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How One Texas ISD is Driving Innovation Through Strategic Technology Initiatives

by Amber Teamann October 28, 2024

written by Amber Teamann

Leading educational author George Couros has emphasized the importance of questioning what we do and why we do it as a foundation for true innovation. While “innovative teaching practices” has become a buzzword, it’s crucial to remember that unless what you’re adding leads to doing something both differently and better, it doesn’t qualify as real innovation. When I began my journey as a technology director four years ago, little did I know how many opportunities we’d have as a fast-growing school district to not only do things differently but have a chance to make it better. As an elementary principal, I’d had a lot of autonomy on my campus, but to lead a school district through an operations department? It’s been a whole new season of leadership through chaos! Here’s how our district is driving innovation through strategic technology initiatives, both big and small!

The Role of a Tech Director in Schools

Traditionally, the technology director in a school district would have worked their way up through technology channels. Many started their careers in entry-level IT roles, providing technical support to staff and troubleshooting software and hardware issues. As they gained experience, they may have moved into a more specialized role, managing the network or servers, supporting that very important infrastructure we all depend on. If they continued moving up, they’d then become increasingly responsible for all technology initiatives and the entire tech ecosystem, including budget, long-term planning, and staffing. We turned that traditional model on its head when I was hired and while that has had its bumps and bruises, I’d argue the changes we’ve made since then have had a significant positive impact on how we (all 8,000 Pirates) approach technology in our district.

Struggling to make time for innovation in your school or district? Check out our blog on Taking Time for Innovation!

Technology Initiatives Start with Educators

You’ve likely heard of the Butterfly Effect, the idea that small actions can lead to massive outcomes, like a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil causing a tornado in Texas. My experiences coming from teaching and campus leadership have had a similar ripple effect. Considering and explaining the instructional lens for requests or needs was where I started.

Replacing Outdated Equipment

Updating teacher workstations was my first priority, regarding our technology initiatives. Asking teachers to lead in a technology friendly way started with replacing desktops with laptops. This allowed more flexible teaching practices and started the “innovate from within” concept. We had to get creative with finding sources but found a great partner to support a life cycle refresh plan. “Buy and die” technology is an outdated concept. Knowing we want our teachers to prepare students for tomorrow means we have to put relevant, current technologies in our educator’s hands. This year’s kindergartners will graduate high school in 2036… there’s no time to waste in starting a journey that will look differently than it did for most of our educators in classrooms today.

Offering Bite-Sized PD Opportunities

Next we prioritized professional development offerings by focusing on existing tools in their toolbox rather than overwhelming them with new ones. Considering the range of experiences in our classrooms currently, even adjusting the basics of educational technology integrations required careful, intentional effort. From Google tips and tricks to using devices in center rotations based on assessment results, we introduced a “Polly, want a tech tip?” in our district-wide newsletter. These quick, tweet-sized messages were designed to be something they could absorb quickly without an overhaul of their current practices. Our goal was to enrich instruction without adding more to their workload, making sure it was a manageable, meaningful manner of support.

Incorporating Student Feedback

Meeting with our high school students was an incredible opportunity to ensure students weren’t left out while seeking feedback for ways to improve our classrooms. Their feedback was so genuine and came from a lens of not only their reality but in easy ways our department was able to support their needs. A simple challenge? If a student didn’t have a color printer at home, there was no option in our small town to print projects or assignments in color. They would have to figure out how to travel to a neighboring town with a UPS store just to access color printing for their resources. Students want to be heard, but more than that, they want to feel supported in what they share. While it’s common for educators to hold high expectations, it’s equally as important to consistently provide a robust level of support.

Another piece of feedback from teachers and students was dissatisfaction with the antiquated projectors prevalent across the district. The brightness varied from room to room, and bulbs were increasingly becoming harder to procure and expensive. Instructionally, I could speak to the power zone all day long, but if a teacher was leading a lesson from behind a device, it limited what they could do. Collaboration was what we really wanted to see! Exploring options for interactive flat panels led to a three year overhaul where w’ve now removed all of the projectors and installed a BenQ in each classroom/training space. This solution features 4K resolution making images, videos, and presentations are sharp and easy to see, even from a distance. These panels come equipped with responsive touchscreen technology that allows for smooth interaction. Users can easily annotate, navigate, and collaborate in real-time, making it ideal for classrooms in K-12. By adding a balance box, which allowed the panels to be raised up or lowered, meant all of my learners became participants in their learning, even if they’re non-ambulatory.

Technology Initiatives: Function Over Glamour

These changes ensured that the goals I set when assuming this position—supporting collaboration, fostering innovation, and making technology the easiest aspect of our teachers’ and students’ days—began to take shape. Behind the scenes, we enhanced our infrastructure by increasing bandwidth, doubling the number of access points in our buildings, and updating every single IDF/MDF across the district. While these improvements may not seem glamorous, they are critical to ensuring the seamless functionality we aim for in our educational environment. Thankfully, our regional service center and a network of technology directors in East Texas served as invaluable sounding boards and support systems throughout this process, helping us navigate challenges and implement effective, better, dare I say innovative, solutions.

October 28, 2024 2 comments

Outline Classroom Discussions with Kialo Edu

by Miguel Guhlin October 25, 2024

written by Miguel Guhlin

Great conversations almost always result in learning. And when students have structure and know how to engage in academic chats, they learn more. Research shows classroom discussions have a positive impact on student long-term information retention. What digital tools can you use to scaffold those learning conversations? In this blog entry, you will explore a free online platform, Kailo Edu, and gain access to the TCEA PROTECT Rubric for Safeguarding Student Data Privacy.

Introducing Kialo Edu

Kialo Edu changes how teachers run classroom discussions. This free online platform supports student debate and critical thinking. Here’s how teachers can use Kialo Edu to improve learning:

Starting from a central thesis, students add pros and cons, engaging with each other’s arguments to build an interactive map of the entire discussion.
Source: Kialo Edu website

There are a variety of teacher tools available to you as the teacher. Those include:

Small group mode that makes dividing class into groups easier, giving you access to each groups discussions
Anonymous participation that replaces names with colorful animal avatars
Tasks that set clear objectives and track student progress
Grading and feedback that includes formative and summative assessments

These are only four of the available management tools available to teachers. Other benefits include topic libraries, the ability to start and stop chats. What’s more, Kialo integrates with Google Classroom, Moodle, and supports LTI integration with Canvas and Blackboard.

More Students Speak Up

Kialo Edu has the potential to get more students involved in classroom discussions. In many classrooms, few students speak often. With Kialo Edu, everyone can join in at once. The technology takes the hard work out of managing the conversation. To do that, it offers three modes:

Anonymous Mode: Students share ideas without fear. Shy students participate more.
Text-Based Format: Students write thoughts at their own speed. This cuts down on speaking anxiety. This would have been my favorite approach when growing up in school.
Quick Input: No waiting for turns. All students can share ideas right away.

Let’s take a look at an example vignette (fictional) to get an idea of how it might work.

Class Example: A vignette:
Ms. Johnson saw few students talk in social studies. She tried Kialo Edu. Suddenly, almost every student had something to say. “The platform gave my quiet students a voice,” she said. “Everyone had an opinion about the topics.”

See Arguments Clearly

Kialo Edu shows debates in a visual way. This helps students grasp complex ideas more easily.

Central Topic: Start with one main question or statement.
For and Against: Students learn to see both sides.
Linked Ideas: Students can build on each other’s thoughts.

How to Use It:

Pick a debate topic from your lessons.
Ask students to add reasons for or against the topic.
Have students respond to each other’s points.
Use the visual map to find strong arguments and weak logic.

Learn Anytime, Anywhere

Kialo Edu fits modern teaching styles. It’s flexible and easy to use.

Always Available: Students can join discussions outside class.
Prep for Class: Use Kialo for homework before in-class talks.
Saved Work: All student input is kept. Teachers can review it later.

Activity Idea: Getting Ready for a Class Discussion

What to Do	How It Works	Teacher’s Job	Student’s Job	What Students Learn
Pre-Discussion Kialo	Students share first thoughts on a topic	Set up the Kialo and give guiding questions	Add ideas, reply to others, vote on good points	Form initial views and find areas to research more

Write Better Arguments

Kialo Edu helps with essay planning and debate skills.

Build Arguments: Students learn to back up claims with facts.
Consider Opposites: Students think about views different from their own.
Plan Essays: Use the debate map to outline writing.

Teacher Tip: “My students use Kialo to draft essays. It helps them organize ideas and think of counterarguments,” says Mr. Thompson, a high school English teacher.

Works with Other Tech

Kialo Edu fits in with tools you already use.

Connects to Learning Systems: Works with Google Classroom, Canvas, and Moodle.
Small Groups: Split classes into smaller debate teams (coming soon).
Grading Tools: Easily check student work and give feedback.

Kialo Edu boosts critical thinking and class talks. It helps students learn key skills for today’s world. Try it in your class to make learning more engaging and effective.

Account Set Up

As the teacher, you can login using one of the options available:

Kialo Edu also offers single-sign-on (SSO) with Google, Microsoft, or Clever. This makes it quite versatile in terms of using it with staff and students, no extra passwords to remember.

TCEA PROTECT Rubric

It can be difficult to ascertain the quality of terms of service, as well as privacy policies for K-12 facing education solution providers. To assist, use TCEA’s PROTECT rubric (view full size | get a copy) to evaluate services like Kialo EDU.

To score the Kialo Edu, both its terms of service and privacy policy were analyzed with PROTECT. You can read the Terms of Service, as well as Kialo Edu’s Privacy policy online. Another document of interest is the Data Security and Privacy page, which for some reason, is separate and buried in their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document. Here are how they scored (where 14 is the maximum amount of possible points):

Kialo’s Privacy Policy scored 12 out of 14. The Privacy Policy is comprehensive. It addresses most of the criteria outlined in the rubric. Notable points include parental rights, transparency, and consent.
Kialo’s TOS scored 7 out of 14. The Terms of Service, while covering some aspects, lacks detail in several key areas, especially regarding opt-out options and specific security measures. To improve their overall score, Kialo Edu could enhance their Terms of Service to more explicitly address the rubric criteria, particularly in areas of parental rights, opt-out options, and security specifics.
Data Security and Privacy scored 13 out of 14. This is a great score. Clarification is needed in terms of Opt-Out Options of the rubric. Kialo Edu does not state specifically what options to opt-out there are.

Overall, Kialo Edu does quite well on the TCEA PROTECT rubric scoring. Since this analysis was done by AI, your mileage may vary. You will, of course, want to make your own determination in consideration of your region’s laws and policies.

Online Debates Made Easy

Kialo Edu offers a powerful classroom discussion tool at no cost to schools. It’s integrated features, teacher tools, and SSO account management offer strong incentives for use. Give it a try.

Resources

Kialo Edu Guide: Official user manual (K-12, Higher Education)
Kialo Edu Blog: Teaching tips, updates (K-12, Higher Education)
ProCon.org: Debate topic source (K-12, Higher Education, Other)
[Purdue Online Writing Lab](https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/establishing_arguments/index.html): Argument writing guide (Higher Education, Other)
ReadWriteThink: Lesson plan resource (K-12)

October 25, 2024 0 comment

ELAR English Language Arts ESL/ELL

SIOP Model and Digital Tools

by Miguel Guhlin October 23, 2024

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 Phase	Learning Intention	Instructional Strategies	Digital Tools	Example
Lesson Preparation	Surface Learning	Direct Instruction (.56), Vocabulary Programs (.62)	Quizlet, Kahoot	Using Quizlet to create flashcards for key vocabulary terms
Building Background	Surface Learning	Mnemonics (.65), Integrate with Prior Knowledge (.93)	Padlet, yED Live, Cmap Tools	Creating a mind map on yEd Live to connect new concepts with prior knowledge
Comprehensible Input	Surface Learning	Repeated Reading Programs (.80), Questioning (.49)	Newsela, Edpuzzle	Using Edpuzzle to embed comprehension questions in a video lesson
Strategies	Deep Learning	Metacognition Strategies (.52), Critical Thinking (.84)	Padlet Video Recording, Socrative	Students using video to explain their problem-solving process
Interaction	Deep Learning	Classroom Discussion (.82), Reciprocal Teaching (.74)	Zoom breakout rooms, Canva Whiteboard, Miro	Facilitating small group discussions in Zoom breakout rooms using a collaborative whiteboard
Practice & Application	Transfer Learning	Problem-Solving Teaching (.68), Transfer Strategies (.86)	Scratch, Minecraft Education, Minetest	Students applying coding concepts learned in class to create a game in Scratch or virtual world in Minetest
Lesson Delivery	Deep Learning	Elaboration and organization (.75), Concept Mapping (.62)	Pear Deck, Nearpod	Using Pear Deck to create interactive presentations with embedded formative assessments
Review & Assessment	Transfer Learning	Self-Reported Grades (1.33), Self-Judgement and Reflection (.81)	Google Forms, Seesaw	Students 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.

Activity	Description	SIOP Phase
Vocabulary Bingo	Create digital bingo cards with key terms	Lesson Preparation
Concept Connection	Use mind mapping tools to link new and prior knowledge	Building Background
Video Quiz Creation	Embed questions in educational videos	Comprehensible Input
Think-Aloud Recordings	Have students record their problem-solving process	Strategies
Virtual Jigsaw	Assign topics to groups for research and presentation	Interaction
Real-World Application Project	Design projects applying learned concepts to real scenarios	Practice & Application
Interactive Lecture	Create engaging presentations with built-in assessments	Lesson Delivery
Learning Journal	Implement digital portfolios for ongoing reflection	Review & Assessment

Additional Resources

SIOP Model Overview: A comprehensive guide to the SIOP model (K-12, Higher Education)
Edutopia’s Technology Integration Guide: Strategies for effective tech integration in classrooms (K-12)
TCEA Courses on Digital Learning: Professional development opportunities for educators (K-12, Higher Education)

October 23, 2024 0 comment

A person working on a laptop in a classroom, surrounded by digital icons for security and privacy, while other students in the background are writing.

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Digital Literacy Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

How to Protect Student Privacy When Using AI

by Dr. Bruce Ellis October 21, 2024

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Mr. Rodriguez, a high school English teacher, used an AI writing assistant to give feedback on his students’ personal essays. Excited about the tool’s potential, he uploaded the essays without removing names or personal details. Months later, he was shocked to find out the AI company had used the essays to train their model. When other users prompted the AI with similar topics, it occasionally generated responses that included his students’ personal experiences, family stories, and even sensitive information about their struggles and dreams. What seemed like a harmless use of technology had exposed his students’ private lives, highlighting the critical need to anonymize student work before using AI tools.

While parts of this story are exaggerated for illustration, the concerns are real. AI systems learn from the data they process, and non-anonymized student work could shape the AI’s responses in subtle ways. Even if specific personal stories aren’t repeated word-for-word, writing styles, ideas, or themes might get incorporated into the AI’s knowledge base. This raises important issues about student privacy, data ownership, and ethical AI use in education. Teachers and schools must protect student information from both immediate breaches and the long-term impact of AI learning from student data. Anonymizing student work before using AI tools is a key step in keeping student privacy intact and ensuring responsible technology use in classrooms.

Protect Student Safety with TCEA PROTECT

Before using any AI tool with student data, it’s important to know how that tool handles the information you provide. You can do this by utilizing our TCEA PROTECT model, which offers a practical framework for evaluating and implementing safe digital tools.

Ideally, you should be able to disable the AI’s learning feature to prevent it from using your data to improve its model. However, not all tools offer this option. Some AI providers clearly state on their websites that they don’t use user inputs for training, while others may collect and use this data by default. Always verify the data practices of the AI tool you plan to use before sharing sensitive information. If you can’t turn off the learning feature or aren’t sure about the tool’s data policies, it’s best to take precautions.

Best Practices to Protect Student Safety When Using AI

Consider these methods to anonymize student data before inputting it into AI tools:

Assign Unique Identifiers

Set up a system where each student is given a random number or code at the start of the term. This code serves as their identifier for all AI-processed work. For example, “Jane Doe” becomes “Student_A7X9.” Keep a secure list that links these codes to student names, accessible only to authorized staff. When submitting work to AI tools, use these identifiers only. This protects student identities and helps avoid any biases based on names or perceived gender or ethnicity.

Remove Personal Details

Carefully review each piece of student work before submitting it to AI tools. Look for personal information, including names, addresses, mentions of siblings, and specific personal experiences that could identify a student. Use the find-and-replace function in word processors to swap out names with identifiers. For essays or reports, read through to catch and remove any identifying information. While time-consuming, this step is crucial for protecting student privacy.

Use Data Scrubbing Tools

Data scrubbing tools can help speed up the anonymization process. These tools automatically detect and remove personal information from documents. Tools like AI Eraser, a free Chrome extension, can quickly check your data, flagging potential personal identifiers before submission. Some tools can also handle different data formats, from spreadsheets to text documents. While helpful, these tools should be used alongside manual review to catch context-specific information that might slip through.

Review Before Submission

Even after using automated tools or following anonymization procedures, a final manual review is essential. Randomly select samples of the anonymized work and check them for any remaining identifying information. Look for subtle details, like unique writing styles or personal examples, that could be linked back to a specific student. This final step is a safeguard against accidental data exposure and can improve your anonymization process over time.

Train Students on Anonymization

Teaching students about data anonymization protects their privacy and prepares them for a world where data security is increasingly important. Hold sessions explaining why anonymization matters, especially in the context of AI in education. Show students how to remove personal details from their work, focusing on both obvious and subtle identifiers. This training not only helps with anonymizing school work but also builds valuable data privacy awareness they can use in the future.

A Top Priority for Educators: Protect Student Privacy

As we continue to learn more about AI and its potential for education, it is increasingly more important to protect student privacy. Students’ data security must be a top priority. The methods outlined—assigning unique identifiers, removing personal details, using data scrubbing tools, reviewing submissions, and training students—provide a strong foundation for keeping sensitive information safe when using AI tools. By adopting these practices, educators can take advantage of AI while maintaining trust and confidentiality. The goal isn’t to avoid new technologies, but to use them responsibly and ethically. As AI becomes more prevalent in classrooms, we must prioritize student privacy, teach digital literacy, and ensure that AI integration is thoughtful and secure. In doing so, we create a safer, more equitable learning environment that equips students for a future where data awareness and privacy are critical.

October 21, 2024 0 comment

AI/VR

AI Chatbot File Compatibility for Educators

by Miguel Guhlin October 18, 2024

written by Miguel Guhlin

AI Chatbots have found their way into the hands of teachers and students around the globe. In classrooms, about half of U.S. teachers and K-12 students now use an AI chatbot like ChatGPT on a weekly basis. Only about 20 percent of students say they haven’t used AI. With widespread use of AI, many continue to struggle with getting information in and out of chatbots. With that in mind, it’s worth brushing up on file formats.

Screenshot by author of Claude.ai add files option

Wait… What are file formats?

File formats are standard ways that information is encoded. For example, webpages are encoded in a variety of formats such as hypertext markup language (HTML). Use Microsoft Word or Excel docs? Then those file formats are DOCX and XLSx, respectively. At the dawn of the AI age, many struggle with file formats, and different chatbots may not handle your favorite program’s file format.

This is an easy problem to overcome, you simply need to be aware of the file formats chatbots can take in (import) or pop out (export). The table below can provide some clarity for you in this regard.

Screenshot by author of ChatGPT file attachment screen

Why Does It Matter?

In the table below, you can see popular chatbots. You will see whether they support text and markdown (all of them do except Meta and You.com). This means that if you know how to get files into markdown format, you can convert to other formats. Why does that matter?

Perplexity.ai Attach Files screenshot by author

Consider that chatbots like Claude can import PDFs, DOCx, etc., but cannot export to those proprietary formats. That means you have a beautiful documents with tables and formatting (bold, italics, underline), section headers, and it’s reduced to simple text. How can you keep most of that formatting? Use markdown format. But paste that markdown into a word processor, and it won’t look great. You first need to convert it to a usable format.

Chatbot Comparison: Import and Export Formats

This table clarifies what formats work best for various popular chatbots. In addition to file formats, it also offers suggestions for a variety of web browser extensions. You will see more about browser extensions in a moment.

Chatbot	Text	Markdown	Proprietary Formats	Additional Export Formats	Browser Extensions
Claude	✓	✓	PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, HTML, ODT, RTF, EPUB	JSON	Claude AI, Claude Export (browser script)
ChatGPT	✓	✓	PDF, DOCX, XLSX	HTML, PNG, LaTeX, Code Snippets, JSON, ASCII art	ChatGPT for Google
Google Gemini	✓	✓	PDF, DOCX, XLSX, Google Docs/Sheets/Slides	CSV, Export to Google Docs, Gmail drafts, Google Sheets (tables), Google Colab (Python code), Replit (various coding languages)	Gemini AI Sidebar
Meta AI	✓	–	PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP	GIF	N/A
Microsoft Copilot	✓	✓	DOCX, PPTX, XLSX	Export via solutions (managed/unmanaged)	Copilot for Microsoft 365
Perplexity	✓	✓	PDF	–	Perplexity AI, Save my Chatbot
You.com	✓	–	–	–	YouChat AI Chatbot

There are various websites that can ease your transition. If you rely on markdown as a way to keep formatting, you can use the Free Markdown to HTML Converter. I keep a browser tab open to this conversion website. It’s free, and provides a markdown syntax cheatsheet. That cheatsheet can be helpful to those who may not be familiar with markdown.

Screenshot by author of Convert Markdown to HTML website at https://markdowntohtml.com

Learning More About Markdown

If you want to learn more about markdown, take a few moments to study the Markdown Syntax Cheatsheet. Want more information? Learn more about markdown via the Markdown Tutorial website.

You can avoid learning all the intricacies of markdown through the use of browser extensions. Let’s take a look at a few that make your life easier.

Browser Extensions

Several great browser extensions appear below. They facilitate getting information in usable format into and out of formats chatbots and people can use. In time, these browser extensions may become unnnecessary. For now, though, they can ease some of the pain of transition between IMPORT->PROCESS->EXPORT steps.

Here are my top three picks for converters that I use daily:

Tool #1: Copy Selection as Markdown

On a website and want to grab a portion of the webpage with its format intact? Use one of these popular “copy selection as markdown” browser extensions. Once installed, you can highlight text on any website. Then, right-click it and choose “copy selection as markdown.” This will make a copy in your device’s clipboard. You can then paste that markdown text with its formatting intact into your AI chatbot of choice.

Here are a few great browser extensions for Chrome/Chromium browsers:

Using Firefox? You might find one of these options worthwhile.

What are some ways to use this?

Copy text from a website when I want to analyze its veracity (fake news?)
Grab selection to rework content I’ve written, or
Select text as markdown with the intent of using AI to offers suggestions or feedback to colleagues.

Give it a try. It makes converting content from websites into markdown easy.

Tool #2: Convert Google Docs to Markdown

As an avid Google Docs user, I often have complex Google Docs with headings and formatted text. There are times I want to drop a formatted document. I could export it as a DOCx or RTF, but I often like to copy-n-paste from one document to another. Saving files to my device can get tedious. To avoid that, I convert Google Docs in my browser using a Google Doc extension.

There are several “convert Docs to markdown” extensions in the Google Marketplace. One that I have relied on consistently is Bean Road Communications’ Docs to Markdown.

Tool #3: Convert WebP to JPG or PNG

Try to save a picture from ChatGPT, you will get a WebP formatted image. This can be a pain if you don’t have an image converter installed on your device. A workaround? Use one of the following browser conversion tools. You can right-click on an image, and save that WebP as a JPG or PNG image. That’s important because the JPG/PNG image formats are more widely accepted. At least, accepted by various programs that haven’t made the switch to WebP yet.

The first two browser extensions convert from WebP to PNG and JPG, respectively. The third converts from PNG/JPG to WebP.

Screenshot by author of ChatGPT author-prompted image, candles floating in a river — Screenshot by author of ChatGPT author-prompted image

AI Chatbot File Compatibility

Want to use AI chatbots well? You simply need to know two things. First, learn what file types each bot can read and make. This helps you get your work in and out. Second, use browser-based converters or add-ons to change file types fast. This keeps your text looking good. Do these two things and you’ll get more from AI bots. It works for school, work, or fun. Let me know what you use in the comments below.

October 18, 2024 0 comment

10 critical thinking skills middle school students should learn including activities for the classroom.

Classroom Activities Content Areas Good Teaching

10 Critical Thinking Skills Middle School Students Should Master

by Sara Qualls October 17, 2024

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!

October 17, 2024 0 comment

Accessibility Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

Reach Every Student with Free Online Tutoring from UPchieve

by Katy Laird September 30, 2024

written by Katy Laird

How is one teacher supposed to reach 30 students on 30 different levels? Whether you’re pulling your students into small groups, furiously differentiating your materials, or making time where none exists to meet with students individually, we always need more one-on-one time with students than we have. UPchieve for Teachers is a brand new, free online tutoring tool that can help you reach each student where they are. We can’t give you more time, but we can give your students one-on-one attention from patient, knowledgeable tutors on exactly the skill or assignment you know they need support with.

What is UPchieve?

UPchieve is an ed tech nonprofit that makes free online tutoring and college counseling available to any low-income middle or high school student in the U.S. Students can get help from UPchieve coaches in any core academic subject, plus college counseling.

Students and teachers love UPchieve because of our:

One-on-one help for everyone
Available 24/7 on-demand
5 minute wait time
Trained and qualified coaches
Secure, safe environment
“Judgment free zone” where students can freely ask questions

What is UPchieve for Teachers?

Our brand-new teacher tool, UPchieve for Teachers, gives teachers the ability to assign and monitor the free online tutoring students receive on UPchieve.

By using UPchieve for Teachers, educators can:

Give their students’ unlimited access to 24/7 tutoring and college counseling
Use UPchieve’s online tutors to support their instruction
Ensure their students work on the skills and assignments they need the most help with
Monitor student usage
Easily share student progress with admin or parents

3 Ways to Use UPchieve to Support Your Instruction

1. Fill in Gaps with Review and Practice

Do you already know the skills your students need to master your grade-level material? You can assign time with a tutor on UPchieve for students to practice and review those prerequisite skills.

Example Assignment:

2. Complete Grade-Level Classwork with Extra Support

Some of your students will need extra support to complete their grade-level assignments. Instead of (or in addition to) adapting your materials to meet them where they are, have your students complete the assignment with an UPchieve tutor.

Example Assignment:

3. Complete Classwork Outside of Class Time

When you run out of time in class, use UPchieve to give students the chance to finish their classwork without losing the ability to ask questions or review concepts. You can also use UPchieve to help students catch up on missed work when they’re absent.

Example Assignment

How to Get Started with UPchieve

Check if you’re eligible and create an account. UPchieve is for 6th-12th grade teachers in low-income schools.

Create a class.

Invite your students using your unique class link. You can use these slides.

Start assigning tutoring to your students!

There’s More to Come

Our UPchieve for Teachers platform is brand new and still in beta testing. We’ll be adding features all year, and we need your help to make UPchieve as useful for teachers and students and possible. Please share your thoughts and feedback by emailing katy.laird@upchieve.org.

September 30, 2024 0 comment

Instructional Coaching Leadership Professional Learning

Leveraging Interactive Agendas for Enhanced Collaboration in PLCs

by Julie Mullennix September 26, 2024

written by Julie Mullennix

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are an integral part of the educational landscape, fostering collaboration among educators to improve teaching practices and student outcomes. However, the effectiveness of PLCs can vary significantly based on how they are organized and run. One powerful tool to enhance collaboration during these sessions is the use of an interactive agenda. Discover how this dynamic tool can align instructional practices to be more student-centered, ensuring a focused approach on learning and addressing the four key questions of PLCs. By leveraging interactive agendas, educators can foster collaboration, enhance engagement, and ultimately improve student outcomes.

What is an Interactive Agenda?

An interactive agenda is a live, editable digital document that outlines the topics to be discussed during a meeting but also allows for real-time collaboration and input from all participants. Unlike traditional static agendas, which are typically prepared by a single person and followed rigidly, interactive agendas can be edited, commented on, and updated by everyone involved, fostering a more inclusive and engaging PLC environment.

Example of an Interactive PLC Agenda

Benefits of Using Interactive Agendas in PLCs

1. Enhanced Participation

Interactive agendas encourage all members to contribute both before and during the meeting. Facilitators can solicit input on agenda items ahead of time, ensuring that the topics covered are relevant and of interest to the group. During the meeting, participants can add comments and suggestions directly into the agenda, leading to richer discussions and more diverse viewpoints centered around student learning and outcomes.

2. Improved Organization

With an interactive agenda, teams can easily keep track of meeting notes, action items, and follow-up tasks. Most digital platforms that support interactive agendas, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Teams, offer features like real-time editing, version history, and task assignment, which help to maintain clarity and accountability.

3. Real-Time Collaboration

Interactive agendas allow for synchronous collaboration, meaning that all participants can engage with the content simultaneously. This real-time interaction can spark spontaneous brainstorming sessions and immediate feedback, making the meetings more dynamic and productive.

4. Increased Accountability

By documenting discussions and decisions within the interactive agenda, it becomes easier to track who is responsible for specific tasks and follow-up items. This transparency helps ensure that everyone is held accountable for their contributions and commitments, leading to more effective implementation of agreed-upon actions.

5. Accessibility and Inclusivity

Digital interactive agendas are easily accessible to all participants, regardless of their physical location. This is particularly beneficial for PLCs that include members from different schools or departments. Moreover, features like screen readers and text-to-speech can support participants with disabilities, making the meetings more inclusive.

Best Practices for Implementing Interactive Agendas

1. Choose the Right Platform

Select a digital tool that is user-friendly and supports real-time collaboration. Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, and Trello are popular options that offer robust features for creating and managing interactive agendas.

2. Set Clear Expectations

Ensure that all participants understand how to use the interactive agenda and what is expected of them. Provide guidelines on how to add items, make comments, and track tasks.

3. Solicit Input Ahead of Time

Invite participants to contribute to the agenda before the meeting. This can be done through a shared document or a survey. Early input ensures that the agenda reflects the group’s priorities, voice and interests.

4. Facilitate Active Participation

During the PLC session, encourage everyone to engage with the agenda. Use features like commenting, highlighting and inputting data to draw attention to key points that foster discussions centered around student-learning outcomes.

5. Document Outcomes

At the end of the meeting, summarize the key takeaways and action items within the interactive agenda. Assign tasks to specific individuals and set deadlines to ensure follow-through.

Interactive Agendas in Action

Interactive agendas are a powerful tool for enhancing collaboration and accountability in PLCs. By fostering real-time participation, improving organization, and increasing accountability, they can transform meetings into more productive and engaging experiences that align with the 4 Questions of PLCs and focus on student learning. As educators continue to seek ways to improve their practices and student outcomes, leveraging interactive agendas can be a game-changer for professional learning communities.

Join Us at TCEA 2025

Looking to level up your leadership and coaching skills? Join us at at the 2025 TCEA Convention & Exposition for more hands-on tips and tricks to take your team to the next level.

September 26, 2024 0 comment

An engaging classroom scene with students wearing headphones, interacting with digital content, and a close-up view of a smartphone displaying an audio waveform on the screen.

Artificial Intelligence Classroom Activities Digital Literacy Google Tips and Tricks

Revolutionize Your Lessons with Google NotebookLM’s Audio Overview

by Dr. Bruce Ellis September 24, 2024

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Ever been excited about a lesson, only to wonder if your students will feel the same? We’ve all been there. Sometimes, no matter how much thought you put into it, certain content just feels dry or too new for students to fully engage with. But what if there was a way to bring that content to life, turning it into something more dynamic and conversational? That’s where Google NotebookLM’s Audio Overview feature comes in, giving your lesson a fresh twist through AI-driven dialogue.

Let me introduce you to Audio Overview, an experimental feature from Google’s Notebook LM. Imagine uploading your lesson materials and having two hosts create a lively conversation around your content. Instead of simply reading it aloud, they analyze it and turn it into a podcast-style discussion. The result? A dynamic back-and-forth that feels like you’re listening to real podcast hosts diving into the material, making it more engaging for your students.

Why This is Useful to You (and Your Students)

One of the key reasons Google NotebookLM’s Audio Overview is a game-changer for educators is that many of our students are auditory learners. This is especially true for our ESL students, who often benefit more from hearing a conversation about the content rather than just having it read aloud to them. When they listen to a dynamic discussion between two hosts, it adds depth and context to the material, making it easier for them to follow along and grasp the key points. By hearing how ideas are talked about, rather than just presented, they engage with the lesson in a way that’s more natural and memorable.

Another great benefit of these AI-generated podcasts is that they model how to have focused, meaningful conversations around educational content. For students, especially those still gaining confidence with the material, these conversations provide an example of how to break down complex ideas and engage in productive discussions. You can even use these podcasts as part of a scaffolding technique, gradually helping students become more comfortable with the content and with each other. Whether you use the fishbowl method, where a few students lead the discussion while others observe, or small group conversations, these podcasts can serve as a guide. Over time, students can start applying this approach to their own discussions, making it easier for them to dive deeper into what they’re learning.

What You’ll Notice about Google NotebookLM’s Audio Overview

When you generate an audio overview, you’ll notice a few impressive details right away. The two AI chatbots sound incredibly lifelike, often adding natural pauses, hmm’s, ah’s, or even subtle breaths, making it feel like you’re listening to real people, not computer-generated voices. They don’t just read the material—they engage with it, using analogies and vivid descriptions to help the listener grasp the concepts more easily. The chatbots also bring in relevant applications, making the content feel relatable and actionable. Plus, they play off each other seamlessly, like seasoned podcast hosts who are comfortable working together, which adds to the authenticity and flow of the conversation. You can listen to the audio overview that was generated while creating the video tutorial which is shared below after the step-by-step directions.

How to Get Started with Google NotebookLM’s Audio Overview

Access NotebookLM
1. Go to notebooklm.google.com
2. Sign in with your Google account
Create a new notebook
1. Click on the “New Notebook” box with a plus sign
Add sources
1. Choose from available options to add sources to your notebook: drag and drop files to upload, import from Google Drive, add a website link, or copy and paste text
2. Note: Only PDF, text, and markdown file types are currently supported if you want to upload sources.
3. To add more resources, just click on the plus sign to the right of Sources in the left-hand column. Add your source using the options available.
Review notebook guide
1. Examine the summary of the imported content
2. Explore additional creation options (FAQ, study guide, table of contents, etc.)
3. Click on Untitled notebook to rename it. Be sure that your name does not contain any punctuation since the name of the notebook is used to name the audio file.
Generate Deep Dive Conversation
1. Locate the Deep Dive Conversation box in the top right corner
2. Click the Generate button
3. Wait for the AI to create the conversation (may take several minutes)
4. Note: This process can run in the background or be completed later
Listen to the generated audio overview
1. Play the audio once generation is complete
2. Provide feedback using thumbs-up or thumbs-down buttons
Manage the audio overview
1. Click the More icon to access additional options to change playback speed, download the audio file, and/or delete the audio overview
Optional: Create multiple versions
1. Download the current audio overview. This will download the audio overview as a .wav file.
2. Delete the online version if you prefer.
3. Regenerate a new audio overview (you must delete the current overview before regenerating a new one). Regenerated audio overviews are not duplicates though they are based on the sources you supplied.
4. Compare the two versions or provide options for students to either (or both) audio overviews.

Here is the audio overview that was generated by the sources that were used in the video above.

I Don’t Have Access

Some educators may not have access if it has not been made available to you by your district Google Administrator. NotebookLM is currently available to personal Google accounts and to users of participating enterprise Google Workspace or Google Workspace for Education accounts. If you’re using a company or educational email and can’t access the app, check out this help center article and reach out to your workspace admin to enable the NotebookLM app for your organization.

Join the Conversation Enhancing Education with AI

So, are you ready to implement AI and revolutionize lessons in your classroom? Google NotebookLM’s Audio Overview feature gives you the chance to turn your lessons into engaging, podcast-style discussions. This tool is perfect for making tough topics easier to understand, especially for auditory learners, and can be a great model for student-led discussions. How do you see yourself using it with your students? What lessons or subjects would benefit most? Share your thoughts, ideas, or questions below. Let’s work together to explore how AI can create more dynamic and inclusive learning experiences for everyone.

September 24, 2024 1 comment

Educational Research Instructional Coaching Professional Learning

The Value of Coaching Educational Leaders

by Kelly Hastings September 18, 2024

written by Kelly Hastings

As educational leaders, principals bear the responsibility of shaping the culture, strategy, and success of their schools. With an increasing focus on student outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and overall school performance, the role of school leaders has grown exponentially in complexity. One approach that has consistently demonstrated its value in this challenging environment is Leadership Coaching. Leadership Coaching empowers educational leaders to enhance their leadership skills, make better-informed decisions, and create a more collaborative school culture. Let’s walk through the value of coaching educators and dive into top resources and practices to help educational leaders thrive.

Why Educational Coaching Matters

In many school districts, leaders are expected to juggle competing priorities – improving instructional outcomes, managing administrative tasks, addressing the needs of teachers and students, and many others. They may have directives coming at them from many different directions. These demands can lead to burnout or stagnation without the right support system. This is where Leadership Coaching comes in. Leadership Coaching provides a structured and safe space for reflection, growth, and accountability. It helps leaders become more self-aware, leverage the strengths of their team, and create ideas for school improvement.

Coaching allows educational leaders to:

Develop stronger self-awareness: Understanding their leadership style, strengths, and areas for growth helps principals lead more authentically and effectively.
Improve decision-making: Coaches offer a sounding board for principals to discuss challenges and brainstorm solutions, leading to more informed, strategic decisions.
Enhance collaboration with staff: A principal who has been coached to foster collaboration is more likely to build strong teacher leadership teams, contributing to a positive and productive school environment.

Tips for Effective Coaching

1. Set Clear Goals: Effective coaching begins with clear, measurable goals. Whether it’s improving teacher collaboration, raising student performance, or leading new initiatives, goal-setting provides direction and purpose.

2. Establish Trust: Building a strong rapport is essential in the coaching relationship. Leaders must feel safe to express their challenges without fear of judgment. Establishing trust leads to more honest, open conversations that drive growth.

3. Create Accountability: Coaches serve as accountability partners, ensuring that leaders are following through on their commitments. Regular check-ins and discussions keep momentum going.

4. Celebrate Successes: Highlighting small wins helps maintain motivation and reinforces the positive outcomes of coaching. Acknowledging progress, even in incremental steps, is crucial to long-term success.

Best Practices for Coaching Educational Leaders

Promote Self-Reflection: Encouraging principals to reflect on their practices leads to deeper learning and sustained improvement. Asking powerful questions such as, “What impact did your decision have on your staff and students?” sparks introspection and growth.
Focus on Systems Thinking: Educational leaders need to think systematically about their schools. Coaching helps them move from focusing on isolated issues or the hourly fires that arise to addressing how various elements (instruction, culture, teacher development, student achievement) connect and influence each other.
Model Effective Leadership: Coaches often model the leadership behaviors they aim to instill in their clients. By demonstrating empathy, active listening, and clear communication, coaches give principals a working example of how to lead and listen effectively.

Technology Tools for Coaching and Leadership Development

In today’s digital age, integrating technology to improve the value of coaching can be a game-changer. There are several technology tools available that can support educational leaders in their coaching journey:

Zoom or Microsoft Teams: Virtual coaching sessions allow for flexibility and access to high-quality coaching, regardless of location.
Asana or Trello: These project management tools help track progress, manage action steps, and keep everyone accountable. Coaches and leaders can share updates, checklists, and progress reports in real-time.
SurveyMonkey or Google Forms: Conducting feedback surveys with staff and students can provide leaders with valuable insights that inform coaching conversations and drive better decisions.

Methods and Strategies for Coaching Success

1. Solution-Focused Coaching: Rather than dwelling on problems, solution-focused coaching encourages leaders to identify their desired outcomes and focus on strategies to achieve them. This method fosters optimism and actionable steps.

2. Active Listening and Questioning: A coach’s ability to listen deeply and ask insightful, open-ended questions allows leaders to explore their thoughts more fully. For example, asking, “What would success look like for you in this situation?” encourages deeper reflection and ownership.

3. Collaborative Leadership Development: Encouraging leaders to involve their staff in leadership development fosters a culture of shared ownership and continuous improvement. Collaboration can take the form of regular feedback loops, group problem-solving sessions, or even shared leadership responsibilities.

Research Supporting Coaching in Education

Research consistently shows the benefits of coaching for educational leaders. According to a study by The Wallace Foundation, principals who received coaching showed significant improvements in instructional leadership, which directly impacted teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. The research emphasizes that coaching should be ongoing and embedded in a leader’s work for long-term effectiveness.

Another study from the American Institutes for Research (AIR) found that leadership coaching significantly improved leaders’ capacity to implement and sustain new initiatives, which is particularly important for schools undergoing transformation or innovation. The study highlighted that coaching also improves school culture by increasing collaboration between principals and teachers.

Learning the Value of Coaching Educators

Setting time aside to reflect with a thinking partner yields tremendous growth. Coaching educational leaders empowers principals to lead with confidence, collaborate with their staff, and drive lasting, meaningful change in their schools. Whether through building self-awareness, improving collaboration, or leveraging technology tools, coaching offers a powerful pathway to growth and, ultimately, success.

As a former principal, I was provided the opportunity to be coached. I had no idea what it meant at the time, but I can tell you it helped me grow more than anything else I did in my career. I was better able to see the impact of my actions, and had a better big-picture perspective. Leadership Coaching transformed my leadership. It deepened my self-awareness, enhanced my decision-making, and fostered a stronger, more collaborative relationship with my staff. The guidance I received helped me navigate challenges confidently and create lasting improvements in my school’s culture and outcomes. I realized I didn’t have to have all the answers myself, but that the answers were truly in the room. Leadership Coaching allowed me to see this with clarity. I grew, and so did my teachers and students.

Join Us at CEC 2024

Did you find this article helpful? Discover more tips for coaching success at the 2024 Conference for Educational Coaches in person and online!

Join us to attend a session by Dr. Kelly Hastings, “Coaching for Educational Leaders: Achieving Desired Outcomes by Supporting Teachers” during the event to learn about the value of coaching and the impact supporting educators can have on students.

September 18, 2024 0 comment

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