After several years of collaboration and coordination with over thirty two authors, I’m pleased to announce that “Designing Effective Blended and Distance Learning Environments in K-12" is officially published!
I’m excited to announce our new monthly EdTechTeacher show “What’s Next in EdTech” streaming live on Youtube! In each episode, we will highlight excited news and resources in the world of educational technology. Each fast-paced episode will be 15-20 minutes and include a show notes document that curates all of the resources mentioned during the episode.
I had the fortunate opportunity to engage in a fascinating discussion with Digital Learning Coach and Innovation Connection presenter Jed Stefanowicz. Jed shares his thoughts on his role as a digital learning coach and strategies to help students develop computational thinking skills through hands-on projects and robotics.
I recently had the opportunity to engage in a discussion with Kyle Wilson, a long-time friend, math coach and presenter at the upcoming Innovation Connection Conference on November 1st, 2021.
Most of the current research and classroom innovation around deeper learning point to a recurring, if not central theme: authenticity and real-world experience. Let’s begin with a quick overview of these findings, then dive into practical resources and technologies that can help us enhance authentic experiences to deeper student learning.
How might educators and school leaders design experiences that spark and sustain deeper student learning? As an unprecedented emphasis on deeper learning has developed across the nation, we are tackling this complex challenge with a new level of urgency. Fortunately, new research, frameworks, design resources and practical examples have emerged that can help all of us chart new paths in our own contexts. In this four-part series, we will explore the highest quality research and practical resources out there to help educators design for deeper learning.
Innovation in education has accelerated, in large part, due to the tremendous changes in digital technologies. Each one of these innovations have, in various degrees, shifted teaching practices in schools across the nation. But as we navigate the current wave of emerging educational technology tools and practices, we need to discuss what the end result of these innovations actually are, or at least aim to be. In other words, what is the end game for these innovations?
A foundational piece of any learner-centered approach involves gaining a deeper understanding of our students. We know that learner variability exists, and research suggests it is growing in classrooms across the nation. It is therefore essential to personalize instruction based upon learner differences if we are going to ensure that all students thrive in our schools. To do this effectively, we must develop a more nuanced understanding of each students’ particular abilities and needs.
We often hear of the need to redesign schools to support modern learning environments, and yes, we should. But how often does a school’s investment in these spaces clearly support and enable a shift towards innovative, student-centered practices? Not so much. That is why when I had the chance to visit Montour Public Schools last Spring, I jumped at the opportunity.
