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Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: Charts, Graphs, and a Message

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

Visualization Nation

One skill all informed people need is the ability to read, understand, and interpret data. Often, this data comes in the form of graphs, maps, and charts, known as data visualizations. At every level of education, educators are working to bring the power of data to bear, and prepare students to comprehend and use those tools.

  • Researchers are taking a close look at what works in teaching data visualizations — and why it’s important. [Quartz]
  • Here in Texas, historian Julie Hardwick is teaching history to college students, and organizing masses of historical data using a common tool: Google Sheets. [UT Austin]
  • Plus:

Tricks of the Trades

Career readiness is an important part of K-12 education. As more Americans join a seemingly ever-changing workforce, some programs are aiming to help students get on track for skilled work in a number of trades through the revival of the apprenticeship model.

  • In Washington state, a new apprenticeship model is being put in place, but a number of implementation questions remain. [Seattle Times]
  • America’s leading community college association, the American Association of Community Colleges, has announced an initiative to create 16,000 new apprentices in three years. [Inside Higher Ed]

Stopping Cyberbullying

Each year at this time, we commit to improve something about ourselves, our communities, and the world. One place to start is with cyberbullying. Here are some ways schools and even companies are working to end online harassment. 

  • Writer Vicki Vila’s extensive commentary covers the modern landscape of digital citizenship and the tools needed to protect student safety and combat cyberbullying. [Dallas Morning News]
  • On the corporate side, Instagram is piloting the use of AI to warn posters about captions and content that may be offensive. [engadget]

… And Finally in Ed Tech News

Think a message in a bottle is just a storytelling trope? These students in North Carolina might beg to differ. [Winston-Salem Journal]

unsplash-logoPhoto: Hristina Šatalova
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Educational Trends

Ed Tech New Roundup: Space Exploration and Online Learning

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

Learning Online and In-Person

As blended and online learning becomes seemingly universal, the distinctions and benefits of both virtual and in-person learning are beginning to emerge.

  • On the one hand, digital teaching can greatly empower teachers and students, even potentially boost a teacher’s ability to convey information, even outside of class. One example comes from Wyoming, where a history teacher has created her own online course. [Sheridan Press]
  • On the other hand, new research shows that, the benefits of digital learning notwithstanding, many students still prefer learning face to face. [EdSurge]
  • And despite signs of a potential slow down, online learning, especially in higher education, continues to grow. [Education Drive]
  • As the new methods of flexible learning grow and evolve, a new set of standards for online learning, the first since 2011, has been released. [Education Week]

Learning Out of This World

The expansion of online learning makes sense in the context of ever-growing digital technology. Some tech breakthroughs, though, like the tech that makes travel and communication into space possible, still have the ability to inspire.

  • In New Mexico, hundreds gathered for a rare lesson: having their questions answered in real time from crew aboard the International Space Station. [Albuquerque Journal]
  • All it took was a trip or two around the Earth for this California science teacher to help create a space camp for English language learners. [The Signal (Santa Clara Valley)]
  • In China, space agency officials are looking to expand cooperation around space and space tech education. [Xinhua]
  • You don’t need a rocket to study space. Students in North Dakota recently took part in an educational challenge to study near space (as opposed to outer space) with balloons. [Cavalier County Republican]

… And Finally

Have you ever had a teacher whose antics, energy, or enthusiasm kept your attention no matter what? Virginia physics professor David Wright is one of those educators. And now, his boundless love of teaching (and fun teaching aids) has gone viral, thanks to a video shared by one of his students. [Buzzfeed]

unsplash-logoBlake Lisk
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Digital LiteracyEducational Trends

Buzzword Breakdown: Making Sense of Digital Learning

by Carolyn Mitchell, Guest Author
written by Carolyn Mitchell, Guest Author

As teachers, we all want to prepare our students for educational and career success in their future. We also know that there are multiple ways and multiple environments in which to do this, and understand that technology and digital learning can be key in delivering and differentiating instruction.

So why does the rapidly changing terminology for learning with technology confuse us and make us want to scream? (Feel free to take a moment to put your hands to your cheeks and scream aloud in your best Macaulay Culkin – Home Alone imitation).

Blending, Flipping, and Flexing

Let’s go back in time for a moment. Besides the always popular face-to-face classroom learning experience, we have heard the terms e-learning, flipped classroom/flipped learning, hybrid learning, blended learning, flexible learning, online learning, virtual learning, distance learning, digital learning, and many others. You are probably familiar with at least one of these terms and maybe familiar with all of them. If not, put the unfamiliar words in your favorite search engine and get a feel for the latest and greatest buzzwords in educational lingo.

Don’t be confused or perplexed by the plethora of terms. The following should be your mantra as an educator who has a relationship with technology but wants to increase the engagement and experience level of your students:

  • Technology is a tool to enhance classroom learning and does not take the place of the teacher.
  • I am not afraid to fail in front of my students.
  • TCEA is here to help me.

Putting Tech to Work

Want to branch out in your technology use but maintain some structure and control? In the Canopy project, a collaborative effort undertaken by the Clayton Christensen Institute in order to discover innovative schools and their approaches to student-centered learning, the schools identified as using the blended learning practice ranked the station rotation model as the number one most commonly-used model. Students rotate through online learning stations on a fixed schedule and the learning is student-centered with the teacher as the facilitator.

Everyone is familiar with the ubiquitous surveys that say the number one fear for humans is public speaking. In a Psychology Today blog post, Dr. Glenn Croston makes a connection between the survival of our early ancestors and our fear of public ostracism. I would add that, as a teacher, our number one fear is failing in front of our students.

When I started out as an instructional technologist more than a decade ago with a mandate to help teachers integrate technology into their instruction, the main reason for not integrating technology was “I don’t want to look stupid in front of my students.” I would hope that we are past that reasoning. But if not, utilize your students’ knowledge of technology! Ask a friend/colleague/mentor for help. 

Your Support System

Finally, TCEA is here to help you with a vast array of opportunities to add to your pedagogy and skills. There are special interest groups (SIGs) that cover a wide range of technology specialties. And if online, blended, virtual, or whatever-you-call-it learning is an area of interest, check out the Virtual Learning SIG during the 2020 Convention. We are stronger together!

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ChromebooksContent AreasEducational TrendsGood Teaching

Fun with a Holiday Fliphunt

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Add some fun to your holiday season and learning by completing this holiday fliphunt. You’ll find a variety of options so you can start with any of the tasks. All you need is the Flip app on a phone or tablet and enter the code fa530c13. Or, if you are using a Chromebook or laptop, then you can point your browser to https://flip.com/fa530c13. Enter the guest password TCEAGuest if you do not want to log in with your Microsoft or Google credentials. Since this fliphunt is open to the world, don’t share your first and last name when recording. Instead, make up a holiday name or use a different fake name to protect your identity. To make it easier, consider printing out the holiday fliphunt tasks sheet.

What Is a Fliphunt?

A fliphunt is a fun way for students (and adults) to share their learning, interact with content, or just get to know each other better. Participants refer to a task list that is provided with the specific fliphunt that gives a variety of activities to record. Younger students and “newbies” to Flipgrid may find it easiest to work in pairs as they collaborate with other pairs to complete the tasks. Unless otherwise noted, you can start with any task on the sheet. You can find out more information about fliphunts by reading other blog posts I’ve written on the topic.

There’s Even a Reward!

Complete all the tasks on the holiday fliphunt this month and I’ll email you a special certificate recognizing your accomplishment! To receive your certificate, complete the following:

  1. Use your fake name which should appear as the Display Name (if not, edit the display name to be your fake name).
  2. Use the hashtagged task title (#tradition, #song, #worldgift, etc.) as the Title. (see the graphic below for an example)
  3. After you complete and submit all seven tasks, Send Me an Email to let me know. Tell me the fake name you used so I can verify your submissions and your real name for the certificate. I’ll email you a PDF certificate to recognize your accomplishment!
Video submission screenshot

More Winter Resources from TechNotes

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ed tech news
Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: Google, Student Health, and the Census

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

The Census and Schools

The 2020 federal census will have substantial impacts on American schools. Learn how the once-a-decade count could affect education.

  • The U.S. Census Bureau explains how the census can determine the future of many programs, including technology applications. [U.S. Census Bureau]
  • In advance of the census, the bureau is launching a new program called Statistics in Schools. [EducationDrive]

Ed Tech News about Google Growth

Google’s everyday tools for spreadsheets, slide presentations, word processing, forms, and more are in use on campuses across the country. But the search and web service giant is also pushing into new educational areas in AI (artificial intelligence) and student self-assessment.

  • Now Google tools can empower students to track their learning. Here’s how Sheets and Forms can be transformed into tools for self-assessment. [edutopia]
  • Google is also expanding the capabilities of Teachable Machin. A webcam-based AI learning program has been relaunched with the ability to integrate AI to design web pages, apps, and more. [engadget]

Health Beyond Health Class

A school’s work often goes beyond education, ensuring that students are, for example, fed, cared for, and kept healthy. Here, too, technology can help.

  • In Wisconsin, elementary students are using tech not only to make math learning more efficient, but to learn more about self-esteem and mental health. [Chippewa Herald]
  • In our home state of Texas, one school district is helping students with free, digital doctor’s visits. [Valley Central]

…And Finally in Ed Tech News

ed tech news

Want to feel old? What NPR has called “perhaps the most popular educational computer game of all time,” The Oregon Trail, debuted in an eighth grade history classroom in Minnesota on December 3, 1971 — that’s 48 years ago!

unsplash-logoPhoto: Siora Photography
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Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: Sports, STEAM, and Coding

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

Ed Tech for Physical Education

There’s no subject untouched by technology. And just as technology moves into many aspects of life, it’s also changing the way we teach physical education.

  • Physical education teacher Jon Szychlinksi isn’t simply running students through drills, he’s having them reflect on health and fitness (with the help of technology). [Hechinger Report]
  • At the higher ed level, art, athletics, and tech are meeting on stage, as dance education gets a lift from a National Science Foundation STEM grant. [Colorado Arts and Sciences]

Diversifying STEAM/STEM

  • Longstanding knowledge and traditions meet contemporary science in an “Indigenous engineering” class at Salish Kootenai College, which serves the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d’Oreilles tribes of the Flathead reservation near Pablo, Montana. [Missoulan]
  • Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Urban Youth Racing School is helping find pathways into careers through high-octane STEAM learning. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Coding, Online and Offline

  • Middle school students in Longmont, Colorado are trying a new kind of programming: screen-free coding. [Daily Camera]
  • A new hourlong course is training teachers to facilitate coding lessons in Minecraft: Education Edition, and helping them earn Microsoft Educator badges. [THE Journal]

And Finally…

Wisconsin Public Radio raises an important question of the digital age: Should students still learn to write in cursive?

unsplash-logoPhoto: Daniil Vnoutchkov
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Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: More LEGOs, More Gamers, and More Internet Access

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of biweekly ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

Esports for All?

The 2019–2020 school year has been packed with discussion, activity, and growth around esports. Not just a major trend in education, competitive video gaming is a nationwide trend, and the fast pace of change can make it challenging to keep up. Here are some of the latest esports items to cross our desk.

  • In a detailed opinion piece, Silicon Valley tech analyst Carolina Milanesi lays out a case for esports, looking beyond the headline-grabbing payouts and toward potential educational benefits. [Tech.pinions]
  • A new report notes that, while almost half of all women 18 to 29 years old say they play video games, the diversity of gamers isn’t always reflected in burgeoning esports programs. [THE Journal]

Making LEGOs Work

Many educators know the power of LEGO in the classroom. It’s a great tool for robotics, but that’s not the only trick these toys can perform.

  • Teaming up with Amazon, LEGO is challenging teachers and students to use the toy-maker’s MINDSTORMS kits and the tech giant’s Alexa Gadgets tools to program voice-controlled LEGO robots. [STEAM Universe]
  • American Public Media’s popular radio show Marketplace interviewed middle school robotics teacher Ian Chow-Miller about the benefits of LEGOs in education, from STEAM to SPED. [Marketplace]

Casting a Wide Internet

As educational resources are increasingly digital, access to high-speed internet is vital for education and everyday life. In Texas, efforts are emerging to ensure all residents of the state have access.

  • In San Antonio, a new initiative called Wash and Learn has set up WiFi connections at local laundromats. The idea is meant to help the 25% of area families without high-speed internet access at home. [KSAT]
  • According to the state comptroller’s office, only 70% of Texans even have access to broadband internet. Now, state and local agencies are looking to change that. [KFDA]

…And Finally

It seems like every year or so, a new social media app rises to become the dominant vector for memes, fashions, songs, trends, and other aspects of young people’s worlds. The app of this moment just might be TikTok. Now the video-sharing app is launching a first-of-its-kind education initiative in the massive market of India.

Jonas Koel

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Speak Up
CTO/CIOEducational Trends

Insights Learned From Your Speak Up Data

by Jennifer Bergland
written by Jennifer Bergland

I am going to be very up front with my intention in writing this blog. My goal is to persuade school district technology directors or other administrators to seriously consider having their school or district participate in the annual Speak Up Survey.

Speak Up is a research tool districts use to learn what students, educators, parents, and the community have to say about educational issues. Yes, there are quite a few questions on the survey that deal with technology, but there are many other types of questions that will provide you with some much-needed insight into the attitudes of your stakeholders.

For example, in last year’s survey, they asked several questions about social and emotional learning. They also asked students how they prefer to learn subjects like math or science. Oh, and did I tell you that the survey is completely free and that they make it really easy for your district to participate? 

A Texas-Sized School District

In order to help you see how a school district administrator could use this data, I’m going to take the state of Texas’ data and pretend I am the technology director of the “Texas School District,” covering the entire state. Let’s see what the data tells me about my district or what questions come to mind when I review the data.

Community 

First, I’m very interested in the use of technology in my community. 78% of the members of my community use the internet to conduct research and 76% use mobile apps. 75% of my community use technology to watch an online video to learn how to do something. This tells me that a large portion of my community has internet access and is using it for research and to learn new things. However, it appears there is still some type of digital divide in my community. Is it an access or a skill problem, or both? I’m also surprised that only 26% of my community say they use Twitter. Since I spend a large amount of time on Twitter, I had assumed others did, too. This lets me know that I need to use a wider variety of social media to communicate with the members of my community. 

Students

There are a series of questions in the survey that are posed to middle and high school students to see how often they seek ways to learn something because of their interests. This helps me see how students are using technology when they are looking for specific information or want to learn a skill. Only 9% of both middle and high school students post a question on a discussion board or a forum. Do we need to be more intentional in using this type of application? Do they just not know how, or have they found better ways to seek answers to their questions?  

There are a greater number of students who are researching the internet for information: 32% of middle schoolers and 42% of high school students. Students are also using YouTube and other video services to learn how to do something. 42% of my middle school students and 57% of my high school students often use videos to teach them a skill. I need to talk to the instructional staff to see if we are taking advantage of this type of technology. Should we be posting short videos that teach one of the standards our students are struggling with? If so, what skills do my teachers need to know in order to do this and what technology do they need?

Teachers

Speaking of teachers, I really want to know what they are doing with technology. The data tells me that 45% of them are customizing digital content they find online to meet their students’ needs. This sounds an awful like Open Educational Resources (OER). Hmm, maybe we need to have more conversations about OER.

SpeakUp I also discovered that 43% of my teachers are facilitating student collaboration projects using online tools. This is such a great skill. How can I leverage these teachers to help other teachers do this as well? Also, I’m pleasantly surprised that 44% of my teachers are using an online curriculum. However, I want to know more. What is the frequency? Are they occasionally doing this or is this something they use every day? I also want to know what they are using. Are they using the district’s Learning Management System, or is it an online textbook? 

I am a little disappointed that only 9% of my teachers are creating their own online professional learning networks. I had pretty high hopes that platforms like Twitter could help connect educators, especially those who may be the only one that teach their subject at their school. Maybe I need to do my own survey to see if, in fact, that is the case. Maybe the 9% are the teachers who do not have a colleague at their school that teaches their subject. Sounds like I need to do some more digging. 

Finally, there is one question I am very interested in. It asks the teachers what they need to more efficiently and effectively speakupintegrate digital content, tools, and resources into their daily instruction. 51% said they wished they had a classroom set of digital devices. 49% said they needed to know that their students had adequate broadband access outside of school and 46% indicated they were concerned that they didn’t have consistent, reliable internet access within school. Maybe I need to have my staff do some focus groups related to internet access and speed. Looking at my network resources, they should have adequate bandwidth, but maybe something is happening on campus that I am not aware of. While my team is on campus, I probably should also have them ask teachers about the availability of technical support since 47% of the teachers indicated it was lacking. And lastly, my teachers still need time to plan with their colleagues (60%) and additional professional development (50%).  I need more staff to be able to meet this need! 

Whew, I learned this much in less than an hour by looking at this data. This will come in handy when I go to the superintendent and tell her I need more funding to do the things she wants me to do. It will also help me know where I need to place my time and energy. 

Your Turn

Seriously, I gained this information in less than an hour. Just think what you and your team could glean from your district’s data. 

If nothing else, I hope you will sign up to watch one of their webinars so that you can learn more about the survey and how it can assist you in your work. On October 23, you can watch the livestream of Julie Evans, the CEO of Project Tomorrow, provide a congressional briefing on the latest data. Julie does an excellent job of weaving a story with the data. She is always extremely interesting. In addition, check out this site for other webinars the Speak Up team is hosting. 

Register Now

The Speak Up survey is open until June 30, 2020. What are you waiting for? Register today!

Photos of student and teachers by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Photo of hands and laptop  by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

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Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: Screen Time, Aesop’s Fables, and Fall Foliage

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of biweekly ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

Branching Out with STEM

Understanding science, engineering, and technology is vital for students, regardless of what they hope to pursue in life. Educators are working to keep up with that demand, and do so in ways that benefit students with genuine learning and life experience.

  • Middle school tech and computer teacher Robin Corbeil was struggling to connect her students with practical STEM skills. Then they started coding robots. [Education Drive]
  • For students interested in science and engineering, a program in Wisconsin is helping them prepare for college and earn college credit, one of many examples across the nation. [Wisconsin State Journal]

Screening the Future

Connected devices open a world of information to just about anyone. As screens become a required part of daily life, new perspectives are emerging on the potential — and potential pitfalls — of an always-connected generation.

  • Technology use is commonplace in higher education, even during lectures. A new study of college students from the University of Waterloo finds that students “think it is instructors’ responsibility to ensure they don’t surf the web in class.” [Ladders]
  • Matthew Howell’s middle school students all had devices, thanks to a 1:1 program. Now, they’re making a point to consider their use by having regular screen-free school days. [edutopia]

Reading with Tech

Ed tech can improve many learning processes, including in non-STEM subjects. Educators are using technology to build literacy, tell stories, and even teach across subjects.

  • In language arts, the “old essay model” is being reinvented with technology. Here are five ways educators are inspiring literacy through tech. [THE Journal]
  • In Colorado, ancient fables are getting new life through students’ smart use of digital platforms. [CU Boulder]

…And Finally

The changing of the seasons governs much of the world around us. For students, it can be a prompt for learning. Whether it’s a salmon festival in California, an agriculture education day in Maryland, or a traditional fall festival in Florida, young people around the country are finding educational opportunities outdoors as the weather turns and autumn arrives.

Photo: David Anderson

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fliphunt
Content AreasEducational TrendsESL/ELLGood Teaching

Adding Adventure to Instruction by Using a Fliphunt

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Regardless of what you teach, your students will most likely respond well to an adventure of some kind as opposed to worksheets or traditional whole-group learning. So a fliphunt is perfect for your classroom. But, you might be asking yourself, “What is a fliphunt?” Designed by Kathi Kersznowski (@kerszi), a fliphunt is a scavenger hunt using Flipgrid. It is a fun way of having your students get out of their seats, participate in the learning, and demonstrate their understanding and application.

Organizing Your Fliphunts

Start by creating a grid in Flipgrid to contain all your fliphunts. This will help keep them organized and in one place, a folder to contain them all. Next, create a new topic and give it the name of your fliphunt. Each fliphunt will be a new topic within this grid.

Creating Your First Fliphunt

Begin with your content standards or knowledge and skills you are wanting your students to learn. Identify multiple concepts they will need to demonstrate understanding of. Think of fun ways for them to demonstrate the concept or skill. For the sake of an example, I’ll pull from fourth grade math standards:

(6)  Geometry and measurement. The student applies mathematical process standards to analyze geometric attributes in order to develop generalizations about their properties. The student is expected to:

(A)  identify points, lines, line segments, rays, angles, and perpendicular and parallel lines;
(B)  identify and draw one or more lines of symmetry, if they exist, for a two-dimensional figure;
(C)  apply knowledge of right angles to identify acute, right, and obtuse triangles;…

In Google Docs or Microsoft Word, create a list of tasks (or even a choice board). I created a Google Doc (http://bit.ly/fliphunt4geo) with tasks for the fourth grade geometry lesson. It is up to you whether students complete them in order. In my example, students can go in any order. But, to get credit for each submission, they must name their entry using the task title. This will help students as they review other student work (and as I grade!). If you are creating a fliphunt for someone that is not in your district domain, be sure to edit the topic, select Add Topic Guests, and give them the permission to record videos to the topic; you’ll also need to share the topic guest address/code with them, which is different than the one used by your students or people within your district domain.

Fliphunt Template

Here is a template to guide you through the steps. Once you complete your fliphunt, be sure to share it with other educators by tweeting a link to it using #fliphunt and #flipgridfever. Before you know it, you’ll be making fliphunts for all your classes…and even start creating ones that are just for fun and for icebreakers. When coming up with the tasks, consider having your students submit ideas to be used!

Sample Fliphunt Docs

Getting to Know You Fliphunt

Earth Systems Fliphunt

 Parts of a Non-Fiction Book
Skeletal System Fliphunt

 Indian Hill Staff Fliphunt

 Geometry FlipHunt
To Kill a Mockingbird Fliphunt

 Meet and Greet Fliphunt

  

What Will You Create?

What content will you use to create your fliphunt? If you still need more ideas and details, check out #fliphunt on Twitter for lots of sharing. Also, be sure to add your ideas to the comments section. Don’t just make it an adventure; make it a fliphunt!

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