Overcoming my fears
Teaching is a personal endeavor. Each and every classroom we walk into is different and exudes the personality of the teacher within. Because education is so personal and…
Best Practices
Best Practices
3 ways our school uses data to drive instruction
For the last six years, data has been part of our “secret sauce” here at Bronson Elementary School in Bronson, Fla. Many of our students come from economically…
Want to be a stronger digital leader?
In a rapidly changing world, educators have been forced to self-examine and come to terms with approaches that are inefficient and irrelevant–from outmoded ways of setting up classrooms…
How to bring global learning to your classroom
The sun was high overhead as we stood in the open, slowly baking in the hundred- degree heat, which was abnormally hot for late October, even by southern…
15 metrics every superintendent should know
From interoperability to dashboards, data accessibility is one of the most prevalent topics in edtech circles these days. For superintendents, simply knowing what to look for can be…
How to find an LMS that supports student privacy and data security
As the stewards of student data and information, our school district doesn’t take that role lightly. Proud to be one of just 13 districts nationwide to receive the…
#7: The 4 essentials of a successful Genius Hour
Genius Hour projects may be open ended, but there are still some ground rules. Here are some tips for making Genius Hour work in your school.
What student choice and agency actually looks like
Student agency, which we might loosely define as students’ ability to influence their own learning, undoubtedly plays a critical role ... Read more
These Google Forms turn video from passive to active learning
For as long as I have been a teacher, I have been showing videos in class. While not a revolutionary ... Read more
How a small district turned every student into a music composer
There are moments in my life when the world slows down long enough for me to have incredibly emotional experiences ... Read more
Why every class should be cross-curricular
Connecting one subject to another makes learning a process of discovery and teaches students the essential life skill of critical thinking.
3 steps we’re taking to ensure true digital equity
Across the nation, school districts are investing in one-to-one computing programs and supplying digital devices for their students to use ... Read more
6 ways teaching is changing for a digital world
Educator Ann McMullan shares her advice for innovative teaching. The lesson? Learn to embrace change.
Getting struggling students to read requires both data and compassion
Too many teachers simply move students along from one grade to the next to be kind, without checking for mastery of skills. Can the impartiality data help?
Stretch student collaboration skills with Breakout EDU
The physical and virtual escape games build valuable 21st-century skills. Here's how it works
A tale of two pilots
2 educators share the practicalities of pilots in their districts. See what they've learned, and how to structure your own pilots for success.
How this state is turning its virtual teachers into online learning experts
A certification program is creating a new generation of online learning savants. How are they doing it?
5 lessons learned from replacing whiteboards with touchscreens
Ageing technology led one district to embrace a high-tech upgrade. Here's what they learned along the way.
This district’s blended learning program is putting struggling readers back on track
A blended approach is helping reading intervention students transition to grade-level classes in a semester or less.
6 tips to make the most of student blogging
Blogging with students can lead to some powerful and unexpected outcomes. And getting started is probably easier than you think.
How to transform your media centers into makerspaces
Even with tight budgets, it's possible to repurpose your libraries or media centers into 21st century makerspaces. Here's how.
5 ways music and tech are adding a little STEAM to our lessons
Technology plus music is an easy, accessible way to add STEAM to lessons -- and best of all, students love it.
9 case studies reveal secrets of successful blended, online learning programs
Successful online and blended learning programs in a recent survey are those that prioritized better teacher-student relationships, used an online curriculum as a primary instructional source, and used…
Librarians are taking the lead in the digital transformation
For library media specialists, finding high-quality digital resources is an ongoing challenge. Today, media specialists are being called upon to organize and share content for students and teachers…
5 tips for creating a makerspace for less than the cost of an iPad
You don't need power tools and 3D printers to get students making. A trip to the craft store and a little ingenuity can be just as effective.
The digital signage upgrade that didn’t break the bank
Open-source software and existing devices form the backbone of one district's big digital signage upgrade.
4 ways forward-thinking districts are inspiring more students to code
Check out how 15 innovative districts are exposing more students to coding and closing the participation gap.
The 4 essential elements of any successful one-to-one program
Not all successful one-to-one programs are alike. But they do share some common ground.
Before going one-to-one, this district is helping every kid get home wi-fi
Little Falls Central School District is going one-to-one. But before it does, it wants to make sure that every student, and student athlete, has internet access when they're…
How peer video coaching is completely changing how our teachers teach
Peer-to-peer video comments are changing how one district's teachers think about their practice.
Inside the school that immerses students in Spanish — and technology
A Spanish immersion program makes full use of technology in the classroom
What do we really mean by risk taking in the classroom?
It's important for students to learn risk taking skills. But how do schools do that without taking some big risks themselves?
How paper-free days can spark a tech transformation
Cutting out paper and pencils one day a week got students and teachers at one school thinking more creatively.
7 ways data collection is improving STEM education
One district is getting students more active and analytical with data-collection tools, like probeware Today’s students, being technology natives, expect ... Read more
Five strategies for using classroom technology
Technology and digital media continue to represent a powerful pathway for advancing the goals of education, including raising academic achievement and preparing students for college and career, according…
4 ways to create a successful hybrid school
Several of our high schools in Poudre School District (PSD), Fort Collins, Colorado, serve more than 2,000 students each, and for the vast majority, these are positive places…
Can BYOD be a reality?
We have all heard the term BYOD/BYOT and many of us have even implemented such a program in our institutions. The thought of offsetting district expenditures by having…
Six tips for classroom technology success
The LEGO Education Advisory Panel (LEAP) advises LEGO Education, the education division within the LEGO group, on how to meet the needs of educators and students. The panel…
Do states really need an education technology plan?
Last week the New America Foundation’s Chelsea Wilhelm wrote about a startling trend in state education technology planning: by and large, it’s not happening.
Four critical decisions when making wireless infrastructure changes
As wireless systems in K-12 institutions have likely been in place for several years now, prior to the large influx of personal devices and district owned devices, we…