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Tips, Tricks, and Tech Tidbits: Thanksgiving Resources, Names, Templates, and More

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

I’m back with even more cool websites, neat ideas, and other ed tech innovations in this blog. If you missed the previous six, be sure to search our blog site for them. They are packed with tools to use immediately.

Thanksgiving Resources

Julie Smith offers a writing activity called Turkey Texts that can be completed in PowerPoint or Google Slides. Students create a text message conversation between a turkey and any person or character of their choice. Two different templates are provided: five texting bubbles or six texting bubbles. Whichever is chosen, students will have to plan out their conversation to fit the pertinent information in.

There is also a great Scratch coding lesson called Hide the Turkey! The lesson is simple enough for beginner coders, but also provides some growth room for those already very familiar with the language.

The Importance of Saying Students’ Names

tips and tricks

Recent research has shown that hearing our own name makes our brains ecstatic and causes some parts of the brain to light up. But this only happens when we hear our own name, not any other name. This shows how important it is for teachers to say their students’ names as often as we can and to make sure that we are pronouncing them correctly when we do say them.

Word Time Traveler

Take your high school students on a trip through time as they try to guess when a particular word first began to be used. Merriam-Webster offers this free website that shows the new English words and what year they first appeared. The information is kept all the way back to before the 12th century. An easy activity to get them started with this is to ask them what new words they think appeared this year (2020).

Greeting Card Time

The amazing Jennifer Wagner has, for over a decade, run a free world-wide activity called the Holiday Card Project. Students create their own holiday card around a theme. The project is open to all PreK-6th grade classes. If you have older students who would enjoy this activity (and who wouldn’t?), then you can offer the same activity yourself for your classes, your campus, or your district.

More Google Slides Templates

You can never have enough templates, and these, designed specifically for teachers, are fantastic. There are 25 of them to freely download from alphabet learning games to breakout rooms, Harry Potter themes to letter writing slides. You’re bound to find some you can’t live without.

If you’d like to jazz up your teaching (or faculty meetings) with some fun sounds, check out the Teacher Soundboard. Twenty different short sound effects are already set up for you on this Google Slide, all ready to be used.

For those doing station rotations, here’s a very nice template created by Stephanie DeMichele. It can be downloaded for either Google Slides or PowerPoint and includes a spot where you can add an audio message to your students.

tips and tricks

Creating Groups in Zoom

The ability to have students break out into small groups for collaboration or discussion is one of the many fabulous things about using Zoom. But creating those rooms can be difficult. Here are some easy-to-understand directions for intentionally creating groups quickly.

News Literacy Practice

Teaching students (and adults) to be able to tell fact from fiction is critical these days. Checkology – The News Literacy Project helps you do just that. The project offers several resources and services for educators, including an online learning platform, a free weekly newsletter, professional development opportunities, a variety of classroom materials, and more. It’s free for educators and students, but does require that the teacher create a free account.

How Safe Is Your Password?

The graphic below shows how long it will take for a hacker to crack your password and what you can do to make it stronger. This is also good to share with your older students.

tips and tricks

How Technology Supports Relationships Between Teachers and Students

This article by Kevin Baird has some incredibly important points to make about how technology can be used to build and support relationships between teachers and their students. As he says, “Researcher John Hattie’s work into Visible Learning found that combined teacher self-confidence and student self-confidence are among the most critical factors for learning. ” What helps to create that is when teachers are fluent in the use of a focused technology tool such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom or Google Classroom. Be sure to read the article to see how you can implement this in your classroom.

I’ll be back in another week or so with more tips and tricks. See you then!

More Thanksgiving Resources

Ready-to-Use Thanksgiving Resources

Give Thanks with Google Forms

Gratitude Activities for You and Your Students

Native American Heritage Day

Gratitude Towers for Social-Emotional Learning

The Gobble Gobble Breakout

Thanksgiving Digital Resources

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filter bubble
Digital LiteracyLibraries

Research in the Age of the Filter Bubble

by Heather Lister, Guest Author
written by Heather Lister, Guest Author

We live in a personalized world. Everything from the music we listen to, the firmness of our mattresses, and the news briefings delivered to us online, it’s all personalized and tailored to our preferences. And who wouldn’t want to listen to a radio station that only plays music they like? Advances in technology have allowed companies to give a custom experience to each of its users — and those users include the students in our classrooms.

A Custom World

As educators, we typically hear the term “customized” or “personalized” in a positive light. Yet when seeking information, those customizations can actually translate to bias and ignorance. It’s what Eli Pariser termed the “filter bubble,” the algorithms used to provide targeted search results and tailored news feeds are creating a distorted and divided reality by only revealing one side of the story — the side you want to see.

Websites use massive amounts of data to create an experience that we’re more likely to engage and interact with. This data is often collected by “trackers” that exist on numerous websites. Google trackers can be found on the top 75% of the top million websites. These trackers do just what they say they do; they track. They track everything from the time you spend on a site to the type of computer you’re using to the time you typically wake up in the morning. All of this somewhat personal data is gathered and used without us being aware we’re even providing it. So for those of us that think we do a pretty good job of keeping our online lives private, unfortunately our actions and behaviors online can tell companies just as much, if not more, information about our lives. 

For professionals dedicated to helping others search for facts and uncover the truth, this is obviously problematic.

Escaping the Bubble

Sadly, escaping this bubble is nearly impossible. Even methods that give the appearance of removing this bubble and putting the user in control of their data do very little. For example, private browsing such as Google’s “Incognito Mode” only prevents your browser history from being recorded on your computer and does not offer any additional protection such as preventing the websites you visit from collecting your information (e.g. your searches on a search engine). According to an engineer at Google, even when logged out, Google is still able to use 57 points of data to tailor your experience. Facebook’s privacy settings allow you to opt-out of seeing targeted ads, but they don’t stop the collection of data in the first place. This data and more is following us across the web, with vast implications.

So if the filter bubble is an issue, but there isn’t really a way to “pop” it, what do we do?

For better or for worse, customization is only going to get more precise and have a further reach. But unless you’re willing to go completely off the grid, we’re going to have to address this issue. This means taking a different approach to research and doing a better job of teaching students how the Internet actually works. 

A Different Approach

For starters, if you’re giving students a list of “pre-approved” websites or databases, stop (for two reasons). First, by hand picking resources for students, we are robbing them of the opportunity to navigate the resources themselves. They aren’t always going to have someone there to hand pick articles for them and tell them whether they are credible or not. It’s a skill they need to develop themselves, and what better time to practice that skill than when in school? Second, there is no such thing as a 100% credible site. Even databases curate resources from the open web, so directing students to databases is a flawed practice as well. Several sites and authors that were once considered “trustworthy” and “academic” have been called into question due to bias, misinformation, or misrepresentation. 

Additionally, students (and our colleagues) need to understand the existence of a filter bubble. They need to understand how companies are using data to tailor the results on nearly every site we visit. They need to understand that while their search results may have produced hundreds of “great” results, there are millions of other results they aren’t seeing. When we have students evaluate websites, encourage them to not only focus on what is in the article, but also what isn’t in the article. What perspectives are missing? What isn’t being discussed? Who wasn’t a part of the discussion?

Useful Resources

While librarians can be champions of this effort, it cannot be addressed by us alone. This is a societal issue and one that needs tackling by the community at large. While still limited, here are some resources to help teachers and librarians in this effort:

Checkology and The Sift from The News Literacy Project

Checkology is an online suite of tools aimed at making students better users of information. With lessons on algorithms, bias, identifying hoaxes, and more, it’s a comprehensive platform for addressing the many facets of media literacy. The Sift is a newsletter that shares current teachable news stories regarding misinformation, hoaxes, and other viral content.

Harvard’s Project Implicit

This resource includes a series of assessments aimed at identifying thoughts and feelings outside of conscious awareness and control. This is a great tool for your older students or your staff to help become more self aware of the biases they may have. 

Mozilla’s Teach the Web and Google’s Be Internet Awesome

Both organizations have an education branch focused on teaching how the web works. Yes, I recognize the irony, but they both have some excellent resources and activities. 

Choose Privacy Everyday from ALA

Each year, ALA and other organizations celebrate #chooseprivacy week in May. This website hosts resources to promote privacy and confidentiality year-round. The site includes programming and lessons for elementary school through adults.

Photo: Lanju Fotografie

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napkin pd
Google Tips and TricksProfessional Learning

Napkin PD: Transform Learning with Google Tools

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Teachers often struggle during professional development sessions, wondering how to make connections between how-to at the workshop and classroom learning. Diana Benner, Peggy Reimers, and I did some napkin PD planning and came up with a solution. Here’s a chance to get hands-on Google experience with six different project stations that offer the opportunity to explore lesser-known Google tools. These tools enhance critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration.

napkinpd

Developing PD on a napkin with Diana Benner, Peggy Reimers, and Miguel Guhlin. Let’s explore these ideas in more detail.

Essential Elements

Before we jump into the project stations, let’s review a few components common to each. Each project station includes three components:

  • Explore
  • Adapt/Create
  • Share

In the Explore portion, participants develop background knowledge in the key concept shared. In the Adapt/Create, they make connections between their own experiences as learners. Two ways to accomplish this include adapting an existing work in light of new information. The second way is to create a new product. After they create or adapt, they share that online with a global audience. An additional component is listing what Google tools will be used.

Project Station #1: Inquiry-Based Learning Developers

In this station, participants will explore inquiry-based learning (IBL). Why continue to introduce IBL in professional learning? IBL creates engagement in both teachers and learners. Research has shown it has several benefits. It can:

  • Boost students’ learning in inter-disciplinary studies
  • Motivate students to learn, developing flexible, real-life, problem-solving strategies
  • Deepen critical thinking skills
  • Use of knowledge in new areas (Source)

Learning to ask the right questions and then finding answers that work remain critical to the work of educators and their students. To that end, it’s important to scaffold the use of IBL in the context of modern tools. Not unlike Dr. Bernie Dodge’s and Tom March’s webquest activity, new approaches adapt IBL for modern technology.

  • Explore: In this station, participants are given twenty minutes.
  • Adapt/Create: Participants, having explored hyperdoc exemplars, rely on a template to develop their own hyperdoc.
  • Share: Participants share their hyperdoc creation or modification with others via a sharing space, such as Google Forms tied into a Google Sheet or link their hyperdoc in an existing Google Doc created for that purpose.
  • Tools: Google Docs, Google Slides

Project Station #2: Research Explorers

One of the first uses of the internet for teachers involves encouraging students to use it for research. It’s important to clarify expectations for research-based activities. While research should be embedded in the context of an inquiry-based learning lesson, some additional expectations can be set. Students can be expected to:

  • Craft a research question
  • Locate and gather appropriate sources
  • Consider and assess the quality of the sources
  • Seek patterns in the data
  • Develop a position about the research

Given that the internet is a deep ocean of information, it’s important to assist students to engage in content curation using frameworks like the Big 6, Super 3, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). While there are many online research tools that could be introduced, one of note is Google Scholar.

“I usually start with Google Scholar or Google just to figure out what the topic is. Once I have a better idea, I’ll go deeper,” says Leslie Harris O’Hanlon. “For example, if it’s a history paper, I’ll use the online library catalog, or sometimes there are e-books online through the university” (Source).

  • Explore: Participants experience the power of Google Scholar as a tool to find journals, save document sources in a personal space, and obtain citations. First, participants go through the process of developing a research question using the infographic from UC San Diego Library as a guide. Then they complete the steps.
  • Adapt/Create: Participants begin with a general topic, then narrow the topic down with How and Why questions, not unlike what is shown in the image below:

  • Share: Once participants have identified a topic using Google Scholar to identify research and information, they can create a Google Slides PDF ebook or Google Docs.
  • Tools: Google Scholar, Google Docs ePub export or Google Slides PDF ebook

Project Station #3: Engaging Experiments

Mix up learning for your students. Create engaging and relevant learning experiences for students with Google’s Art and Culture. Better yet, try out one of the Arts & Culture experiments. You can find gaming experiments that enable students to interact with images, solve puzzles, and more. This map-based approach enables students to organize their research according to location and impact, which is appropriate for various topics. Students combine research, life stories, images, and video to make a compelling case for their research thesis.

  • Explore: Encourage participants to explore existing Arts & Culture experiments and then reflect on how current content in their curriculum goals could be aligned.
  • Adapt/Create: Participants use puzzle maker to create a game puzzle, or cultural crossword puzzle.
  • Share: Once participants have finished it, make it available via a Google Form or common space or backchannel (e.g. Padlet).
  • Tools: Google Arts & Culture puzzle maker

Project Station #4: Toontastic Reporters

Whether you have students synthesizing information from a variety of sources and then reporting it in front of a green screen (read tips about setting up your own inexpensive green screen, as well as see examples) or creating reports with Toontastic, students can learn quite a bit. Putting students in the role of journalists has a powerful impact on their own ability to curate and construct knowledge. Consider the following benefits:

  • Students develop the critical thinking skills needed to be smarter, frequent, transliterate consumers (and creators) of information
  • Students learn to tell between fact and opinion
  • Learners explore how to become better-informed citizens and voters (Source: The News Literacy Project)

One approach to achieve this involves presenting a problem and then inviting students to create a report that presents facts.

Wait, There’s More

Ready to get going with these project stations? Consider adding two more, if time allows. Two more final project stations include casting teachers in the roles of Flipped Learning Creators and Digital Breakout Artists.

In the former, flipped learning is explored. Participants learn to create screencasts, embed assessments with EdPuzzle, or engage in post-reflection activities with Google Forms. In the Digital Breakout Artists project station, participants learn how to create engaging activities that involve clue finding and problem solving.

Turn Napkin PD into a Reality

Want to schedule TCEA professional learning for your school district that focuses on inquiry-based learning? Fill out a TCEA logistics form, as well as attend our face-to-face conferences and the annual TCEA Convention. We can help you turn your napkin professional development plans into a reality.

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ELAREnglish Language ArtsESL/ELL

SIOP Model and Digital Tools

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

How do you integrate language and content instruction? One established approach is the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) model. Let’s see how SIOP phases align with different learning intentions and instructional strategies and discover digital tools to support your teaching.

A Quick Overview of the SIOP Model

Let’s take a moment to review key areas of the SIOP model. The authors (Echevarria, Vogt, Short) designed it to support English language learners (ELLs). The SIOP model has eight inter-related components. Those components include the following:

  • Lesson preparation. Teachers create lessons that include content and language objectives.
  • Building background. This involves connecting new concepts to students’ personal experiences and prior knowledge.
  • Comprehensible input. Teachers use a variety of techniques to make content easy to understand for learners. These can include speaking in a clear way, using visuals, and hands-on activities.
  • Strategies. These strategies include teaching and modeling learning strategies to help students process and retain information.
  • Interaction. This involves giving students opportunities to practice language skills in a safe, supportive environment.

Below is a diagram I made to capture my understanding of the SIOP model (view full-size | get a copy):

Benefits of the SIOP Model

Many benefits have been ascribed to the SIOP model. You can find a round-up of them online at Jana Echevarria’s website. Here are a few:

  • Gains in academic achievement (source)
  • Development of personal and academic language skills (source)
  • Active participation and increased engagement
  • Differentiation aligned to students’ diverse needs and proficiency levels

What’s more, the SIOP model is often a go-to approach for supporting language learners. Echevarria makes the following point on her website linked above:

…SIOP instruction is making a positive learning difference for multilingual learners and other students who are in the classrooms. Teachers can learn to implement the model to a high degree with ongoing PD and support. No one is disadvantaged by SIOP instruction; rather, the focus on academic literacy and scaffolded instruction helps all students learn academic English and grade-level, content curricula better (source).

Now that you have a clear understanding of the phases of the SIOP model, let’s explore how it aligns to learning intentions. I’m curious to connect it to Hattie’s Visible Learning as well as Mike Bell’s The Fundamentals of Teaching.

Understanding SIOP Phases and Learning Intentions

As you may recall, learning intentions refer to what your intent is for students to learn. Having an awareness of your learning intensions, as well as what phase of learning students are in, can be useful. It’s useful because it enables you and students to choose specific high-effect instructional strategies. These strategies are often grouped according to three phases of learning:

  • Surface learning
  • Deep learning
  • Transfer learning

John Hattie points out the following when choosing what strategy works best to impact learning:

“What and when are equally important when it comes to instruction that has an impact on learning. Approaches that facilitate students’ surface-level learning do not work equally well for deep learning, and vice versa. Matching the right approach with the appropriate phase of learning is the critical lesson to be learned.”

With this in mind, it’s important to match high-effect size instructional strategies to the appropriate phase of learning students are in. To determine what phase of learning students are in, you will want to take advantage of formative assessments. What’s more, being aware of what your learning intention is for students can inform your next steps. Let’s briefly explore these points aligned to the SIOP model.

Lesson Preparation: Building the Foundation

“I use Quizlet to create interactive flashcards for key terms. It’s a game-changer for vocabulary retention!” says Mrs. Johnson, a 5th-grade teacher. In this initial phase, focus on surface learning through direct instruction and vocabulary programs. Both direct instruction and vocabulary programs are appropriate to use in this phase of learning (Surface Learning).

Surface learning is important because it is a critical step towards transfer learning:

…the process of developing sufficient surface knowledge to then move to deeper understanding such that one can appropriately transfer this learning to new tasks and situations. (Source: Hattie, Fisher, Frey in Visible Learning for Literacy)

To assist students in connecting the dots, it’s important to consider students’ prior knowledge. As Mike Bell, The Fundamentals of Teaching, puts it, “No one can learn anything if they cannot link it to something they already know.” On his website, Bell quotes psychologist David Ausubel:

If I had to reduce all of educational psychology to just one principle, I would say this: The most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Ascertain this and teach him accordingly.

David Ausubel as cited

Our theory of the world, also known as our “schema,” is what makes up our prior knowledge. It is so important that Mike Bell enshrines it as the first step in his five step teaching approach. He encourages teachers to assess prior knowledge, as well as fill in missing knowledge.

Did You Know?
You can watch a TCEA Lunch and Learn on Prior Knowledge via the TCEA Community. Follow this link, then enter your login credentials to access. Not a TCEA member yet? Join.

A part of presenting new material (step two in his five-step process) involves linking new information to prior knowledge, using advance organizers, and connecting the abstract to the concrete. To put it simply, it involves connecting the dots.

Building Background: Connecting the Dots

“I love using Mindmeister for collaborative mind mapping,” says Mr. Rodriguez, a high school history teacher. “It helps students visualize connections between new concepts and what they already know.” In Mike Bell’s book, The Fundamentals of Teaching, memory is explained as a link to component parts of that memory. The component parts include our emotions, colors, shapes, tactile feelings. The network of links is the schema.

If some of the new concepts are held in long-term memory, “it takes less space in working memory.” You can see how someone can liken the responsibilities of a president to that of a parental guardian.

Mnemonics and integrating prior knowledge are crucial here. A key component is connecting the dots through graphical organizers, modelled and worked examples, as well as meta-cognitive tasks. Students can use graphic organizers and modeled examples to better understand and retain new information. They do this when they link new concepts to what they already know. This approach also enhances metacognitive skills. It helps them become more aware of their thinking.

As you can imagine, the SIOP model seeks to encompass this cognitive work. It covers critical steps of learning, such as:

  • Activating and assessing prior knowledge
  • Presenting new knowledge
  • Setting challenging tasks that involve collaboration, thinking, and examples
  • Providing feedback to learners for improvement, as well as questioning
  • Spaced repetition and deliberate practice

Connecting the dots takes advantage of several strategies that encouraging making connections. Those connections happen between prior and new knowledge, which lays the groundwork for deep learning phase of learning.

SIOP Phase with Learning Intention

Take a look at this chart and how it matches SIOP model phases with learning intentions, strategies, and digital tools.

SIOP PhaseLearning IntentionInstructional StrategiesDigital ToolsExample
Lesson PreparationSurface LearningDirect Instruction (.56), Vocabulary Programs (.62)Quizlet, KahootUsing Quizlet to create flashcards for key vocabulary terms
Building BackgroundSurface LearningMnemonics (.65), Integrate with Prior Knowledge (.93)Padlet, yED Live, Cmap ToolsCreating a mind map on yEd Live to connect new concepts with prior knowledge
Comprehensible InputSurface LearningRepeated Reading Programs (.80), Questioning (.49)Newsela, EdpuzzleUsing Edpuzzle to embed comprehension questions in a video lesson
StrategiesDeep LearningMetacognition Strategies (.52), Critical Thinking (.84)Padlet Video Recording, SocrativeStudents using video to explain their problem-solving process
InteractionDeep LearningClassroom Discussion (.82), Reciprocal Teaching (.74)Zoom breakout rooms, Canva Whiteboard, MiroFacilitating small group discussions in Zoom breakout rooms using a collaborative whiteboard
Practice & ApplicationTransfer LearningProblem-Solving Teaching (.68), Transfer Strategies (.86)Scratch, Minecraft Education, MinetestStudents applying coding concepts learned in class to create a game in Scratch or virtual world in Minetest
Lesson DeliveryDeep LearningElaboration and organization (.75), Concept Mapping (.62)Pear Deck, NearpodUsing Pear Deck to create interactive presentations with embedded formative assessments
Review & AssessmentTransfer LearningSelf-Reported Grades (1.33), Self-Judgement and Reflection (.81)Google Forms, SeesawStudents reflecting on their learning progress using a digital portfolio in Seesaw

Comprehensible Input: Ensuring Understanding

Repeated reading programs and strategic questioning enhance comprehension. Consider using Edpuzzle to embed questions in video lessons, promoting active engagement with content. Comprehensible input is a concept first suggested by Stephen Krashen. It exposes students to linguistic input slightly above their current language level (i+1). The reason for this is that i+1 allows learners to understand the new input. Strategic questioning can scaffold this process.

Use strategic questioning to do the following:

  • Get responses from students at their current level and slightly beyond. For example, a current level question might be, “What is the main character’s name?” An i+1 example might be “How might the main character’s actions influence the story’s outcome?”
  • Tailor questions to target specific language structures or vocabulary. For teaching past tense, an example might be “What did the protagonist do after he discovered the secret door?”
  • Ensure that question complexity is adjusted to ensure input remains at the optimal i+1 level. To adjust a question’s complexity, go from simple to complex. For example, shift from “Can you describe the setting of the story?” to “How does the setting contribute to the overall mood of the narrative?”

Both strategies (repeated reading and strategic questioning) can be useful in ensuring understanding.

Diving Deeper: Strategies and Interaction

Fostering Critical Thinking

Metacognitive strategies and critical thinking activities are key for deep learning. “I use Padlet Video to have students explain their problem-solving process. It’s amazing to see their metacognition in action!” says middle school science teacher, Ms. Lee. To encourage metacognition, consider using check-ins to enhance learning. According to Schraw (1998 as cited), checking in stimulates learners’ self-reflection on their own understanding. This, of course, leads to increased metacognitive awareness (source).

Promoting Meaningful Interaction

Classroom discussions and reciprocal teaching strategies encourage student engagement. You can use Zoom breakout rooms for small group discussions and collaborative whiteboards for idea sharing.

Applying Knowledge: Practice and Transfer

In applying knowledge phase, students are expected to apply what they have learned to new situations. In transfer learning, students apply what has been learned to novel situations. This may involve metacognition, collaboration, and problem-solving. This can be done in a variety of ways, including:

“Building virtual worlds has been fantastic for my students to apply coding concepts in a creative way,” notes Mr. Thompson, a technology integration specialist. One example could involve using virtual world building through Minetest or Minecraft. Other activities like story bins can also work well.

Stages of the Engineering Design Process

Public View Link | Template Link

Delivering Lessons and Assessing Progress

Facilitating lesson delivery often involves a dash of direct instruction, hands-on activities, classroom discussion. Through it all, the teacher is working to assess the level of understanding students have in the midst of a conversation.

Effective Lesson Delivery

Use elaboration, organization, and concept mapping to deepen understanding. Try Pear Deck for interactive presentations with embedded formative assessments. For example, when teaching photosynthesis, you can compare it to a factory taking in raw materials and outputting products:

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis as a process can be a model for making widgets in a factory:

As you can see, concept maps can assist students in connect new information in such a way as to facilitate deeper comprehension. The visual structure can make it easier for students to see relationships. Tools like Pear Deck can integrate concept maps into interactive presentations. When students make their own diagrams, the diagrams reveal gaps in understanding. Teachers can look at what’s missing from the students’ view of a concept. Then, they can work to provide experiences that enable the student to learn.

Review and Self-Assessment

“I use Seesaw for digital portfolios. It’s an excellent tool for students to track and reflect on their progress over time,” suggests one elementary school teacher. When considering review and self-assessment, other strategies are also helpful. Two include self-reported grades and reflection for transfer learning.

Let’s consider some guided activities and see how they connect to the SIOP model phases.

SIOP Model Activity Examples

Here are some activity examples that match a particular SIOP model phase.

ActivityDescriptionSIOP Phase
Vocabulary BingoCreate digital bingo cards with key termsLesson Preparation
Concept ConnectionUse mind mapping tools to link new and prior knowledgeBuilding Background
Video Quiz CreationEmbed questions in educational videosComprehensible Input
Think-Aloud RecordingsHave students record their problem-solving processStrategies
Virtual JigsawAssign topics to groups for research and presentationInteraction
Real-World Application ProjectDesign projects applying learned concepts to real scenariosPractice & Application
Interactive LectureCreate engaging presentations with built-in assessmentsLesson Delivery
Learning JournalImplement digital portfolios for ongoing reflectionReview & Assessment

Additional Resources

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10 critical thinking skills middle school students should learn including activities for the classroom.
Classroom ActivitiesContent AreasGood Teaching

10 Critical Thinking Skills Middle School Students Should Master

by Sara Qualls
written by Sara Qualls

Adaptability is more than just a buzzword; it’s a crucial skill that empowers middle school students to navigate the complexities of their rapidly changing environment. Think of adaptability as the chameleon of skills — able to shift colors to fit its surroundings. For middle schoolers, mastering this ability means being open to new ideas, adjusting to shifting social dynamics, and embracing the unexpected. As they encounter new experiences, adaptability becomes essential for effective collaboration and problem-solving. Dive into a variety of engaging activities designed to emphasize the top critical thinking skills middle school students should develop to set themselves up for success both in and out of the classroom.

Building Adaptability in Middle School

Adaptability is being open to new ideas and willing to change perspectives based on new evidence or insights.

Now, think about being a chameleon, changing your colors to fit in with your environment—that’s the essence of adaptability! For middle schoolers, honing this skill is vital as they encounter new experiences and shifting social dynamics. It encourages them to embrace change, think on their feet, and collaborate effectively with others. By learning to adjust their strategies and perspectives, they become more flexible problem-solvers. Here are some targeted activities to enhance adaptability skills for middle school learners.

Adaptability Activities for Middle School

Group Problem-Solving
Assign students a group challenge that requires them to adapt to unexpected changes (like a shift in resources or time constraints) and find a solution together. This collaborative effort not only fosters adaptability but also enhances their teamwork and communication skills.

Technology Integration
Have students complete a project using a new technology or app they haven’t used before. Encourage them to explore and adapt as they learn to navigate the new tool. This hands-on experience with technology not only builds adaptability but also prepares them for a digital world.

Debate with a Twist
Organize a debate where, halfway through, students must switch sides. This forces them to adapt their arguments and understand opposing viewpoints, promoting critical thinking and empathy. For more resources on debates, dive into these materials.

Analyzing Skills for Middle Schoolers

Analysis is the ability to break down complex information into smaller parts, identifying patterns and relationships.

Think of tackling a challenging puzzle and breaking it into bite-sized pieces—that’s a skill every middle schooler should cultivate! It’s all about recognizing patterns and relationships that help clarify the bigger picture. For middle school students, honing analysis and critical thinking skills is essential; it empowers them to ask deeper questions, tackle real-world problems, and develop independent thinking. Here are some engaging activities specifically designed to help middle school learners strengthen this vital, future-ready skill. Let’s dive in!

Analysis Activities for Middle School

Current Events Analysis
Assign students to read a news article and identify the main argument, supporting evidence, and any potential bias. They can present their analysis to the class, fostering discussion and critical thinking. You can find a variety of current event resources to use in the classroom here.

Case Studies
Present students with a real-world case study related to a subject they’re studying. They should analyze the situation, identify key issues, and suggest potential solutions based on their findings. This connects analysis to practical applications. 

Character Analysis
In literature, have students choose a character and analyze their motivations, actions, and growth throughout the story. They can create a character trait chart to visually represent their findings. This activity encourages deeper engagement with the text and fosters critical thinking about character development.

Collaborative Learning for Middle School

Collaboration is working effectively with others, sharing ideas, and integrating different perspectives to reach a common goal.

Picture middle school students as dynamic team players, each bringing unique talents to the game—that’s the essence of collaboration for this age group! Developing collaboration skills is crucial as students learn to navigate group dynamics, share responsibilities, and support one another. By enhancing their ability to collaborate, middle schoolers prepare for more complex teamwork in high school and beyond. Here are some engaging activities specifically designed to strengthen collaboration skills in middle school learners.

Collaboration Activities for Middle School

Project-Based Learning Groups
Assign students to work in small groups on a project that requires them to research a topic, create a presentation, and share their findings with the class. This promotes collective problem-solving and fosters accountability within the group. Read this to get tools and ideas on how to group students.

Peer Teaching
Pair students to teach each other a concept or skill they have mastered. This encourages collaboration, as they must communicate effectively and support each other’s learning.

Group Design Challenge
Present students with a design challenge, such as creating a prototype for a new product or solution to a problem. Working in teams, they must brainstorm, plan, and execute their ideas, enhancing their collaboration and creativity skills. Dive into 16+ Engineering Projects for Middle School.

Bonus: We Have to Save Fred!

Communication Skills for Middle School

Communication is the ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. 

Picture middle school students collaborating on a project, sharing ideas, and debating viewpoints—that’s the essence of communication for this age group! Developing strong communication skills is crucial as students learn to articulate their ideas, collaborate with peers, and navigate complex discussions. By enhancing their communication skills, middle schoolers prepare for high school and future professional interactions. Here are some engaging activities specifically designed to strengthen communication skills in middle school learners.

Communication Activities for Middle School

Group Presentations
Assign students to work in groups to research a topic and create a presentation to share with the class. This activity encourages them to practice public speaking, actively listen to feedback, and collaborate effectively.

Fishbowl Discussions
Set up a fishbowl discussion where a small group of students discusses a topic in the center while the rest of the class observes. Afterward, have the observers share their thoughts on the communication styles and ideas presented. This activity helps students practice articulating their ideas and enhances active listening skills.

Communication Games
Organize games that focus on communication skills, such as “Telephone” or “Charades.” These fun activities help students understand the importance of clear expression and active listening in conveying messages accurately.

Creativity Development for Students

Creativity is the ability to generate original ideas and think outside the box, an essential skill for students as they navigate a rapidly changing world. 

Creativity in middle school is all about exploring deeper concepts and embracing collaboration. Think of it as mixing colors on a palette to create something entirely new—that’s how middle school students can express themselves! As they develop their creative abilities, they learn to approach challenges with fresh perspectives and critical thinking. This stage is crucial for encouraging them to brainstorm innovative solutions and articulate their ideas confidently. Here are some dynamic activities designed to help middle school learners enhance their creativity skills. Let’s explore!

Creativity Activities for Middle School

Creative Marketing Campaign
Have students choose a product, service, or social cause they are passionate about and develop a creative marketing campaign for it. They can create posters, social media content, and even short video advertisements to showcase their ideas. This activity encourages them to think creatively about how to attract an audience and convey a message effectively. By combining visual design, persuasive writing, and innovative strategies, students will enhance their creativity skills while learning to communicate their ideas in engaging ways. 

Visual Journals
Encourage students to maintain visual journals where they can combine sketches, collages, and writing. This practice helps express thoughts creatively while exploring various artistic techniques, beneficial for developing creative expression.

Role-Playing Scenarios
Organize role-playing activities that require students to improvise solutions to hypothetical situations. This enhances their ability to think creatively and adapt, crucial skills for real-world problem-solving.

Bonus: Google Templates for Students

Fostering Decision-Making in Middle School

Decision-making is weighing options and outcomes to make choices that align with goals and values.

Now, picture yourself as a team leader, weighing different strategies to achieve a goal—that’s the essence of decision-making! For middle schoolers, honing this skill is vital as they encounter more complex problems and social dynamics. It encourages them to analyze information, consider various perspectives, and make informed choices. By developing strong decision-making skills, they enhance their critical thinking and become adept at navigating challenges in school and life. Here are some targeted activities to strengthen decision-making skills for middle school learners, preparing them for successful futures.

Decision-Making Activities for Middle School

Socratic Seminars
Organize seminars where students discuss a text or topic, encouraging them to ask questions, challenge ideas, and support their arguments with evidence. This method not only fosters deep critical thinking but also allows students to practice articulating their thought processes in a collaborative environment.

Debate Teams
Have students engage in debates on current issues, requiring them to research, analyze various viewpoints, and develop coherent arguments. This activity sharpens their decision-making skills as they learn to weigh evidence and articulate their positions effectively. Check out these resources for engaging your students with current events.

Critical Thinking Journals
Encourage students to keep journals where they reflect on daily events, analyze their thoughts, and draw conclusions based on their observations. This practice promotes self-awareness and helps students understand their decision-making processes. Utilize these self-reflection strategies for students, teachers, and leaders to enhance their learning experience.

Bonus: Responsible Decision-Making Activities for the Classroom

Evaluative Thinking for Middle School Students

Evaluation is assessing the credibility of sources, arguments, and evidence to make informed judgments.

Now, think of yourself as a reviewer, critiquing a book or a movie—this is what evaluation is all about! For middle schoolers, honing this skill is essential as they start to encounter more complex information and varying perspectives. It empowers them to assess arguments, differentiate between fact and opinion, and make evidence-based judgments. By practicing evaluation, they enhance their critical thinking and become more adept at navigating information in today’s digital world. Here are some targeted activities to strengthen evaluation skills for middle school learners, preparing them for informed decision-making in the future.

Evaluation Activities for Middle School

Peer Feedback
After completing a project, students can participate in a peer review session where they evaluate each other’s work based on specific criteria. This collaborative process helps them learn how to provide constructive feedback while also developing their own evaluative skills. 

Media Analysis
Have students analyze a commercial or advertisement, evaluating its effectiveness and the techniques used to persuade the audience. They can present their analysis to the class, fostering discussion and critical thinking about media literacy and the messages they encounter daily.

Debate Evaluation
After a debate, students can evaluate the arguments made by both sides, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each position while reflecting on their own performance. This activity encourages them to think critically about reasoning and evidence, enhancing their evaluative capabilities.

Bonus: Peer Feedback: An Essential Skill to Teach

Inference Skills in Middle School

Inference is drawing logical conclusions based on available information and data, even when not all details are clear.

Imagine being a detective, piecing together clues to uncover hidden meanings—this is the essence of inference! It’s about reading between the lines and drawing conclusions based on evidence, a vital skill for navigating complex texts and situations. For middle schoolers, developing these inference skills enables them to engage more deeply with texts and discussions, enhancing their critical thinking and analytical abilities. Here are some interactive activities designed to help students connect the dots and discover deeper meanings.

Inference Activities for Middle School

Textual Evidence
Provide excerpts from a story and have students infer character traits, motivations, and themes based on the text. They can support their inferences with quotes or examples, which not only strengthens their analytical skills but also deepens their engagement with the material. Explore this strategy for teaching text-evidence to enhance understanding.

Observation and Inference
Show students a video clip or a series of images and ask them to make inferences about what’s happening, the characters’ emotions, or the context. Encourage them to explain their reasoning, fostering a discussion that sharpens their observational skills and critical thinking.

Inference in Science
Conduct a simple science experiment (like observing a chemical reaction) and ask students to infer what might happen next based on their observations and prior knowledge. This hands-on activity makes inference relevant and applicable to real-world situations, enhancing their scientific thinking. 

Building Problem-Solving Skills in Middle Schoolers

Problem-solving is the ability to develop strategies to tackle challenges, including identifying root causes and generating creative solutions.

Now, imagine facing a tricky situation and brainstorming creative ways to tackle it—that’s the essence of problem-solving! For middle schoolers, developing this skill is crucial as they encounter more complex challenges. It encourages them to think critically, collaborate with classmates, and adopt a growth mindset when facing obstacles. By learning to analyze problems and explore various solutions, they build the confidence necessary to navigate real-world issues. Here are some targeted activities designed to enhance problem-solving skills for middle school learners.

Problem-Solving Activities for Middle School

Escape Room Activities
Design a classroom escape room with clues and puzzles that require students to work together to solve challenges and “escape” within a set time. This immersive experience not only fosters teamwork but also sharpens their problem-solving abilities. Don’t have time for a physical escape room? Consider a digital breakout instead! You can learn more about them and find a list of ideas here.

Real-World Scenarios
Present students with hypothetical real-world problems (like environmental issues or community challenges) and have them brainstorm and propose solutions. This activity encourages critical thinking and helps them understand the importance of addressing real-life challenges. Read here to learn about how one school successfully tackled a real-world challenge. 

Project-Based Learning
Assign a project where students must solve a problem (e.g., creating a product or service to address a need in their community) and develop a plan, prototype, or presentation. This hands-on approach allows them to apply their problem-solving skills in a practical context while promoting creativity and innovation. Here are 10 examples to explore.

Research Skills for Middle Schoolers

Research is the ability to gather information, analyze it critically, and draw informed conclusions. 

Picture middle school students diving into fascinating topics, exploring resources, and uncovering hidden gems of knowledge—that’s the essence of research for this age group! Developing research skills is crucial as students learn to evaluate sources, synthesize information, and communicate their findings effectively. By enhancing their research skills, middle schoolers prepare for high school and future academic challenges. Here are some engaging activities specifically designed to strengthen research skills in middle school learners.


Research Activities for Middle School

Digital Research Projects
Assign students to select a topic of interest and conduct research using digital tools and databases. They can create a multimedia presentation to share their findings with the class, practicing critical evaluation of sources and effective communication.

Research Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt that requires students to find specific information from various sources, such as books, articles, and websites. This activity encourages them to explore different types of resources and enhances their ability to gather relevant data. You can find templates for scavenger hunts on Canva.

Collaborative Research Magazine Project
Have students work in small groups to create a classroom magazine using Google Slides. They can choose a theme or topic, conduct research, and design articles and visuals for their magazine. This project not only fosters teamwork but also enhances their ability to evaluate and synthesize information while practicing digital literacy. For a ready-to-use lesson on this project, check out this resource. 

Critical Thinking Skills for Middle Schoolers

As students transition to middle school, honing critical thinking skills becomes even more vital for their academic and personal growth. Encouraging these skills not only prepares them for future challenges but also boosts their confidence in problem-solving and communication. It’s an exciting time for educators to inspire curiosity and analytical thinking. What strategies do you use to foster critical thinking among your students? I’d love to hear your insights in the comments!

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Digital reading room
iOS Tips and TricksReading

Online Reading Programs and Digital Apps

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Looking for some ways to supplement your reading interventions? Here are a few AI-recommended solutions with reflections about each one. We’ll explore 21 supplemental online reading programs and a list of 6 iOS apps, including reading titles and content. Ready to dive in?

Five Reading Strategies

Before we look at the online programs and apps, let’s take a moment to revisit my top five favorite high-effect size instructional strategies. What I like about these strategies is that students can learn to use them independently while reading. So, once students have learned them, they can apply them when using supplemental reading materials.

A list of high yield strategies in an infographic with links to more information for each.
Infographic created by the author | Edit or download the infographic.

Now that you have some strategies, consider these sources of digital reading material and online reading programs.

What AI Was Used?

We prompted several AI tools, including ChatGPT, Claude.ai, Perplexity, and POE. Perplexity and POE offered more varied responses than ChatGPT and Claude, but less in total. While ChatGPT and Claude didn’t provide links, Perplexity and POE did.

THE PROMPT:
What online reading programs can be used as supplemental intervention for struggling readers that are inexpensive or available at no-cost?

-TCEA Staff

21 Online Reading Programs

Here are the responses in alphabetical order. Items with an asterisk appeared on lists from multiple AI. The summaries of each online program were provided by the AI generating them. For a few, I wrote the summary or tweaked the one provided.

  1. ABCmouse: While ABCmouse is a subscription-based program, it often offers free trials. It covers a wide range of subjects, including reading, and is suitable for early learners.
  2. BeReading’s Free Reading Program: The Free Reading Program, initiated by Be Reading, is a K-6 reading, language, and grammar program that provides over 3,500 activities to improve reading comprehension, language, grammar, and spelling skills. It is available at no cost, promoted through various local organizations, and used internationally in schools.
  3. Book Adventure: This interactive and educational online platform is designed to encourage and motivate young readers to develop their reading skills while having fun.
  4. Bookshare: Bookshare is a free program for students with disabilities that affect their ability to read. It provides access to a vast collection of accessible eBooks.
  5. CommonLit: This resource features an extensive collection of reading passages and question sets for data tracking. It’s entirely free to teachers and students.
  6. Epic!: Epic! is a digital library for kids aged 12 and under. It offers a 30-day free trial, and after that, it’s available at a monthly subscription fee. Epic! provides access to thousands of books, audiobooks, and educational videos.
  7. International Children’s Digital Library: This digital library curates children’s books in different languages for free online reading.
  8. LibriVox: Volunteers read books from the public domain aloud and upload audio recordings. All books and resources are free.
  9. Newsela*: Newsela provides news articles at different reading levels, allowing students to choose texts that match their abilities. It offers a free basic version with limited access to articles. But it can be a valuable resource for improving reading comprehension.
  10. PBS Kids: PBS Kids offers a range of educational games, videos, and activities, including reading games and interactive storybooks. The content is aligned with educational standards and is designed to support early literacy development.
  11. Prodigy English: Prodigy English offers a brand-new adventure that introduces kids to a world filled with adventures, wishes, and more ways to practice reading and language skills. It is available for free.
  12. Project Gutenberg: Project Gutenberg offers over 60,000 free eBooks, including many classic literary works. While it may not have the interactive features of other programs, it’s a valuable resource for accessing a wide range of reading materials.
  13. Raz-Kids*: While Raz-Kids requires a subscription, it often offers free trials. It provides hundreds of eBooks at 29 different levels of reading difficulty.
  14. Reading Eggs: This structured online reading program uses visual accompaniments and self-paced lessons to motivate struggling readers and improve their skills.
  15. Reading Rockets*: Reading Rockets offers a collection of free reading resources, strategies, and activities to help struggling readers. It provides valuable tips for teachers, parents, and tutors.
  16. ReadTheory: ReadTheory is a free online reading comprehension program that provides personalized reading practice for students. It adapts to the student’s skill level and offers passages and questions at an appropriate difficulty level to help improve reading comprehension skills.
  17. ReadWorks: ReadWorks offers a wide range of reading comprehension lessons and resources for students of all ages. It’s a free platform that provides high-quality texts and questions to improve reading skills.
  18. Starfall*: Starfall is a free public service that helps young readers learn to read and write with phonics. It’s designed for pre-K through third grade students and offers interactive activities and games.
  19. Storyline Online: Actors read popular children’s books alongside illustrations in videos on Storyline Online with free video streaming.
  20. Teach Your Monster to Read: This website offers a series of engaging and interactive games that help children learn to read. It covers phonics, sight words, and other essential reading skills. The desktop version is free, and there is a paid app version for mobile devices.
  21. Vooks: Vooks is an entire library of storybooks brought to life with beautiful animation, read-aloud narration, engaging music and sound, and read-along text.

You will want to visit each online reading program and decide the best use of these tools for your students.

iOS Reading Apps Available for Free

A fun follow-up question to AI is, “What iOS reading apps can be used as a supplemental intervention for struggling readers at no cost?” ChatGPT offered the following responses:

  1. ABCmouse. While ABCmouse requires a subscription, it does offer a limited number of free activities and books. It covers a wide range of subjects, including reading and literacy.
  2. Epic! – Kids’ Books and Videos. Epic! offers a vast library of digital books, audiobooks, and educational videos for kids. It includes a Read-to-Me feature that can assist struggling readers.
  3. Novel Effect: Read Aloud Books. Novel Effect offers books that you can read out loud. It includes book activity plans that you can export to PDF.
  4. Raz-Kids. Raz-Kids provides hundreds of eBooks at 29 different levels of reading difficulty. It offers interactive quizzes and recordings to support reading comprehension.
  5. Sight Words Reading Games ABC. This is a reading program for young children aged 2-7. The program aims to prepare children for kindergarten and school. [*Updated entry. See note below for previous entry]
  6. Starfall Learn to Read. Starfall’s Learn to Read app is designed for early readers. Through interactive stories and activities, it offers a systematic approach to phonics and phonemic awareness.

*Note: This item removed from the list per the update in the comments: Sight Words Learning Games & Reading Flashcards: This app focuses on teaching sight words, which are essential for early reading. It includes games and flashcards to make learning engaging.

With these online reading programs, reading apps, and reading strategies in your back pocket, you’re sure to supplement reading interventions and encourage students to read. The most important reading is self-directed reading, which promotes autonomy, independence, and engages students’ minds. Which program or app will you try first?

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A colorful illustration of people working on laptops
Artificial IntelligenceEducational Trends

Three Ways Educators Can Bridge the Digital Divide in the AI Era

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

As educators, we can enhance students’ access and knowledge of using AI strategically as an academic tool, or we can hinder it. Larry Cuban, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, has stated frankly that teachers are the gatekeepers of technology. As such, there are several ways that we can play a pivotal role in bridging the digital divide as it relates to AI. But what does that mean?

What is the digital divide?

The term “digital divide” emerged in the mid-1990s and gained prominence towards the end of the decade. It was first used in its current context to describe the gap between those with and without access to digital technology and the Internet. One of the earliest and most influential reports to bring attention to the digital divide concept was the Falling Through the Net series, published by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), starting in 1995.

These reports played a significant role in popularizing the term and bringing the issue to the forefront of public policy discussions. The term “digital divide” quickly became a key concept in discussions about internet access, technology policy, and social inequality, and it remains a critical issue in the digital age, continually evolving as technology advances and access issues change.

What causes the digital divide?

The digital divide is made worse when disparities (economic, geographical, educational, and/or support systems) occur. These disparities often occur over time and may be hard to resolve without intentional focus and effort. Now that AI has burst on the scene, many fret that it may increase the digital divide that currently exists. In actuality, it is not the technology (Internet, devices, AI, etc.) that is increasing the divide but those in charge of the technology, funding, and legislation.

Let’s look at several key ways educators can work to bridge the digital divide.

1. Promote Digital Literacy Across the Board

Students working today on a project using a tablet.

Bridge the digital divide by working to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have a strong foundation in digital literacy. This includes not only the basics of computer use but also an understanding of how AI works and its implications for society. By integrating digital literacy into the curriculum at all levels, teachers can help students become savvy digital citizens and prepare them for a future where AI is ubiquitous. This could involve hands-on projects, critical discussions about technology, and lessons on digital ethics and safety.

2. Advocate for Equitable Access to Technology

A charging cart with laptops.

You can be a powerful advocate for change within the education system and reduce the digital divide by voicing the need for equitable access to technology. You can push for policies and funding that provide all students with the devices and internet access needed to benefit from AI educational tools. This might mean lobbying for school budgets to include provisions for technology, seeking grants or partnerships with tech companies, or working with community organizations to set up after-school programs that offer access to AI resources.

3. Design an Inclusive AI Curriculum

Students seated at desks in a circle with laptops. A teacher is in the front facilitating a discussion.

When educators are involved in designing and implementing AI educational tools, they can ensure that these resources are inclusive and cater to a diverse student body, decreasing the digital divide. This means advocating for AI that is designed with diverse datasets and algorithms that are free from bias. It also means creating lesson plans that use AI to support all students, including those with special needs or those who speak different languages. By tailoring the use of AI to meet the needs of all learners, you can help prevent the technology from becoming another barrier to education.

As educators, we have the power to shape the future of our students in this rapidly evolving digital age. Let’s use our role as gatekeepers of technology and advocates for equitable access. I encourage you to integrate digital literacy into your curriculum, champion inclusive AI tools, and strive for a classroom where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can bridge the digital divide and create a brighter future for all our students.

Additional Reading: AI and Education in the News

How AI Could Bring Big Changes to Education — And How to Avoid Worst-Case Scenarios

Educators are adapting to AI like ChatGPT, debating its dual impact on cheating and time-saving. A study by scholars anticipates AI’s potential to reshape society, posing questions on education’s role. Scenarios envisage AI altering knowledge work and challenging literacy’s relevance. The study urges proactive measures by leaders to harness AI’s benefits and avoid worst-case outcomes. Discussions emphasize the necessity for comprehensive preparation amid AI’s evolving role in education and society. >> Read more

Read More on EdSurge

Khan Academy CEO Says Using AI in Education is ‘An Imperative’ at Harvard-MIT Event

Sal Khan, CEO of Khan Academy, emphasized AI’s crucial role in education at a Harvard-MIT event. Reflecting on the launch of ChatGPT and Khan Academy’s AI chatbot “Khanmigo,” he noted initial skepticism but highlighted their benefits in guiding students through exercises and preventing plagiarism in essays. Khan envisioned AI’s impact on job roles, suggesting a shift towards higher-level tasks. He also discussed AI’s potential influence on filmmaking and proposed redirecting AI use toward positive educational aims.

Read More on The Harvard Crimson

How Generative AI Is Changing Employee Productivity

Chief product officer of Discovery Education, Pete Weir, shared insights with Business Insider on integrating generative AI to streamline tasks, improve productivity, and guide employee exploration within company boundaries. Weir discussed AI’s role in aggregating feedback efficiently and cautioned against undue tech adoption. He emphasized a strategic approach, ethical use, and clear communication while harnessing AI’s potential to enhance educational support and not replace teachers.

Read More on Business Insider

*Note: Article summaries were generated by ChatGPT.

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White background with green circles of various sizes and the article title: Title: 10 Graphic Design Tips for Classroom Content Creation
Content Creation

10 Graphic Design Tips for Classroom Content Creation

by Shane Peek & Sela Estelle
written by Shane Peek & Sela Estelle

Our students are hooked by high-quality and engaging digital content daily. But how can we, as educators, harness the power of good design when creating activities and resources for our classrooms? Let’s explore ten graphic design tips that will boost any busy educator’s abilities when it comes to classroom content creation!

1. Design with the end in mind.

Just as we begin with the end in mind when planning a unit, strive to do the same when designing classroom graphics and materials. Before diving in, consider a few questions: 

  1. Who is your audience? This question forces you to consider font and colors. A script font, for example, is not ideal for elementary students unable to read cursive. 
  2. What are the standards and the purpose of this activity? Your content impacts your theme and color selections (i.e., spring-themed pastels probably aren’t fitting for a presentation discussing the Civil War). Always align your design with the lesson’s objectives.
  3. Will your resource be printed or completed on a device? This impacts your canvas size. Assignments completed on a screen may be better suited in landscape format, but start with an 8.5 x 11-inch canvas for printed activities. 

When we start our designs with a clear end goal, our artistic choices serve our academic objectives.

2. Make your designs readable. 

Shows the difference between serif, sans, and script fonts in graphic design.

Consider Canva’s font pairing suggestions and stay consistent as you create activities. When building resources, limit yourself to three fonts, using one for headings, another for subheadings or callouts, and a legible sans serif for the body. Generally speaking, there are three font types: serif, sans serif, and script. 

  • Serif fonts, like Times New Roman, have small strokes and give a traditional, refined vibe. They’re an excellent choice for print materials because the strokes enable our eyes to follow the lines as we read.
  • Sans serif, translated as “without serifs,” are fonts like Arial or Calibri. These have become increasingly popular in the digital age because they are legible on screens; therefore, nearly all websites and apps use some variation of sans as the primary text. 
  • Script fonts, which may be described as cursive or handwritten, are growing in popularity in the design world and in our schools. But most students are unable to write or read cursive handwriting, so use these with discretion. 
  • Explore OpenDyslexic and Lexend. While research is tenuous, some studies suggest these fonts are excellent for reducing visual stress and serving readers with visual impairments and dyslexia.

As a final suggestion, always prioritize content over cuteness. It does not matter if you feel a typeface is cute if your students are unable to read the content.

3. Be intentional with color.

Shows paint can tops with ifferent colors and explains how color can affect the feelings and thoughts of a reader.

What do you think about when you see the color red? Perhaps that depends on the time of the year, current mood, favorite team, or your feelings about Taylor Swift (and T. Kelce). Suffice it to say, colors convey thoughts and emotions, making them an important element in design. While color theory is an intriguing, vast field, the key is to intentionally select colors that serve your content (i.e., greens when exploring photosynthesis). When in doubt, be consistent. Unless you’re exploring the electromagnetic spectrum, stick to three dominant colors that are complementary. Check out Coolors or Canva’s dashboard for help with building a palette.

4. Use visual hierarchy.

What do you notice when you look at a poster? Our brains are programmed to first take in the image or moving object (video/GIF). After that, we scan to find the biggest font, and if interest dictates, we move on to the fine print. What if educators used this visual hierarchy to our advantage? When creating resources, remember students are drawn to the image first, followed by the largest font. What really needs to be communicated? Is that animated GIF a distraction? Is your most important content in fine print? If something is important, communicate it boldly and avoid the fine print in your designs.

5. Contrast is key!

Two examples of headings on top of images. One image has a lot of contrast, and the heading is less visible. The other image has less contract and the heading shows well.

Leverage the visual hierarchy to your advantage and draw the reader’s eye to important information by using contrast. When layering text on an image or a colored background, ensure students can read the text by pairing dark backgrounds with light fonts. If your image is light and bright, use a darker font. Shadow effects are another trick for enhancing contrast and boosting legibility. Avoid choosing backgrounds that have a lot of visual contrast with many light and dark elements within the same image.

6. Use the Rule of Thirds.

Three photo examples with a 3x3 grid on top of them showing the Rule of Thirds.

There’s an age-old principle in photography called the Rule of Thirds. Essentially, if you take your newsletter, slide, or handout and divide it into nine equal parts with three rows and three columns, the design has a balanced composition with focal points. As a fellow educator, I recommend communicating the most important detail or positioning critical objects in images on one of these focal points if you really want the content to stick. 

7. Crop, never stretch.

Can I pull out my soap box for a moment? I see too many images that have been stretched from the side, leading to a distorted image with extra-wide (or tall) objects. Instead of stretching an image that doesn’t fit into a desired area, scale it from the corner. Then, crop it to the appropriate size. This maintains the natural size and proportion of the objects in the image and ensures there is no distortion.

8. Be aware of invisible lines in your designs.

Whether you realize it or not, invisible lines exist in your presentation or handout. Does the top of the heading align with the top of the image? Is there enough spacing between the edge and the text? Does the space between each textbox match? These invisible lines and spaces are ever-present and critical in design, and when neglected, your layout seems disrupted, and your eyes feel tense. Paying attention to the invisible lines and respecting their importance can take your design to the next level.

9. Less is more!

White background with green circles of different sizes in top right corner. Text explains that less is more in design.

Every hallway has one. That teacher who has every inch of wall space covered, and their slideshows follow suit. You know who I’m talking about! While their intentions are good, it’s important to remember that more does not equal better. When creating content for students, resist the temptation to overcomplicate your designs with excessive decorations, animations, or fluff. Leave space for your students’ eyes to breathe. This simplicity not only enhances overall design but ensures accessibility for students with sensory and visual impairments.

10. Refresh the retina.

Have you ever opted to “push through” and continue working on a project even though you’re not making progress? Grit is a quality to praise (thanks, Mrs. Duckworth), but I’ve noticed a trend in my work. I can push through, continue working for 20 minutes, and possibly see a 2% increase in quality. Or, I can take a brief break and return refreshed, usually yielding a drastic increase in quality in mere minutes. When time permits, don’t be afraid to step away from your design and return later with fresh eyes. Your work will show significant improvement.

We’ve covered a lot of territory, but if I could leave you with one suggestion it would be this: Choose one strategy outlined above and dig deeper. Did one specific tip resonate with you? Start there! And then add more as you go. Which tip will you start using today? 

Interested in learning more about designing classroom content? Come to Shane Peek’s sessions at TCEA 2024!

Hundreds of other educators, like Shane, will be leading professional learning sessions on top topics like design, AI, literacy, instructional strategies, ed tech, research, and more. Don’t miss the education conference that brings in thousands of educators from all over the world every single year!

Register Now!
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Explore free resources for Digital Citizenship Week
Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship Week: Prioritize Students’ Mental Health and Digital Well-Being

by Jennifer Ehehalt
written by Jennifer Ehehalt

What is Digital Citizenship Week? 

Digital Citizenship Week is coming up soon, October 16-20, 2023! Common Sense started Digital Citizenship Week to highlight the importance of helping kids, families, and teachers navigate our 24/7 digital world.

What are the benefits of Digital Citizenship Week?

Digital Citizenship Week offers numerous benefits to students and families. It promotes responsible and ethical behavior in the digital realm, educating kids and families about digital literacy and online safety. It also fosters a sense of community and responsibility in the online world. Let’s take a look at three big benefits!

1. It increases awareness! Digital Citizenship Week raises awareness about safety, responsibility, and ethics in the digital world. Here’s how to keep those benefits rolling all year long:

  • Subscribe to our newsletter: Get free teaching resources, plus updates on the latest trends in media, tech, and education. 
  • Create an account: Access free lessons, activities, and resources for your students and their families. (And note that we take your privacy seriously.)

2. It promotes online safety. Our privacy lessons for Digital Citizenship Week emphasize the importance of online safety: protecting passwords, recognizing online scams, and navigating digital drama in healthy ways. 

3. It teaches digital well-being. Our resources help kids maintain a healthy balance between their online and offline lives.

#DigCitWeek Activity Calendars for Grades K-12

Celebrate Digital Citizenship Week with this calendar of fun activities and resources. Pick one, or teach them all! 

  • Grades K–2: Help our youngest learners form healthy relationships with media and tech as they Meet the Digital Citizens!
  • Grades 3–5 (scroll down): Building healthy habits around tech use can help your students avoid some negative impacts on their mental health and well-being. 
Common Sense Media's Digital Citizenship Week calendars for grades K-2 and 3-5.
Access the Grades K-2 and 3-5 Calendars

Grades 6–8 and Grades 9–12: Support students’ digital well-being and help them build agency, reduce anxious thoughts, and increase mindfulness related to their tech habits.

Access the Grades 6-8 Calendar
Access the Grades 9-12 Calendar

Bonus: We have some brand-new AI lessons that will be ready just in time for Digital Citizenship Week. Be sure to check back in at the beginning of October!

How to Engage Families

Show colleagues and families how you’re preparing students for success in a connected world with these helpful resources.

And don’t forget to share your stories on social media: @CommonSenseEd #DigCitWeek!

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Web 2.0 Tool

Five Free WebSites You Need to Know About

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Want to access Spanish-friendly resources, and dig into history, science, math, or philosophy? Perhaps, you want to double-check your critical thinking processes? Let’s explore exciting Open Educational Resources (OER) and educational websites. I have all of these websites bookmarked and easily accessible on my computer. Why? They broaden my knowledge and awareness of the world in ways my traditional education did not. Explore them as powerful enhancers for your own learning and teaching.

Let’s start with a website that connects us to culture and science.

Website #1: CaixaForum

Are you learning Spanish or do you have students who might appreciate access to Spanish media resources? You definitely need to tune in to CaixaForum – a free, no-cost source of Spanish media. No matter what you may be learning about, you will find many fantastic resources in Spanish here.

What is CaixaForum+? This is a question I asked myself when I first stumbled upon this wealth of media content. You will find a bilingual description of the CaixaForum+ below:

CaixaForum+ es la plataforma online de la Fundación “la Caixa” que permite acceder a contenidos audiovisuales y podcast de diferentes temáticas: música, artes visuales y plásticas, artes escénicas, cine, historia y pensamiento, ciencia, arquitectura y diseño o literatura.

CaixaForum+ is the online platform of the “la Caixa” Foundation that allows access to audiovisual content and podcasts on different topics: music, visual and plastic arts, performing arts, cinema, history and thought, science, architecture and design or literature.

CaixaForum+ offers its Spanish content via the web, as well as through iOS and Android apps for mobile.

Website #2: World History Project

“Only a few know how much one must know to know how little one knows,” says Werner Heisenberg. After reading a few history books, I have found myself realizing how little I know about history. Now, teachers and students can learn about world history. They can do so through the OER’s World History Project (WHP).

This website offers four courses for teaching world history to high school students, including:

These courses are free to everyone, and you can save them for offline use. Accounts of history make me curious. It’s an area that was sorely treated in my education, which focused on writing, science, and mathematics. In the midst of reading Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’ book, “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States,” I look forward to seeing how OER Project’s offering differs in its account.

Website #3: MediaWise

“The first thing you should do when coming across a suspicious meme or video is to check your emotional reaction. Do you feel anger, fear, disappointment, sadness, or anxiety? You might be looking at misinformation,” says Pride David. He goes on to say:

Posts that trigger emotion are designed to get people to share them, so it’s best to pause, take a deep breath and do some fact-checking first. (Source: Is This Legit? A Media Literacy Skills Recap, The Poynter Institute).

Want to hone your critical thinking? Take advantage of a free, one-hour lesson plan via PBS Learning Media. It offers media literacy skills and student activities. You can find a wealth of resources (viewed over 53 million times!) via The Poynter Institute’s MediaWise initiative. It includes:

  • International Fact-Checking Day 2023 resources
  • Training and Resources
  • Teen Fact-Checking Network
  • MediaWise Ambassadors

Catch them on YouTube as well.

A complementary resource is The Thinking Shop. Let’s take a look.

Website #4: The Thinking Shop

It’s so easy for humans to make mistakes in thinking. That’s why it’s important to be aware of logical fallacies and cognitive biases. Consider the following assertion:

Want to see a ten percent jump in academic achievement, and record growth over the course of a year? One thing you can do, according to a study designed by a famous academic, is this:

“To test the effects of pleasant imagery on motivation, employees were shown images of baby animals and beautiful nature scenes for their first five minutes at work.

What might this mean? Showing students and teachers pleasant images is a great way to increase motivation. It also improves productivity.

But does it? The quoted paragraphs (adapted from source) above contain what the source article calls, “logical fallacies.” Logical fallacies present in the quoted text above include:

  • Appeal to authority. Who is this “famous academic?” It implies that the argument is research-supported.
  • False inductions. This is where you infer there is a relationship between two things that happened, but there may not be. Showing pleasant images to students may or may not be linked to increased academic growth.

There are many other logical fallacies. Unless you become familiar with how human brains can fall into these traps, you may fall for fake news and information. One way to avoid that is to refresh your memory of Logical Fallacies. The Thinking Shop offers a poster for logical fallacies and cognitive biases.

You can buy the poster, or get the free downloadable version at no cost. It is available, along with all their posters, via a Creative Commons copyright as a download.

What’s more, also available in the downloads are bonus game cards for logical fallacies. Once you’ve read these, you will want to keep them handy to check your thinking. I plan to buy the posters and put them in my office so I can review them while writing.

Finally, you may also be interested in the burgeoning tabletop game Conspiracy by Urban Games, LTD.

For the players of Conspiracy, putting themselves into the shoes of fictional characters bent on destroying society with nefarious plots can demonstrate how unlikely these complex, hidden systems (5G, chemtails, anti-vaccine conspiracies) really are. (source)

A print copy of the game is available online. Tempting to play and discover your fallacies and biases in action.

Website #5: LibreTexts

Dump those conventional paper-based books for ebooks. Well, not so fast. Curious about open-access texts under constant revision by students, faculty, and outside experts?

The LibreTexts mission is to unite students, faculty and scholars in a cooperative effort to develop an easy-to-use online platform for the construction, customization, and dissemination of open educational resources (OER) to reduce the burdens of unreasonable textbook costs to our students and society.

LibreTexts’ Mission

Deepen your awareness of areas of knowledge, like art, composition, history, languages, philosophy, and more. You will find a wealth of online books available for post-secondary learners.

For example, world history does the following:

World history examines history from a global perspective. It looks for common patterns that emerge across all cultures. World historians use a thematic approach. That approach has two major focal points. Those include: integration (how processes of world history have drawn people of the world together) and difference. The latter reveals how patterns of world history show the diversity of the human experiences.

The LibreTexts Humanities website comes with BeeLine Reader and Readability integrated into it. What’s more, you can access a K12 Education Library.

Ready to try out these free websites and resources? I hope you do, and once you have, let us know how it goes in the comments.

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