared to protect this information and ensure it's only used for its indented purpose: to help students…
Why BYOT should begin in elementary school
Usually, districts adopting BYOT programs initiate them at the high school level and allow them to trickle down to the junior high or middle school level. But why…
5 must-have tools to hire and develop effective teachers
David Schuler, superintendent of High School District 214, shares five must-have tools to hire and develop effective teachers.
How can we engage all learners? Let students play
When students are put in an environment in which they can learn their own way without fear, they become lifelong independent learners.
5 things you can do right now to prepare for Common Core assessments
Helping your students become ready for deeper skills assessment isn't as hard as you think; here are five places to start.
How ‘productive struggle’ can lead to deeper learning
Students can experience "productive struggle" when given a task slightly beyond their abilities. As educators provide support for tackling a challenging problem through different approaches, they can help…
Why a flexible SIS is a key to mobile learning success
When we started planning the Mobile Minds initiative, a majority of our time was spent discussing and evaluating learning management systems and mobile device managers. Ultimately, we could…
6 ways texting can improve school communications
Students touch their cell phones 43 times a day and send about 60 texts, showing that mobile technology is the best way to reach them. And with 91…
Vocational education is making a comeback
Vocational education often was deemed a second-tier educational choice for those who could not go to college. Today, however, vocational education is making a comeback.
How to avoid eRate rule violations
The FCC is investing millions of dollars to remove eRate waste, fraud, and abuse. Here's how to make sure you're not caught in its net.
4 tech tools that met a district’s top goals
The Napa County Office of Education (NCOE) is on a mission to use technology to prepare all students for academic and career success. We have implemented several initiatives…
Effectiveness of teacher preparation under scrutiny
Current attempts to measure teacher quality have resulted in controversy, and a ranking of teacher preparation programs by the National Council on Teacher Quality is one example.
Digital storytelling enhances K-12 classrooms
With initiatives like the Common Core emphasizing creative thinking, many teachers are looking at unique ways to deliver information. Bernard Robin, Ph.D., saw that an age-old technique could…
5 stimulating web apps that will engage K-5 students
Sheree Schulson, a second and third grade teacher at Parkside Elementary School in Coral Springs, Fla., shares five interactive apps for K-5 students.
10 privacy steps for every district
It would be hard to name an issue that has taken the education technology world by storm as has student data privacy over the past year. To address…
5 ways to create a performance-based school climate
Students’ learning is affected by academic as well as nonacademic factors. Enabling them to achieve their full potential requires integrating learning outcome data with information about special needs,…
Trying to change teacher practice? Enlist ‘Bob’
Perhaps the most frequent question I get from school administrators is: How can I get my teachers to use technology? It’s often voiced by a school principal, ed-tech…
How to minimize digital classroom distractions
Using technology in the classroom can also bring multiple distractions to students. As an educator, how can you confront this dilemma?
What should we make of the South Korean tutoring boom?
To say that South Korea takes its private tutoring seriously would be an understatement. In fact, spending on private tutoring in South Korea has surpassed spending on public…
3D printing in your classroom–so what?
Two years ago, I was telling a friend about 3D printing, and she thought I was teasing her. After watching several YouTube videos and reading a few articles,…
Increasing student participation with Google Drive
It’s no secret that recent technological changes have altered the face of childhood education. Walk into a classroom these days and you will see laptops, tablets, and even…
Poverty and the perception of poverty–how both matter for schooling outcomes
Compensating for students’ socio-economic disadvantage is one of the greatest challenges facing teachers,school leaders and education systems as a whole. However, data from PISA show that some countries…
Five tips to find the right ed-tech partner for your school district
When choosing ed-tech partners for your district, you must look beyond the cost, features and functionality of the products you ... Read more
27 academic writing resources for students
All teachers and educators are familiar with such a problem of every student as writing. Often, it appears to be very difficult for them to write an essay,…
Classroom audio system makes personalized learning ‘magic’
When my school unveiled our new 1,600-square-foot STEM lab in October, I was very excited—and just a little overwhelmed. After all, we combined two existing classrooms to create…
Breaking language and digital barriers in bilingual education
Taking a foreign language class can aid in ordering a French crepe or finding the nearest bathroom, but it can only get a student so far in a…
How apps are surpassing the traditional tutor
Deciding whether you want to use a tutor or just download an app is becoming more difficult these days. Technology has and will continue to amaze us with…
4 secure online learning platforms to use
As good educators engage with students outside of the classrooms, usually through office hours, using a secure learning platform might just be the answer teachers have been looking…
3 secrets to a successful digital transformation
During the 2013-2014 school year, Archbishop Stepinac High School became the first all-digital high school in the United States, with each of our 700 students utilizing a fully…
How web-based journalism reveals Common Core’s relevance
In order to give students purpose to engage deeply in the Common Core, District 21 in Wheeling, Ill. has partnered with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, a…
Why a writing workshop framework works for young authors
We all have stories to tell. Regardless if our stories are told orally, through body language, or written composition, students need to feel ownership and validation in their…
Why some teachers are choosing compensation over open source for lesson plans
In 2012, one kindergarten teacher defied the norm and earned over $700,000 by selling her lesson plans online. This success story was just one of many stories involving…
5 anti-bully apps you should know about
No matter what generation you grew up in it’s evident bullying always played a role in the educational system. In movies it’s usually the stereotypical character going for…
7 PD tips for your instructional technology integration plan
The role of instructional technology in the classroom has steadily increased over the past decade. These advances include the use of computers and tablets in classrooms, over 300,000…
Using eLearning tools to maximize summer PD
School’s out for summer, and what better time for teachers to continue their education through professional development programs?
Where have all the summer reading assignments gone?
Summer: a time in a child’s life where they are no longer bound by societal rules to attend school nor do anything school related. To do so would…
How can an app lead to cyberbullying?
Can’t remember the name of that great restaurant you went to last night? How many miles it is the moon? Type any question into a search engine today…
5 ways to teach kids about the Declaration of Independence
Having sizzling burgers during the day and watching a lit up sky at night seem to be hallmarks of celebrating the Fourth of July. But if that’s all…
What school leaders need to know about 9-1-1 operations
Beyond understanding the need to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency, many people are not familiar with how emergency dispatch works. Unfortunately, this is also true for many school…
Six characteristics of great professional development (and great classrooms)
For nearly a dozen years I’ve traveled to various schools and districts to deliver professional development workshops and presentations. Over the years, I’ve also sat in on many…