Category: Digital Learning
Middle schools and their students are special. By design 6-8 grade schools are intended to be communities, organized in houses or teams as the kids are exploring themselves and their world. All this helps in the leap to online school, says teacher Laurie Lichtenstein.
Learning to code is an important new literacy. But how, wonders edtech coach Emily Vickery, do we close the opportunity gap between those who have access to coding instruction and those who don’t? Vickery suggests some resources that can help less advantaged students cross the divide.
Bringing online conversations around books into the schoolhouse can prepare our students for what reading looks like today and tomorrow, says K-5 principal Matt Renwick. He highlights the development of his school’s first student digital book club.
Middle grades educator Jeremy Hyler & college professor Troy Hicks introduce some key ideas from their new book about reading, writing and student-driven digital learning – including several ways to use Schoology in the classroom.
Whether it’s Grandma’s biscotti recipe or a lesson plan, adding new ingredients (like digital tools) shouldn’t distract from the end result you seek, says teacher and technology consultant Mike Fisher. “The modern mindset is really about willingness, not digital knowledge. It’s about trying new things and exploring new tools and avenues for instruction WITH the students rather than FOR the students.”
Blogging is essential in Pernille Ripp’s classroom. “It’s a way to check their emotional temperature & for them to talk to the world.” Here’s her 10-step process.
A new web tool, designed just for education, can help promote student creativity and innovative thinking, says ed consultant & former MS teacher Mike Fisher.
Techie teaching consultant Mike Fisher shares ideas about upgrading your ELA curriculum lessons to better meet Common Core standards and objectives, using cool digital tools like Picktochart, Smore and Yapp.
Teacher-librarian Jenny Luca explains her school’s commitment to helping students develop ePortfolios and good digital footprints.