As I was scrolling Facebook, I came across an image that holds a special place in my mind. While the image reminds me of a learning experience that occurred more than twenty years ago, I remember it clearly. This experience, as a member of my intermediate school jazz band, was one of the most impactful […]
Educators sometimes mistakenly assume that silence equals listening. Whether they are in the front of a classroom or leading a staff meeting, learning facilitators scan the room and smile if the learners sitting in the room are quiet and compliant. But how do we know that our message was heard? As a student, I became […]
As a sixth grade teacher, my students had nearly no student access to technology in the classroom for the first half of the school year. In January, students received 1:1 iPads through a pilot program in our district. Students and I were excited to begin our journey creating multimedia demonstrations of learning. This was new […]
This spring I came across a few educators who indicated they struggled to find meaningful ways to utilize technology in the classroom. I asked if I could spend some time in their classrooms to observe the instructional environment to guide our collaborative work toward impactful technology integration. The educators agreed and welcomed me into their […]
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 […]
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