When Amy Arbogash took the reins of the technology department at Verona Area School District in Wisconsin in 2017, it was in the middle of a multiyear shift to personalized instruction. Students were developing their own learning plans during the rollout of a 1-to-1 iPad program. That is why the district gave Arbogash the title […]
Effective professional development helps educators better address the rapidly evolving needs of students. But with limited budgets and teacher time, how can PD be served up effectively, and integrated and tracked? Education leaders share their best practices for ensuring that professional learning time is well-spent, focused, shared and rewarded. 1. Offer various formats. Just as […]
Every spring, Graham Local Schools fourth- and fifth-graders hatch and release trout during a unit that covers aquaponics, hydroponics and conservation. Older students raise corn and soybeans on a sustainable farm operated by the rural district in southwest Ohio. Teachers in the Jim Thorpe Area School District in Pennsylvania have incorporated software such as GarageBand […]
Landing a big fish. Finding a hidden checkpoint. Mastering a video game. Snagging a flag. These—not grand slams, hat tricks or game-winning touchdowns—count as the big "plays" in the nontraditional sports that high schools are adding.
Advocates of design thinking in education know what you've heard. "Its hard to look at design thinking and not see it as a buzzword" says Ryan Bretag, director of instructional innovation at Glenbrook High Schools District 225 outside Chicago. "When we narrow down design thinking to just a bunch of steps that you can follow […]
This spring, schools have experienced a profound increase in student suicides and attempts, as well as school shootings. Recognize that as bad as things have been this spring, things are likely to be worse next fall. Contention over race, origin, LGBTQ, and sexual assault/harassment will increase, along with contention over gun control in the context […]
How do you go from a career in telecoms and airport security to chief innovation officer for one of the largest school districts in Washington state? According to Derrick Brown, the man who's done it: Be a lifelong learner. "For anyone in technology, or anyone really, who thrives and doesn't like to be complacent, you […]
Digital book platforms now provide more than just reading materials. Today, students can listen to audio recordings, highlight text and watch accompanying videos. Meanwhile, teachers can monitor student progress through assessment tools. Some content even caters specifically to educators for use in professional learning communities. e-Books on Gale Virtual Reference Library platform Gale, a Cengage […]
The process to select a new elementary math program for Columbia Public Schools began four years ago. K12 Math Coordinator Dana Hibbard located the highest-performing schools in Missouri and selected their top two math programs for piloting in her district of 18,555 students. It's been barely a year that Everyday Mathematics 4 has been in […]
As privacy concerns surge ever higher, some educators are pushing to replace the concept of "digital footprints"—the trail of data created by internet use—with "digital tattoos." As privacy concerns surge ever higher, some educators are pushing to replace the concept of "digital footprints"—the trail of data created by internet use—with "digital tattoos." The latter idea […]
