For the past few years, October has meant a focus on helping educators form professional learning networks to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
Connected Educator Month, led by the American Institutes for Research, intends to create a more global and evidence-based approach to education by fostering collaboration and innovation in professional learning.
Some of the month’s key goals include increasing educator and partner participation, influencing the way professional learning occurs in and out of schools, and fostering collaboration and innovation within and between stakeholder groups and partners.
Do you participate? Do you want to start? We’ve gathered key facts and events to help you make the most of Connected Educator Month. (Find it on Twitter via #ce16.)
1. Themes include ensuring equity and access around computer science education and collaborative professional development.
The CS for All Teachers virtual community of practice, supported by the National Science Foundation and managed by the American Institutes for Research, is sponsoring this year’s theme on equity and access in computer science education. The theme is based on the idea that computer science should be part of every student’s education, and teachers need support to make this happen.
VIF International Education is sponsoring the theme on collaborative professional development. Teachers who embrace new technologies recognize that professional development can be achieved in part through collaboration with other educators. Professional development in the digital age should be participatory in nature, where ideas and resources are exchanged and incorporated into instruction.
2. If you want to become more involved, download the Connected Educator Month Starter Kit. It offers a way to connect and participate in Connected Educator Month each day in October.
3. The edConnectr tool uses tags and maps to help participants create profiles to collaborate, get help, or just connect. You can find other educators like you, and then connect and collaborate.
Events include:
4. Infusing the arts with technology, a Twitter chat held regularly throughout the year
5. An introduction to blended learning, featuring an explanation of basics and tips to help your blended learning program succeed
6. A Smithsonian Learning Lab Webinar that seeks to use objects as evidence to answer essential questions in inquiry-guided lessons.
7. A Twitter chat focuses on reaching all learners through inclusive learning with iPads
8. A webinar on differentiated learning and how learning content material can create learning barriers for students
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