When we think of traditional professional development, we often picture an “expert” at the front of the room, disseminating knowledge based on research. If we are fortunate, there are opportunities for audience participation in the form of digital polls, opportunities to work in groups or speak with a partner, or even step by step instructions […]
A few years ago, I often accompanied my son Dillon to his baseball pitching lessons. As an educator, I am always intrigued as to the strategies used by sports coaches, as they have similar goals to teachers in the classroom. Ultimately, we are looking for growth and improvement from those with whom we work. When […]
Our students, their families, and our teachers are on social media. Are our schools? Are we relying on static websites and paper newsletters as the way to disseminate information to our stakeholders? I had the opportunity to meet with administrators recently regarding the use of social media in schools. We discussed the importance of meeting […]
Whether the format be constructed response, research paper, essay, or digital discussion prompt, I have heard educators lament over students’ brief responses, casual style, and the influence of “texting” language. Students struggle to code switch toward communication in an academic register. How do we teach our learners to make this shift? The brain learns and […]
Educators, researchers, parents, and politicians often spew rhetoric regarding the negative aspects of technological devices on growing brains. It is said that smartphones and on-demand video streaming services have caused students to be unable to focus on tasks in the classroom, that their constant attention to devices distracts them from learning content, that constant access […]
As an educator, my favorite brain network to activate was the strategic networks, allowing students multiple means of action and expression. I loved going “beyond choice boards” to encourage students themselves to ideate as to the best way to demonstrate their understanding of academic content. Once I left the classroom and began conducting professional development […]
Students and adults alike often struggle to begin the writing process. A blank page in a notebook, the blinking cursor at the top of a digital document… For some, these images increase anxiety and cause any creative juices to dissipate from the mind, rendering it a useless white space. And yet, in order to become […]
I have always been fascinated by neuroscience, by the way the brain accesses, processes, and responds to stimuli. As an educator, the more I know about the science behind the mind, the better I am able to design effective learning experiences for my students. The same is true when we develop professional development (PD) for […]
Earlier this week, I was driving to a school I have visited several times over the past two years. I have taken this rural, country road countless times. It is a drive I enjoy. I have never encountered traffic on this road and my commute is accompanied by beautiful views of the foothills. A few […]
Why UDL? Universal Design for Learning (UDL) celebrates variability and calls upon teachers to take a proactive approach to designing experiences accessible for ALL students. But what about our adult learners? Can we UDL our PD? UDL is based on neuroscience regarding how we learn. As we embed UDL strategies into the professional learning we […]
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