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Technology Solutions That Drive Education

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It's no secret that Google applications make teachers' work easier and more effective.

The latest version of Google Forms, for instance, can not only simplify administrative tasks but also give teachers new outlets for connecting with parents and students.

Jennifer Carey, the director of educational technology at the Ransom Everglades School in Miami, Fla., offers a glimpse of recently added features in a post on Daily Genius. She writes that Google Form users can now:

View responses as they are submitted

Insert videos and images into survey questions

Create multiple choice grids that prevent respondents from selecting the same column twice

Publish Forms with pre-filled responses

Insert useful add-ons, such as formLimiter and Choice Eliminator 2

As educators begin to master these new capabilities, they can also explore a few of the tried-and-true ways teachers already use Google Forms in the classroom:
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1. Creating assessments for students

Teacher Tech blogger Alice Keeler, who earned honors on EdTech's 2016 Must-Read K-12 IT Blogs list, spells out five steps for assessing students through Google Forms:

1. Create the Google Forms quiz.

2. Create the Google Sheet for housing student responses.

3. Create an answer key by taking the assessment yourself.

4. Freeze the row containing the answer key.

5. Set conditional formatting before students begin the assessment.

While Keeler's final recommendation is by far the most complicated, it's also the most helpful. The conditional formatting feature of Google Forms allows teachers to color code the background of student responses to simplify grading. Responses that exactly match the text in the frozen answer key automatically turn green, while all other responses will turn red.

2. Building easy-to-use rubrics that can be shared with students

In a post on Whooo's Reading? - another of EdTech 's Must-Read blogs - Google for Education Certified Trainer Shawn Beard says he traded his clipboard for a tablet when he discovered the time-saving benefits of using Google Forms to grade student presentations.

Complete with an interactive template, his instructions spell out two ways to set up a rubric within the app: by rating performance on a linear scale or by assigning students number-based scores.

Beard also recommends that teachers use the autoCrat add-on for Google Forms to merge rubric results with a Google Doc that can then be emailed to students.

"In this way, students will receive their grade in a timely manner, and you can save time and effort by grading as you observe," he writes.

This Google Forms rubric template can help teachers get started. Source: Whooo's Reading?

3. Collecting web-based assignments

Google for Education Certified Trainer Adam Schoenbart says he's found a niche function for the Google Forms app.

"Google Forms are my go-to for work that I want to share," he writes on his blog.

As an English teacher at Ossining High School in Ossining, N.Y., Schoenbart uses the app to collect links to his students' web-based work and then leverages Google Sheets to facilitate sharing.

"After researching elements of Greek mythology, my students created storybook presentations and turned in the link on a Google Form," he writes. "Then, I organized the form results and published them to the web to create the Antigone Project Database."

Schoenbart's students accessed and critiqued one another's work through the published Sheet.

"The Sheet becomes a living archive of our creations and learning, as well as shared notes," he writes.

4. Soliciting feedback from parents or students

While online surveys are one of the more basic functions of Google Forms, they can be quite handy - especially for teachers looking to collect honest feedback from anonymous respondents.

Blogger Monica Parsons, a fourth-grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School in West Jefferson, N.C., offers step-by-step instructions for creating an end-of-the-year parent survey using write-in, multiple choice, linear scale and other answer formats.

The online surveys can be easily linked, embedded or emailed directly from Google Forms.

"If most of your parents use email, this is a fast, easy way to find the answers you're looking for," she writes.

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Tech Tips for Teachers: 4 Ways to Use Google Forms

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It's no secret that Google applications make teachers' work easier and more effective. The latest version of Google Forms, for instance, can not only simplify administrative tasks but also give teachers new outlets for connecting with parents and students.

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7 Must Have Student-Collaboration Apps, Tools, and Resources

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Spread the loveCollaboration in the classroom helps students process and deepen knowledge. Students also develop important real-world skills like problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and leadership. When you choose the right tools, incorporating technology can further enhance student collaboration and learning outcomes. Here are seven of the best student-collaboration apps, tools, and resources for you to try this school year.

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The classic 9 square model is ideal for a tic-tac-toe approach to a choice board that requires students to complete any three activities in a row across the board. Teachers can organize a choice board so that each column focuses on a particular skill or standard.

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Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

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February 23, 2017
Exit tickets or cards are informal assessment tools teachers can use to assess students understanding at the end of a class. They can also be used for formative assessment purposes to help teachers design better instructional content based on students feedback. Exit tickets can take the form of a prompt or a question related to what have been taught in the lesson. Here are some examples of questions and prompts to use in your exit cards as featured in Brown University:

"Name one important thing you learned in class today.
What did you think was accomplished by the small group activity we did today?
Write/ask one question about today's content-something that has left your
puzzled.
Today's lesson had three objectives (These would have been shared at the
beginning of class and should still be available for referencing.), which of the
three do you think was most successfully reached? Explain. Or, which was not
attained? Why do you think it was not?"

The traditional way exit tickets were used to be delivered was through pen and paper. But with the pervasive use of technology in education, there appeared a number of useful web tools teachers can utilize to create and share exit tickets with students. Here is an updated list of some of the best tools we recommend for teachers:

1- Google Forms/ Docs
You can create an exit ticket form in Google Forms and share it with your students. You can collect and store students responses in a spreadsheet to use for later reference. Alternatively, you can create a Google document with the questions and prompts you want students to work on and share it with them. Using the commenting feature, students add comments to the document and in this way you will be able to see what each student has contributed.

2- Polling tools
You can also use a number of interesting polling tools to instantly assess students learning at the end of a class. Examples include:

Poll Everywhere is a powerful web tool for creating and distributing polls. It offers you five types of polls to choose from: multiple choice poll, free response poll, true or false poll, clickable images poll, and discourse poll. Your respondents can vote on your poll either through SMS or via the web using the generated link you will provide them. Poll Everywhere also has a wonderful way of displaying the results of the poll. You can have the results displayed on a chart of bouncing bars.You can also present your polls as a seamless part of your PowerPoint or Keynote slideshow. Flip on through and instead of another flat picture, your respondents see your slide come alive with real time poll results.

AnswerGarden is another great tool to use for collecting feedback from students. This is how it works: you type in your question in Create New AnswerGarden page. When you hit 'submit' you will be directed to your newly created AnswerGarden page. From there you can share your page with others or embed it in your class blog or website. Respondents will have to either enter their answers or choose from existing ones."If you're satisfied with the results, you can for instance show the AnswerGarden to your friends, tweet about it or export it to Wordle or Tagxedo.

Here are some of our favourite student response tools to use in class to do the same job a pen and paper exit slip can do:

A- Today's Meet

This is an excellent tool to use with students to gather instant feedback on their learning or poll them on matters related to what you teach them. Today's Meet allows you to create rooms and invite students to join them with no sign up. It is also a very good backchannel platform where students can engage in fruitful discussions and conversations.

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February 23, 2017 Exit tickets or cards are informal assessment tools teachers can use to assess students understanding at the end of a class. They can also be used for formative assessment purposes to help teachers design better instructional content based on students feedback.

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Give students a voice and choice in their learning!

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According to education thought leaders Kathleen McClaskey and Barbara Bray, personalized learning occurs when learners take charge of and actively participate in the design of their own learning.

"Learners who own their learning are intrinsically motivated to learn and succeed," state the founders of Personalize Learning on their website. The pair, who developed a chart comparing personalization to differentation and individualization, also believe that "personalizing learning is the key design element to transform education."

If you've been thinking about transforming your own classroom in this manner, we've provided 10 quick personalized learning examples to get you started.

1. Give students a voice and choice regarding what they want to learn, and how they want to show what they know. This personalized learning example may mean rather than requiring all students to submit written assignments, give them the option to submit a video, drawing, song or other evidence of learning.

2. Give specific, positive, actionable feedback to students using their preferred method of communication (video, audio or text). They will appreciate the individual attention and will be more motivated to act on your suggestions.
3. Use beginning big questions or exit slips to gauge student understanding either before or after a lesson to ensure you address specific needs during the coming lesson.

4. Identify students who are struggling to meet learning objectives and assign personalized learning activities for reinforcement. If your learning platform has learning objectives reports and a recommendation engine to assign activities, most of this process can be automated (with the teacher approving all activities assigned, of course).

5. Work with students to create Individualized Learning Plans (ILP's) for tracking personal growth or senior projects. Plans can include skills, goals, task tracking, reflections and feedback from mentors. If your learning platform allows, progress can be automatically communicated to students, teachers, parents and mentors via their dashboard.

6. Allow students to use e-portfolios and blogs to reflect, take ownership and foster a lifelong love of learning.

7. This personalized learning example puts the student in control! Encourage students to create rather than just consume by empowering them to develop portions of a lesson, surveys, or even a test! Research shows that students who create their own tests score higher than those who do not ( Dylan Wiliam, Cambridge Assessment Network Keynote, 2006).

8. Help familiarize students with productivity tools such as the personal dashboard in their learning platform. Task blocks that pull in aggregated lists of student tasks, assignments, due dates and status can keep them on track. Options to personalize their dashboard's look and feel with graphical themes, or add/remove blocks such as course listings and Individual Learning Platform progress can further encourage students to manage their own learning.

9. Encourage peer-to-peer assessment through the use of discussion boards, or pre-flight checklists where one student evaluates another's project using a set of defined criteria.

10. Personalize who has access to which assignments based on student needs by using groups and permissions in your learning platform. For example, you may want to assign advanced students a different set of assessment questions or assignments than you would for students who need extra help in grasping basic concepts.

We hope these personalized learning activities and suggestions help you to foster a more engaged classroom with your students!

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10 Personalized Learning Tips Using an LMS | itslearning US

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According to education thought leaders Kathleen McClaskey and Barbara Bray, personalized learning occurs when learners take charge of and actively participate in the design of their own learning. "Learners who own their learning are intrinsically motivated to learn and succeed," state the founders of Personalize Learning on their website.

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We have a few answers to this question. One is that personalized learning always involves these core four elements - targeted instruction, data-driven decisions, flexible content, and student reflection and ownership. Check out our Core Four white paper for a more detailed description of these elements, as well as classroom examples.

Another answer is that, "it depends" - we believe strongly in the design thinking process, and that school leaders and teachers are in the best place to put together instructional models that meet the needs of their students. Check out this great blog post on the process by my colleague, Kelly!

That being said, we realize that we can never answer this question enough. In response to this demand, here is a short collection of videos, photos, artifacts, and teacher testimonies that we hope will help illustrate what personalized learning could look like at your school or district. Some of these examples are from Education Elements districts and schools, and some are from other places!

Personalized learning is: Incorporating Self-Reflection and Goal-Setting

In Middletown, NY , the school culture incorporates student reflection and goal-setting starting with the youngest grades. Check out these classroom photos of goal-setting artifacts.

From a Middletown teacher: "[Students] use a Google form, and t
he forms are sent to me automatically so I am able to instantaneously see how they are self-assessing. It gives them a sense of accountability and it also lets me be aware of how they think they did... I use their self-assessment to help guide my instruction and to help group them for math and ELA." Check out this classroom teacher as she talks about her approach to Student Ownership & Reflection
Personalized Learning is: Flexible & Intentional Master Schedules

In Wake County, NC, school leaders at Rogers Lane Elementary School have created a master schedule that's aligned to their three core principles: Agents of Change, Out of this World Learning, and Intentional and Reciprocal Relationships. While it's still a work in progress, the schedule does a wonderful job of showing the back-end work it takes to explicitly incorporate co-teaching, multi-level classrooms, student choice, and blocks for targeted small-group instruction.

Additionally, to help parents and students better understand how this schedule would affect a student's daily experience, Rogers Lane created a "Day in the Life of" Primer .
Check out this classroom teacher as she talks about her approach to Flexible Path and Pace Check out this video from a high school teacher, where she describes how she has students use a digital tool to demonstrate their ability to collect and analyze data from a field exercise.
Personalized Learning is: Using Digital Content and Tools in a Purposeful Way - Flexible Path and Pace
Check out from an elementary school teacher about how he uses a portfolio of digital content tools in his classes. These last 2 videos are part of a larger collection of great this video videos from BetterLesson on blended learning strategies.

Personalized Learning is: Incorporating Personalized Playlists

Many personalized learning classrooms incorporate flexible pacing by having students go through content via playlists. However, not all playlists are personalized.

My colleague Brittany, in partnership with teachers and school leaders at Rochester School District, NH, put together this helpful Playlist Building 101 Guide that describes how to build a personalized learning playlist.

Personalized Learning is: Planning for Flexible Seating
Photo: Loudoun County Public Schools (VA), Twitter #LoudounPL Photo: Loudoun County Public Schools (VA), Twitter #LoudounPL

Flexible seating is a popular strategy because it is a physical manifestation of targeted, fluid instruction. With a focus on student choice and comfort, flexible seating is a great way to convey to students, "You matter."

Edutopia has a terrific article specifically focused on flexible seating at the high school level, including classroom photos and teacher testimonies. Ashley Rice Broomfield, a 1st grade teacher, shares, " I am in my 13th year of teaching, but this is my first year incorporating flexible seating into my classroom. I will never go back to traditional seating."

EdSurge also has a great post on 10+ brain-based methods to redesign your classroom, and how to include your students in the redesign process. We love this quote: "A good friend of mine often reminds me that we aren't raising a class of second graders, but in fact, we are raising future adults. She says, 'If they're old enough to do it for themselves, they should not only be allowed to, but expected to do so.'"

Finally, see these pictures above from our awesome partners in Loudoun County Public Schools, VA!

check out the BONUS:#LoudounPL hashtag for more amazing pictures of how Loudoun County schools are personalizing learning.

Personalized Learning is: Involving Students in Grading Conversations

Prolific blogger Catlin Tucker offers another great strategy - including "grade interviews" with students. Tucker shares, " As grade reporting approaches, I sit down with every single student for a grade interview. Students come to these grade interviews prepared with a formal argument. These conversations are invaluable. Students walk away knowing exactly what they need to work on or what they are doing well. Also, I feel like I know my students so much better because we sit down and chat about their learning every 5-6 weeks!" Check out her full blog post !

Additionally, student-led conferences (SLC's) can be a great way to engage both students and parents in reflection. In an SLC, a student might not only explain what progress he or she is making, but why it is that progress is occurring. This Edutopia post has a great set of resources on SLC's, sourced from articles like this Atlantic piece to protocols and videos of SLC's in action.

To learn more about how these examples build on the core four elements of personalized learning, check out our white paper.

More Personalized Learning reading

Blog: Personalizing Learning: Getting it Right

Blog: Personalizing Learning: Reflection and Goal-Setting

Blog: How to Pick the Right Instructional Model for Your Classroom

Blog: Personalizing Learning: Flexible Pace & Path

Blog: Personalizing Learning: Targeted Instruction

Blog: Personalizing Learning: Collaboration & Creativity

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Six Examples of What Personalized Learning Looks Like

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Personalized learning takes different forms in different classrooms - here are six examples of what personalized learning looks like.

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Turns websites and google docs into interactive formative assessments.

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What kinds of data can we collect to prove that blended learning is improving our teaching and learning?

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What kinds of data can we collect to prove that blended learning is improving our teaching and learning?

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As a kindergarten teacher, I use technology as a rotation with independent iReady work.  I am curious how I could implement more advanced, collaborative, and creative work for my kindergarten students.

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As a kindergarten teacher, I use technology as a rotation with independent iReady work.  I am curious how I could implement more advanced, collaborative, and creative work for my kindergarten students.

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How do we build student agency when they don't know what to do or get stuck?

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How do we build student agency when they don't know what to do or get stuck?

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How do you innovate when technology access/programs are restricted by district process?

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Brooke Scott, Grade 1, Station Rotation, Small Group Instruction, Apple Valley Elementary, West Valley--Yakima

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Brooke Scott, Grade 1, Station Rotation, Small Group Instruction, Apple Valley Elementary, West Valley--Yakima

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<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Are there known "paths of least resistance" where kids will try to shortcut trying to learn something?

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Are there known "paths of least resistance" where kids will try to shortcut trying to learn something?

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I would like to have kids choose which way they want to express that they know the definition of vocabulary words.

students could: act out the word, draw it, or record themselves explaining the word.

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Multiple Intelligence Project Menu *click download to see!

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Multiple Intelligence Project Menu *click download to see!

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Allowing more choice is difficult depending on the standard being met.  

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Allowing more choice is difficult depending on the standard being met.  

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We have access to a math program where kids can try problems, get feedback, then try again and keep trying until you know you are right.

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We have access to a math program where kids can try problems, get feedback, then try again and keep trying until you know you are right.

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After reading the articles, I have been working on personalization in the classroom doing math stations where students choose different activities

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Provide options for students acquiring knowledge via Youtube, Audible, Podcasts, teacher small-group, Khan Academy, etc. 

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Provide options for students acquiring knowledge via Youtube, Audible, Podcasts, teacher small-group, Khan Academy, etc. 

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Who monitors for appropriate contributions? GO COUGS!!!

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Who monitors for appropriate contributions? GO COUGS!!!

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Tic-tac-toe! So many possibilities. I would love to implement this in different subjects-- ELA, math, science.

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I feel like a great example of this is the TED talks that the HS puts on every year! Way to go HS

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I feel like a great example of this is the TED talks that the HS puts on every year! Way to go HS

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Teachers Create what they Experience | Katie Martin | TEDxElCajonSalon

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Connectivity does not have to be across the world, but could be just across the hall, or down the street

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Connectivity does not have to be across the world, but could be just across the hall, or down the street

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His passion is contagious!

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Hackschooling makes me happy | Logan LaPlante | TEDxUniversityofNevada

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Excited to use the Voice and Choice board and implement  more blended learning into my class. Already thinking of activities to put on my board. 

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Excited to use the Voice and Choice board and implement  more blended learning into my class. Already thinking of activities to put on my board. 

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Students can listen to a short story at a station and have a list of questions to choose from to discuss with their group.  They could video their discussion and post it for other groups to comment.

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Students can listen to a short story at a station and have a list of questions to choose from to discuss with their group.  They could video their discussion and post it for other groups to comment.

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authentic audiences for students - Bing images

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Student Audience Game Audience Students Asian Student at Computer Students in Auditorium Students at an Assembly Student Going to Circle Time Students Walking Student Raising Hand Cartoon Audience Minions Audience ASL Audience People Speaking to an Audience Student Sitting Criss Cross Ssembly Student It Student School Students Disrespectful Students

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Programs like Grammarly can provide immediate feedback to our students! 

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Programs like Grammarly can provide immediate feedback to our students! 

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Looking forward to Wonder Media Story Maker at West Valley Middle School in 2018/19.  Great opportunity for student creativity as well as using their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.  http://www.wondermediastorymaker.com/pages/home

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How do we utilize blended learning with ALL of our students?

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Just completed the Staff Teams for effective leadership and saving time course! #MicrosoftEdu
 https://t.co/vHi4PaB75l via @MicrosoftEDU

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Just completed the Staff Teams for effective leadership and saving time course! #MicrosoftEdu
 https://t.co/vHi4PaB75l via @MicrosoftEDU

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Just completed the Staff Teams for effective leadership and saving time course! #MicrosoftEdu
https://t.co/vHi4PaB75l via @MicrosoftEDU
— Devina Khan (@devinakhan) August 2, 2018

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Just completed the Staff Teams for effective leadership and saving time course! #MicrosoftEdu
 https://t.co/vHi4PaB75l via @MicrosoftEDU

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Just completed the Staff Teams for effective leadership and saving time course! #MicrosoftEdu
 https://t.co/vHi4PaB75l via @MicrosoftEDU

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Just completed the Staff Teams for effective leadership and saving time course! #MicrosoftEdu
 https://t.co/vHi4PaB75l via @MicrosoftEDU

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Students use Technology in Manufacturing in Design

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Students use Technology in Manufacturing in Design

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Thanks to @ShopBotTools our @WVSD208 7th and 8th grade Junior High students are learning about CNC #Manufacturing, AutoCad Design, and Lean Manufacturing Principles.  

All as part of our #CorePlus curriculum. 

#STEM #IamCTE #WAedu #CTE #Yakima

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Thanks to @ShopBotTools our @WVSD208 7th and 8th grade Junior High students are learning about CNC #Manufacturing, AutoCad Design, and Lean Manufacturing Principles.  

All as part of our #CorePlus curriculum. 

#STEM #IamCTE #WAedu #CTE #Yakima https://t.co/0GLVbA5Mmu

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Thanks to @ShopBotTools our @WVSD208 7th and 8th grade Junior High students are learning about CNC #Manufacturing, AutoCad Design, and Lean Manufacturing Principles.

All as part of our #CorePlus curriculum. #STEM #IamCTE #WAedu #CTE #Yakima pic.twitter.com/0GLVbA5Mmu
— Christopher Nesmith (@NesmithEdu) June 7, 2018

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Thanks to @ShopBotTools our @WVSD208 7th and 8th grade Junior High students are learning about CNC #Manufacturing, AutoCad Design, and Lean Manufacturing Principles.  

All as part of our #CorePlus curriculum. 

#STEM #IamCTE #WAedu #CTE #Yakima https://t.co/0GLVbA5Mmu

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
Thanks to @ShopBotTools our @WVSD208 7th and 8th grade Junior High students are learning about CNC #Manufacturing, AutoCad Design, and Lean Manufacturing Principles.  

All as part of our #CorePlus curriculum. 

#STEM #IamCTE #WAedu #CTE #Yakima https://t.co/0GLVbA5Mmu

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
Thanks to @ShopBotTools our @WVSD208 7th and 8th grade Junior High students are learning about CNC #Manufacturing, AutoCad Design, and Lean Manufacturing Principles.  

All as part of our #CorePlus curriculum. 

#STEM #IamCTE #WAedu #CTE #Yakima

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Let's face it-classrooms are very different today than when most of us were in school. Smart boards have replaced chalkboards and projectors. Computers, tablets and smartphones are increasingly being used instead of paper, pencils and books.

Technology and the internet have created countless new opportunities for education. Children like yours and mine can now read about virtually any subject from anywhere and connect with people and places around the world. Teachers are harnessing the power of the technology to bring curriculum alive and personalize instruction to meet the unique needs of every child. Digital learning is essential for the development of skills students need to thrive.

Technology also provides important opportunities for us as families to be more involved in our children's education as well as for families, teachers and school staff to engage in regular and meaningful communication about student learning.

As the new year gets into full swing, it is important that we as parents are aware of the technology our school uses and how we in turn can use these tools to support our children's success in the classroom.
Here's how schools can help:
Share with parents the online systems, portals or apps your school is using. Make sure they know how to access these tools and use them to track their child's progress and ensure they are receiving the right supports.
UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY TO COMMUNICATE IN REAL TIME
Technology provides a variety of ways for families, educators and schools to share information with one another and keep in touch. Technology allows families to access information quickly, easily and when it is most convenient for them. It is important that multiple mediums, platforms and dissemination tools are used for real-time dialogue and parent-school communication.
ENGAGE PARENTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
Many parents are active on social media. And through social media, relevant information can be communicated in a timely fashion. Use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to deliver news and important updates, share pictures and encourage parent engagement.
VALUE AND SEEK PARENT INPUT
It's important that families have a seat at the table and the opportunity to provide input when decisions are made that impact their children and schools. When families are included in all stages of technology decision-making and implementation, they better understand the benefits for their children and are invested in the outcome.
EVALUATE AND ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO ENGAGEMENT
While technology provides great opportunities for family involvement and parent-school communication, it can be a barrier to engagement. For example, a preponderance of portals and apps require parents to register and save passwords again and again frustrating the parent until they shut down. Equally frustrating, some systems are not mobile-friendly. These factors can be a hindrance for parents when it comes to using these tools. It is imperative to evaluate and eliminate such barriers to increase access to and use of technology among families.

Technology is a powerful tool for teaching, learning, connecting and communicating. It is critical that parents are empowered with opportunities to be engaged as well as with the tools and information to support their children in the classroom and beyond.
Nathan R. Monell, CAE is the executive director of National PTA and a proud father of two public school students. National PTA is dedicated to promoting children's health, well-being and educational success through family and community involvement.
National PTA is a proud supporter of the Future Ready Schools initiative, which is aimed at maximizing digital learning opportunities so all students can achieve their full potential. Schools that are Future Ready understand that parents play an instrumental role in the learning environment, and as such, need to be highly engaged and recognized as a vital part of the school community. National PTA echoes the recommendations and characteristics of parent engagement in Future Ready Schools.

Let us know what you think- Leave a Comment!

(to be approved by administrator)

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Engaging Parents in 21st Century Classrooms

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Let's face it-classrooms are very different today than when most of us were in school. Smart boards have replaced chalkboards and projectors. Computers, tablets and smartphones are increasingly being used instead of paper, pencils and books. Technology and the internet have created countless new opportunities for education.

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The Person-Centered Planning Education Site

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. all of which are geared toward facilitating and enhancing your awareness of and appreciation for person-centered planning. We think you will enjoy your visit with us! Using a screen-reader program? No problem! This site is completely accessible, and all the study materials found here are available in text-only formats that you can download and peruse at your convenience.

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Blended adoptions at the school and district level

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Blended adoptions at the school and district level

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EducationWeek's newly released special report, "Blended Learning: Breaking Down Barriers" explores how K-12 schools are grappling with blended learning - from districts providing wifi for students' homes to a review of meaningful research about technology's impact on learning.

In the special issue, reporter Benjamin Herold takes a deep dive into two very different approaches to adopting MIND Research Institute's : a centralized, district-level procurement versus a school-based decision.

In the nation's capital, District of Columbia Public Schools leaders adopted ST Math several years ago, with help from philanthropic partners like Hyundai Motor America . The district used what Education Week calls a "hybrid" approach, encouraging schools to adopt ST Math, but without mandating it. But with noteworthy improvements on test scores at the schools using the program, as well as some gentle encouragement from the district and support from MIND Research Institute, the number of DCPS schools using the program is steadily increasing.

"If I had told all 70 schools three years ago they had to do it, I have no idea where we would be now," DCPS's John Rice told Education Week. "This way, schools are banging on my door to get [ST Math.] It will probably happen in every school soon, but it won't be forced."

The district-wide approach is not for everyone, though. The supplement highlights Colorado Springs Academy School District 20, where Pioneer Elementary is the only school in a 24,000-student district using ST Math. Pioneer's principal, who has more than 16 years of school leadership experience, selected ST Math and implemented it at her school this year.

The special report highlights the advantages and challenges of both school and district-led blended learning adoptions, offering insight on how to successfully accomplish either. It's a fine balance: "I think we can have the best of both worlds," said Steven Hodas, of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, a research and policy-advocacy center at the University of Washington, "which is somewhere between 'everyone do what the superintendent says' and 'every 3 rd grade teacher is on her own.'"

Which adoption method have you seen work? Share your experiences with MIND Research Institute via social media.

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Insider's View: Blended Learning Adoptions at the School or District Level

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EducationWeek's newly released special report, "Blended Learning: Breaking Down Barriers" explores how K-12 schools are grappling with blended learning - from districts providing wifi for students' homes to a review of meaningful research about technology's impact on learning.

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Educator Center Overview - Microsoft Learn Educator Center

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Microsoft Learn for Educators takes the best of Microsoft Learn online learning paths and helps you to bring instructor-led training materials from Microsoft into your courses. This program provides members with access to Microsoft ready-to-teach curriculum and teaching materials aligned to industry-recognized Microsoft Certifications.

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https://twitter.com/suptbrophy?lang=en

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Are teachers expected to be aware of these? 

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Are teachers expected to be aware of these? 

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The ISTE Standards provide the competencies for learning, teaching and leading in the digital age, providing a comprehensive roadmap for the effective use of technology in schools worldwide. Grounded in learning science research and based on practitioner experience, the ISTE Standards ensure that using technology for learning can create high-impact, sustainable, scalable and equitable learning experiences for all learners.

For over 20 years the standards have been used, researched and updated to continuously reflect the latest research-based best practices that define success in using technology to learn, teach, lead and coach. The standards have been adopted in all 50 U.S. states and many countries throughout the world. Aligned to UNESCO's Sustainable Development Goals, the standards are available in eight languages.

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The ISTE Standards are a framework for students, educators, administrators, coaches and computer science educators to rethink education and create innovative learning environments. The standards are helping re-engineer schools and classrooms worldwide for digital age learning.

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http://wvsdsupblog.blogspot.com/

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To maximize the use of playlists, classrooms need one to one devices for elementary classes in West Valley.

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A new website called WhoYouKnow.org aims to help schools identify ed-tech tools that can link students to new relationships-with experts, mentors, and peers-who can help them academically, and with college and career planning.

The brainchild of Julia Freeland Fisher, the director of education at the Clayton Christensen Institute, the online resource is a free "market map" that lists 109 ed-tech tools designed to help educators and students broaden and diversify their networks for learning.

It is searchable for seven different categoriesof going outside school for expertise-from project-based learning to career coaching, from language learning to finding "real world relevance."

Some of the tools curated in the collection can be used across different educational levels. The market analysis below identifies how many tools cater to students at various stages of their schooling. Fisher breaks down the tools' target audiences as follows:

Fisher said she worked for three years on the research behind creating the website, inspired in part by the work of Stanford University professor Mark Granovetter. In his book, "Getting a Job: A Study of Contacts and Careers," he found that at least 50 percent of jobs are filled through personal connections. Other studies put the percentage even higher. The "opportunity gap" this creates for students who can't access these connections motivated Fisher to study where ed-tech can make a difference, she said.

Many K-12 companies hoping to work in districts scuttle their chances in the first few minutes, by revealing they haven't done their homework on that school system. In an EdWeek Market Brief webinar on Aug. 21, we look at the kinds of information - about budget conditions, demographics, academic and data goals - that vendors need to know, before the first phone call or meeting. You can sign up for the webinar here.

The overall impact of the ambitious effort of WhoYouKnow.org on schools remains to be seen. Fisher said that the site is a pure research endeavor, self-funded by the Christensen Institute.

As they vetted which online resources to include in the directory, Fisher said she and her team used this question as a litmus test: "Is there a relationship on the other side of this [technology] that would otherwise be out of reach?" Many ed-tech tools have social features or functionality, she said, but they are not really tools that expand relationships or networks.

Fisher said entrepreneurs building the tools were also interviewed to find out, "What's the value proposition they are bringing to schools?" Getting answers to that question allowed them to categorize different segments of the market where they saw relationship-expanding tools start to crop up.

How Schools Can Use the Site

Bringing the "real world" into the classroom for project-based learning is a goal of some of these tools, which pair students and their projects with industry experts who can provide context or feedback, Fisher said.

"It's not the real world in quotes; it's actually the real world," she said.

Educurious is one example of a project-based learning tool that connects a global network of subject matter experts and mentors to students. And Community Share offers a model that allows adult volunteers in a local area to be connected with students.

To measure learning in this environment, "citizen assessment" is a form of direct feedback industry experts can provide, Fisher said. How project-based learning works with these ed-tech tools "is a pocket of the market I am really going to be watching in the coming year," she said.

Another focus of ed-tech that connects is providing college access and guidance. With nearly 500 students for every guidance counselor, the advice students receive is limited, Fisher said, so ed-tech providers are seeking to provide students with mentoring or access to external resources in the area of college and careers.

Academic supports are another area where connections are being made online. "That could be as big as the tutoring market," she said. "The piece I'm going to be paying more attention to is academic encouragement," she said, which research shows can be highly effective. An example is Granny Cloud, in which adult volunteers provide "unconditional encouragement" via Skype to students as they struggle to learn.

Cautionary Note on Networking

Asked what users of this genre of ed-tech should be wary of-considering connections are being made between students and adults online-Fisher said the interactions must be approached with all the appropriate data privacy and security protections. "These tools are going through the same layers of security that most schools enforce around visitors," she said, "as they should."

For instance, a tool called ICouldBe, which focuses on mentoring for college and career readiness, provides fully virtual mentors who connect via text only because there are text filters to monitor the interactions. "They don't use video chat because students are interacting online with an adult," she said, "and you don't want to use an [approach] that filters won't be sophisticated enough to track." Video chat tends to be used where an adult individual is interacting with an entire class, she said.

The other cautionary note Fisher identified was "around the measures of quality and outcomes we want these sorts of interactions and new connections to create," she said. "Relationships are grounded in trust, not just logistics." Fisher said, "We don't actually typically measure trust between students and teachers, and community members or others who might be volunteering."

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New Site Connects Students With Ed-Tech for 'Real World' Expertise, Guidance - Market Brief

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A new website called WhoYouKnow.org aims to help schools identify ed-tech tools that can link students to new relationships-with experts, mentors, and peers-who can help them academically, and with college and career planning.

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Hello Blog land! It's good to be back. I know everyone in education is really feeling the pressure this year and I'm sure many, if not most, of you can relate to feeling beyond overwhelmed 24/7. That's been me for the past few months. Actually, that's been me since the first day of school. I wish I had been a better blogger the past few holidays because I had some really cute ideas to share, but I guess they will just wait until next year. 🙂

But, for today, I wanted to share my experiences with Math Workshop. I have actually attempted this in the past, and even though my students loved it, I couldn't keep up with the copying, change of activities, and constant grading that was involved. I was attempting this at a time when my district was beginning to implement Guided Reading. Needless to say, I couldn't put my all into both right at the start. Unfortunately, Math took the backseat. Until this year. I really knew I had to somehow incorporate small group instruction with this current class because when my team and I sat down with the third grade teachers last spring, one subject kept popping up: Math. Oy! Additionally, my district was/is implementing a new math series-My Math. I knew this year was going to be a doozy! So, over the summer, I started searching the web for Guided Math/Math Workshop ideas. I found some, but nothing I felt like I could jump into since I didn't know my class yet, and I wasn't sure what the math series was going to be like. I mean, yes, math is math, but I wanted to see the scope and sequence of the series, and I also needed to organize my materials. That's when I found my starting place. I found and read and reread this amazing post from Clutter Free Classroom and decided that I would set up my workshop using the Acronym "MATH". Math Facts, At your Seat, Teacher's Choice, and Hands on. Here is a picture of the Clutter-Free Board...

Here is my version of the MATH board I use in my classroom. I have to apologize about the quality of the picture... I forgot my real camera at home. All the pictures below are taken from my cell phone-doh!

On my board, I have made 4 large dots with the letters M-A-T-H on them. Underneath them, I stapled dry erase pages that list the activities they will complete during each station. It is so easy to just wipe off the activities each day. This was another golden suggestion from Clutter-Free Classroom. Under T-Teacher's Choice, I include the materials they need to bring with to their small group instruction. Before we begin Math Workshop, I have each group walk over to the board and look over their "schedule" and if they have any questions that pop up, they have my attention to ask them. Otherwise, once time starts, they cannot interrupt me unless they are vomiting, bleeding, or they lost a finger. If none of those things are happening, they have to use their resources to solve their problems. So far, no fingers have been lost. Can't say the same about the vomiting, but what would teaching be without stomach acid on the 32 year old carpet, lol.

When it came to starting I thought the best and least overwhelming way to begin setting this up would be to take an inventory of the supplies I already had to see how I can use them in my math centers. I do have to say, I have a pretty nice collection of intermediate leveled math supplements I've purchased myself over the years. Here are some pictorial examples of what I decided my "staples" would be for my H- Hands on section.

Versa-tiles. Um, hello, BEST resource in the educational world. I learned about these when I worked at Sylvan Learning Centers the summer before my first teaching job. Then, I remembered a box I had saved from a classmate's dump pile she had made when she was moving classrooms. I had saved this 1978 box from being recycled and I'm SOOO glad I did. Yes, the pages are a bit old, and yes there's a slight scent of old, but hey, math is math, and I didn't have to make a single copy. Plus, there were 6 copies of each of the 9 topics and they were all appropriate for my 4 th graders. Score!

Want to know the absolute BEST part of using versa-tiles? Kids LOVE them and they get immediate feedback when they self-assess their tiles. I don't check their tiles every time but when I know certain students are struggling, I write them a note to show me their tiles before they flip check their answers. Since these are pricey I spend a fair amount of time teaching the students how to set up their boards, get them ready for the next student, and how to make sure they are closed completely. Luckily, they like using them so much they are willing to be extra careful.

Math Games. This is where my creative drive has really come in handy. Since I started blogging and selling at Teachers Pay Teachers, I have obviously used those materials in my classroom. All I did was reorganize my games into separate tubs and reorganized my dice and "markers". Easy Peasy. Some examples of the math games students are seen playing during Math Workshop are:
Knock it Off-Multiplication Practicing Place Value Masters of Division Let's Practice Mean, Median, and Mode with Harry Potter Fun with Fractions and Decimals
And my most recent addition to my store
We're Off to Find the Product (Wizard of Oz themed)
They LOVE these games and are always excited when I tell them I'm working on a new one.

In addition to the math games I have made, I also pulled out and reorganized the math games I received when I piloted SRA Math about 7 years ago. I didn't realize at the time what a goldmine I had, but these games are UH-Mazing, and incredibly beneficial. Here are some of my Goobers playing one of the multiplication games.

Additionally, I was contacted by a sweet representative from Lakeshore Learning asking if I was interested in doing a review on a math game from Lakeshore Learning. I chose "Allowance". In a nutshell, here is how it works: Wash the car and earn $1.30, but forget your homework and lose a turn! In this fast-paced game, players race around the colorful board doing chores and collecting an allowance, then spend their earnings on the things they want.

At first I was worried it would be too easy for my students to play, but after sitting down and playing with my students, I really like this game. It's perfect for practicing addition and subtraction, but even better... it's 100% grade level appropriate for adding and subtracting decimals. The best part, every time there is indoor recess, my students ask if they can play Allowance. Um, let me think... of course!

If you are interested in purchasing this game or one of the MANY reading and/or math games, click here and start shopping!

So, that pretty much covers the H-Hands on part of my math board... Now, let's move onto M-Math Facts.

I know I've blogged about this before, but I love using XtraMath for students to practice their basic facts. It's free, differentiated, and completely student led. I honestly do nothing with this program besides updating individual programs when students finish and printing out certificates. This particular group of students needs all the help they can get with their facts. Why does this keep happening??? It's so hard to teach long division, fractions, and double digit multiplication when the students aren't fluent. I wish there was a magic wand. Until then, during this part of the workshop, students will work on several activities.

#1-XtraMath-I'm lucky enough to have two student desktops in my classroom. Students know that when it's their group's turn for Math Facts, they take turns at the computer. Since rotations are between 12-15 minutes, we have no problem getting through 4-5 students during each rotation. Occasionally, we run into not all students getting their turn. I then tell them, they will complete during Homework time.

#2- Multiplication and/or division packets. Several years ago, I purchased multiplication and division workbooks that practice each fact on several pages. I have organized them into 4 separate packets and as they finish one, they get a new one until they finish all 4 packets. Then, I have skill based packets for them to work on. Luckily this is the majority of the copies I make for math for the whole year. It is drill and kill, but in my opinion, it's not hurting them and any practice is good for them.

#3 Flash Card practice. Sometimes I know students need more interaction so I tell them that for today they will practice flash cards with 1-2 partners. This is a perfect opportunity for me to differentiate. A lot of my students are working on subtracting because that is hands down, the weakest fact in my room.

Now, it's time to talk A-At your Seat. In the past, this was my least favorite part of the planning. I overwhelmed myself by constantly making copies for all levels of learning. Although I do know that differentiated independent work is incredibly effective, I also do not want to kill my number count on pages that I can't guarantee students are putting their full effort into. Plus, I'd always feel guilty if I didn't grade them. I'd end up spending my nights grading the independent work, get aggravated that they weren't "getting" it, and then spend my plan time finding more papers for them to complete. It was such a waste of time, paper, and energy. This year, things are MUCH easier. I focus my plan time on using the formative assessment I gain during my small group instruction to differentiate the lessons for the next day's workshop. I'm also lucky in that this year my district purchased consumable student workbooks. That means I hardly ever make copies. Since there are about 4 pages for every lesson, and I usually only use the homework page with my class, I am able to have students complete the Independent Practice page in their workbooks from the lesson the day before. This was the key. I kept trying to have students independently complete activities from the current day's lesson. But, duh, what about the groups that see me last. Are they supposed to be mind readers? Big light bulb for me. This way, when they work, they have their notes from the day before and they have already completed a homework assignment of the topic. The independent practice is a review. Yay!

Mountain Math-Since it usually only takes my students about 8-10 minutes to complete their Independent Practice, they "know" that when they finish, they are to work on Morning Math aka Mountain Math. The expectation is that they complete all 24 questions by the end of the week. This part is still a work in progress since I haven't introduced all the topics of Morning Math to them, but overall, students are doing a great job of completing their work. Have you ever used Mountain Math? I have used it religiously in the past, but for the past two school years, it sadly sat in a bin collecting dust. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this program because it's to the point and effective. I used to hang the questions on a clear pocket chart seen below...

Unfortunately, I could never find a good "home" for the pocket chart where students could see and work near it. So, one of my new purchases of the school year was the tabletop center version found here. I like it so much better for several reasons. There is no more set up necessary. All I have to do is flip the page. Plus, when I used the pocket chart, I'd only be able to fit 1/2 the questions at a time. Now, students can work at their own pace and not have to wait for me to switch out the cards. It's so much easier to manage. Maybe one day I'll invest in the digital version for the SMART boards. I don't have one in my classroom yet, so I'll just use the tabletop version. I'm personally content. I think the Goobers are also. 🙂

Finally, let's talk T-Teacher's Choice. By far, this is the easiest to explain. You may have noticed at the beginning of this novel I call a blog post, that my MATH board has sticky notes on each group circle. I could also use a dry erase marker, but I like the way I can pull the groups off and not have to take the circles down to change. It's a time thing. My groups change after each chapter. I have my students take a pretest before each chapter and based on how they score, I set my groups. Just like with Guided Reading, I have a few high, a few low, and mostly average ability groups. I have a total of 4 groups and 22 students. The size of each group varies from chapter to chapter.

So, that is how I run Math Workshop in a nutshell. Wow, if you have read this long you deserve a prize. How about a freebie instead? If you are thinking about starting M-A-T-H Workshop in your classroom, then you'll need to organize your plans. Click on the picture below and download a copy of my MATH Workshop bulletin board templates and planner where I fill in each box with the activities and/or assignments I want students to complete during each day of Math Workshop. Enjoy!

Do you run a similar workshop in your classroom? What are your helpful hints? Do you have any tried and true suggestions?

Til next time!

Happy New Year!

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Hello Blog land! It's good to be back. I know everyone in education is really feeling the pressure this year and I'm sure many, if not most, of you can relate to feeling beyond overwhelmed 24/7. That's been me for [...]

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