eSchool News | collaborative learning page 1

Investing in classroom collaboration tools? 3 things to know

Key points:

Flexibility and ease of use should be important parts of decision making

Meet today’s needs, but keep tomorrow’s needs in mind

Modern technological advancements affect virtually every area of daily life, and today’s educational institutions are looking to new digital tools to help improve student achievement and engagement while fostering collaborative learning environments for both in-person and remote learners.

To maximize a system’s effectiveness and ensure investments pay dividends for students and instructors, decision makers and school technology managers must maintain a strong understanding of all the available solutions, devices, and platforms that can meet their needs. While differences in location, age range, and budget naturally affect technology decisions and opportunities, there are several key factors central to any successful implementation.

Keep It Simple, Schools…Read More

1 2

The simplest elementary school science edtech

During the spring of 2020, the global education community faced tremendous disruption as it transitioned to emergency remote teaching in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfamiliar with the challenges of integrating edtech into instruction within a remote environment, elementary science teachers struggled to apply best practices—such as three-dimensional instruction, collaborative learning, and hands-on experimentation—into instruction.

While teachers in my region have traditionally met technology integration with trepidation, during the pandemic they embraced edtech and learned to rely on it as a mechanism to engage students in the learning process. Today, edtech is as much a part of the fabric of instruction as pencils and paper.

During emergency teaching, the innovative educators I work with sought to implement any edtech tool that purported to help keep students engaged in learning. But, as the pandemic recedes into the rearview mirror, educators have become choosier about the edtech they use. …Read More

1 2

Systems check

In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan:

4 ways to design collaborative learning spaces
Free internet could erase the digital divide
STEM lessons straight from the classroom

4 ways we designed collaborative learning spaces

When we built a new 3-story high school building on our former baseball field, we knew that we wanted to incorporate spaces where students could learn and teachers could teach in a very collaborative manner.

So, along with our new classrooms, in most areas of our school there are now two hallways with resource classrooms running down the center. Those are our collaborative spaces, and they’re where we got to be creative in terms of planning and design.

We didn’t want to just order 200 of the same chairs and hope for the best, so we worked with MiEN to select furniture designs and other elements that would best define and complement our new collaborative spaces. Here are four other steps we took to achieve our vision:…Read More

1 2

5 digital tools to enhance your social studies instruction

Over the span of my 22-year career as South Carolina public school educator, I’ve taught in self-contained classrooms and I’ve been in departmentalized settings. Although I love teaching all subjects, I always choose English/language arts and social studies, in part because I love the challenge of engaging young leaners in these important subjects.

As a fourth-grade English/language arts and social studies teacher in an elementary collaborative learning magnet program–which is also a NASA Explorer School–I get the challenge of unlocking the minds of 9- and 10-year-olds who are more at home in the STEM subjects than in exploring literature or our country’s history.

In my quest to engage my students in social studies, I’ve found that, after a few rounds of trial and error, the social studies textbooks belong on the shelf. Instead, I’ve turned to a host of exciting digital resources that would engage the students and connect their lessons to the “real world”, enhance my delivery of instruction, and expand students’ knowledge of our country’s history.…Read More

1 2

Why data interoperability is critical for K-12

Imagine how powerful it would be if all of the various systems and applications used by K-12 school systems could easily “talk” to each other and share information, with data flowing seamlessly from one application to another. Schools could realize huge operational efficiencies. More importantly, teachers and administrators would have clearer insight into each student’s needs. This white paper explains why this level of interoperability is important and what it will take for K-12 school districts to reach this goal.

Building a reliable WiFi network to support K-12 digital learning

Fortunately, new WiFi technologies have emerged that can improve the throughput speeds for each network user. The amount of E-rate funding available for WiFi services over a five-year period has also just increased. These developments make it a great time to upgrade K-12 WiFi networks, especially if you haven’t done so in a while. This guide explains how to leverage recent E-rate changes to upgrade your wireless technology, how to plan effectively for your WiFi needs and why you should consider managed WiFi as an alternative to buying wireless equipment.

7 cybersecurity facts every K-12 district should know

Cyber attacks might not be completely avoidable, but there are steps that K-12 leaders can take to reduce the odds of a successful attack. The first step is to understand the nature of the threats they face and where they’re most vulnerable. To enhance this understanding, here are seven cybersecurity facts that every K-12 leader should know — along with recommendations to help districts keep their networks and data secure.

Leveraging E-rate to transform learning

This guide offers a roadmap to help K-12 leaders successfully leverage federal E-rate discounts to expand digital learning opportunities for their students. It provides an overview of the program, insights on the application process and strategies to help districts secure the discounts they’re entitled to.

Reinventing K-12 education for the post-pandemic era

The global pandemic has accelerated investment in edtech tools and competencies. Now, as K-12 leaders plan for the future, they have a key opportunity to leverage their investment in technology and build on these new skills to transform teaching and learning for a new era. For this special report, we assembled a panel of stakeholders to reflect on their experiences over the last year and a half and share their thoughts about what the future holds for schools—and what it will take to move digital learning forward.