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Tag: new school

  • 4 tips to create an engaging digital syllabus

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    Key points:

    Back-to-school season arrives every year with a mixed bag of emotions for most educators, including anticipation and excitement, but also anxiety. The opportunity to catch up with friendly colleagues and the reward of helping students connect with material also comes with concern about how best to present and communicate that material in a way that resonates with a new classroom.

    An annual challenge for K-12 educators is creating a syllabus that engages students and will be used throughout the year to mutual benefit rather than tucked in a folder and forgotten about. Today’s digital transformation can be a means for educators to create a more dynamic and engaging syllabus that meets students’ and parents’ needs.

    While it can be overwhelming to think about learning any new education technology, the good news about a digital syllabi is that anyone who’s sent a digital calendar invite has already done most of the technical-learning legwork. The more prescient task will be learning the best practices that engage students and enable deeper learning throughout the year. 

    Step one: Ditch the PDFs and print-outs

    Creating a syllabus that works begins with educators stepping into the shoes of their students. K-12 classrooms are full of students who are oriented around the digital world. Where textbooks and binders were once the tools of the trade for students, laptops and iPads have largely taken over. This creates an opportunity for teachers to create more dynamic syllabi via digital calendars, rather than printed off or static PDFs with lists of dates, deadlines, and relevant details that will surely change as the year progresses. In fact, many learning management systems (LMS) already have useful calendar features for this reason. Again, teachers need only know the best way to use them. The digital format offers flexibility and connectivity that old-school syllabi simply can’t hold a candle to.

    Tips for creating an effective digital syllabus

    Classroom settings and imperatives can vary wildly, and so can the preferences of individual educators. Optimization in this case is in the eye of the beholder, but consider a few ideas that may wind up on your personal best practices list for building out your digital syllabus every year around this time:

    Make accessing the most up-to-date version of the syllabus as frictionless as possible for students and parents. Don’t attach your syllabus as a static PDF buried in an LMS. Instead, opt-in to the calendar most LMS platforms offer for the mutual benefit of educators, students, and parents. To maximize engagement and efficiency, teachers can create a subscription calendar in addition or as an alternative to the LMS calendar. Subscription calendars create a live link between the course syllabus and students’ and/or parents’ own digital calendar ecosystem, such as Google Calendar or Outlook. Instead of logging into the LMS to check upcoming dates, assignments, or project deadlines, the information becomes more accessible as it integrates into their monthly, weekly, and daily schedules, mitigating the chance of a missed assignment or even parent-teacher conference. Students and parents only have to opt-in to these calendars once at the beginning of the academic year, but any of the inevitable changes and updates to the syllabus throughout the year are reflected immediately in their personal calendar, making it simpler and easier for educators to ensure no important date is ever missed. While few LMS offer this option within the platform, subscription calendar links are like any hyperlink–easy to share in emails, LMS message notifications, and more.

    Leverage the calendar description feature. Virtually every digital calendar provides an option to include a description. This is where educators should include assignment details, such as which textbook pages to read, links to videos or course material, grading rubrics, or more. 

    Color-code calendar invitations for visual information processors. Support different types of information processors in the classroom by taking the time to color-code the syllabus. For example, purple for project deadlines, red for big exams, yellow for homework assignment due dates. Consistency and routine are key, especially for younger students and busy parents. Color-coding, or even the consistent naming and formatting of events and deadlines, can make a large impact on students meeting deadlines.

    Encourage further classroom engagement by integrating digital syllabus “Easter eggs.” Analog syllabi often contain Easter eggs that reward students who read it all the way through. Digital syllabi can include similar engaging surprises, but they’re easy to add throughout the year. Hide extra-credit opportunities in the description of an assignment deadline or add an invitation for last-minute office hours ahead of a big quiz or exam. It could be as simple as a prompt for students to draw their favorite animal at the bottom of an assignment for an extra credit point. If students are aware that these opportunities could creep up in the calendar, it keeps them engaged and perhaps strengthens the habit of checking their classroom syllabus.

    While the start of the new school year is the perfect time to introduce a digital syllabus into the classroom, it’s important for educators to keep their own bandwidth and comfortability in mind. Commit to one semester with a digital syllabus and spend time learning the basic features and note how the classroom responds. From there, layer in more advanced features or functionality that helps students without being cumbersome to manage. Over time, educators will learn what works best for them, their students and parents, and the digital syllabus will be a classroom tool that simplifies classroom management and drives more engagement year-round. 

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    Joep Leussink, AddEvent

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  • 5 ways online coding programs prep students for success

    5 ways online coding programs prep students for success

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    Key points:

    When our middle school started offering a robotics course to its students this year, it was a pretty big deal. I’d used a gamified coding platform in my previous district and figured it would be a good fit for my new school.

    During COVID, the platform provided a virtual option so students could still participate in robotics, and I’ve been using it ever since. Even though it was a hard year to do anything in person, the computer science and coding platform helped keep our students interested in robotics.

    I was also familiar with the vendor’s robotics competitions and felt they would enrich the robotics program we wanted to start here. When I took this position, we didn’t really have anything related to robotics, so we were looking for ways to get students in eighth grade into a CTE pathway.

    The plan has worked out very well so far. Here are five ways our gamified coding and robotics platform is helping to prepare students for success in college and the work world:

    1. Aligns with state standards. Texas has adopted curriculum standards that are used in all the state’s public schools. Adopted by the State Board of Education, the current Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards outline what students will learn in each course/grade. With full alignment to the revised TEKS for Technology Applications and robust teacher support for interdisciplinary lessons, the CoderZ courses make it easy for educators to integrate computer science into core subject learning and give teachers the resources they need to build a strong foundation for technical and engineering career pathways.

      2. Flexible curriculum that integrates with other platforms. We’re currently using the provider’s Cyber Robotics 101 and 102 along with the physical Lego SPIKE education kits. The coding is in Blockly, and students can also use Python LEGO. We’re just getting our feet wet with robotics instruction and planning to make wider use of the computer science and coding platform in the near future. We use the platform in conjunction with LEGO, because the two function similarly, and emphasize our robotics course. Those two platforms hit our TEKS standards, so we’re using them together.

      3. Gives students real-world knowledge and experience. The robotics course is currently an elective offered to students in eighth grade and includes lessons and pathways that students must follow in order to collect energy cells. We’re using that to help us teach them about compliance with safety guidelines and how to stay safe when you’re dealing with hazardous materials. For example, students have to consider whether it’s going to be safe for a human to carry a cylinder of acid from point A to point B, or not. If they program this robot to carry it from one location to another location, and dispose of it properly, students learn that a robot can safely manage the task without putting a human being in harm’s way.

      4. Meets students where they are. We really like the platform’s student-paced learning, and how it easily adapts to individual students’ needs and capabilities. One new student who had no prior experience with coding or robotics–and who was coming from a different school–was able to jump into the robotics class and start learning right away. Concurrently, the teacher was able to continue the lesson for the rest of the class, all while that student caught up via a self-paced program.

      5. A turnkey platform that’s easy for teachers to learn and use. Our platform offers a turnkey computer science and coding platform that shepherds students through the learning process. It’s mostly hands-off for the teachers. With every single lesson, the student does the programming and, if it’s done correctly, they get the credit and move on to the next part of that lesson. It’s that easy. Teachers can also set up the platform’s curriculum differently based on the students’ needs, including a purely chronological sequence (from 1 to 15) or one that allows them to complete the lessons in any sequence that they’d like.

      Start small, grow as you go

      Going forward, we plan to encourage students to work a bit faster in the program in order to get through both Robotics 101 and 102 before they graduate. This will help set them up for success as they enter high school. I’d tell other districts that are just getting started with their own robotics and coding programs to start small and to avoid biting off more than they can chew. That’s why we opted to use our online provider’s Cyber Robotics 101 and 102 first, with a plan to add more coursework in the future.

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    Hunter McConnell, Jacksonville ISD

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  • Educators outline 5 priorities for the new school year

    Educators outline 5 priorities for the new school year

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    Key points:

    With a new school year comes new priorities for educators and students alike. Teaching is evolving at a rapid pace, pushed forward by advancements in AI, the need for real-world relevance in classroom lessons, and a focus on student wellness.

    From career and technical education (CTE) to STEM learning and AI’s evolution, here are five priority areas for educators in the 2024-2025 school year:

    Student achievement and well-being

    Now more than ever, the need to focus on educating the “whole child” is a top priority for our schools. Educational experiences extend beyond the traditional classroom setting. For instance, in Baldwin School District, we continue to expand on our emotional wellness efforts through our very own Wellness Center, allowing our students and their families seamless access to the support services needed to help their child succeed in school and beyond.
    –Dr. Shari L. Camhi, Superintendent of Schools, Baldwin School District

    There’s a growing emphasis on wellness and addressing the complex needs of students as they navigate a challenging world. This holistic approach is reshaping how we engage students, pushing us to rethink traditional models and deliver teaching and learning in more relevant, responsive ways. To truly improve student engagement and achievement, we must start by valuing the conversations and dedicated time needed to measure and adjust the adult behaviors that directly impact these areas. This reflective process is essential for driving meaningful improvements. As we think about this work, it’s crucial to shift the conversation from merely tracking student attendance to focusing on how students are showing up: how they engage with complex problems, interact with their peers, and connect with adults. It’s not enough for students to simply be present; they need to be actively involved in learning experiences that challenge them and foster critical thinking.
    —Jonah M. Schenker, Ed.D., District Superintendent, Ulster BOCES

    CTE and career readiness

    As an engineering teacher who runs a hands-on laboratory class, I like to start the year off by exposing my students to all the industry equipment and industry-certified credentials that they will have access to throughout the year. Leading a career and technical-focused class allows me the opportunity to inspire and prepare students for their future careers. Informing students about industry trends and showing how current practices are incorporated into the curriculum gets them excited and eager to learn. By demonstrating the various types of training equipment–from mechatronics to robotic arms, 3D printers, pneumatic trainers, AC/DC electricity trainers, and more–students understand the big picture of how this dynamic and engaging learning environment equips them with the skills they need to succeed. By implementing these strategies, CTE educators can expect a vibrant, engaging learning environment where students can obtain skills and knowledge for a successful future. 
    –Stefany Gurgel, NC3 Master Instructor, Festo and Instructor, Jewish Leadership Academy

    Learning and experiencing outside the four walls of the classroom is essential. We continually focus on creating industry partnerships and new opportunities for students to explore future career prospects in high-demand fields. Creating a relevant and robust learning environment and always doing what is best for our children is successful because of the dedication of our administrators, teachers, and staff.
    –Dr. Shari L. Camhi, Superintendent of Schools, Baldwin School District

    Nationally, we’re seeing an increased focus on integrating AI into the classroom. This isn’t just about using AI as a tool but also about preparing students for a future where AI literacy will be crucial. Moreover, we must move away from a mindset of informational compliance–where students complete tasks for the sake of completion–and instead focus on engaging them in authentic problem-solving. By providing opportunities for students to work on real-world problems and present their solutions to experts and audiences outside their schools, we not only make learning more relevant but also empower students to see their work as meaningful contributions to their communities and the broader world.
    —Jonah M. Schenker, Ed.D., District Superintendent, Ulster BOCES

    Personalized hands-on learning

    Personalization of the student’s learning experience is becoming a necessity to make it meaningful, engaging, affirming, and rigorous. We adopted and implemented a new instructional framework with a keen focus on these aspects. Now, we are building a program to braid in the appropriate technology to drive it forward. One way we do this is through the implementation of interactive projection technology from Epson. Students can interact with content being projected on the board or cast the screen from their device to model for their peers. This brings engagement and personalization in a whole new way.
    –Lisa Irey, Director of Technology, Des Moines Public Schools

    We’ll see more classes stepping away from strictly virtual content this school year. Teachers are ready to have students put away their Chromebooks and engage in discussions and hands-on activities. Technology will still play a role in classrooms, with teachers and students collaborating using tools like interactive projectors, but after a few years of students looking at screens all day, there will definitely be a shift to technology’s role being supplemental and not the end-all be-all.
    –Nate Moore, executive Director of Technology, Kearsley Community Schools

    AI in K-12 learning

    The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has presented districts everywhere with new teaching and learning opportunities. This year at St. Vrain Valley School District, we will continue to provide our teachers with ample opportunities to collaborate, discuss, and share resources and strategies to enhance their understanding of AI and the potential benefits of AI tools. To support their professional growth, teachers will also have continued access to the AI Coach platform, which enables them to watch and reflect on videos of their classroom instruction, set professional goals, and receive personalized observation tips, coaching, and resources from a virtual, computerized AI coach. This helps our teachers strengthen their practices and participate in ongoing, reflective coaching at their own pace.
    –David Baker, Professional Development Coordinator. St. Vrain Valley School District

    As the artificial intelligence integration continues to develop in schools, I expect to see more use of individualized AI student tutoring as well as a greater emphasis on personal connection and creativity. The AI technology boom in education, includes some well known issues as well a great deal of potential. The ability to offer students personalized coaching is one of the more exciting areas of opportunity as long as it’s safe and supports student privacy. There is still a great deal of trepidation among educators about AI now, but there is also opportunity, and many schools don’t want to fall behind. At this point, much of the AI used in schools serves as a replacement for traditional tests and assessments, but new tutoring and teaching tools are beginning to emerge. As AI begins to be utilized more in education the focus on the areas where humans are necessary such as making connections, developing creativity, and versatile storytelling gain more importance in the classroom. An unexpected effect of the AI boom is that it heightens the focus on innovation and creative problem solving and relationship building.
    —Tim Needles, Technology Integration Specialist, Smithtown Central School District & Author of STEAM Power

    It seems everywhere we look companies and products are announcing their new integrations with AI or AR/VR. For some, this may be a struggle to embrace due lack of access or belief that paper is better. In the current iterations of AI, teachers who explore their options are able to find tools that make their daily task loads easier. The most time consuming or emotionally taxing items can be processed via prompts. Some of these tasks might include replying to parent emails without emotional interference, creating differentiated assignments with ease and expertise, and creating interactive lesson components and higher order questions that probe thinking patterns. With the rise of AI comes AR/VR. The use of AR allows students to interact and problem solve in a space that is free of the constraints of budgets and in some instances time. Students are able to manipulate very large items or very small items a typical classroom would not have access to (the sun and stars, for example). With the use of VR, students are able to create, repair, and manipulate items that have been and will continue to be out of reach for many students. With a sincere focus on college/career/military readiness, access to VR training is allowing students to gain and perfect skill sets prior to their entrance into the post-high school phase of life.
    –Jessica Campos, Instructional Technology Coach, Mesquite Independent School District

    STEM skills

    With an increasing number of schools limiting personal device usage during the school day, I foresee a shift in education toward teaching more interpersonal skills and incorporating more hands-on activities. One of my favorite activities is having students make powered paper airplanes with the POWERUP 2.0 Airplane Kit. It’s a great hands-on activity with a technology element that helps students learn STEM-related concepts, the engineering process, and collaboration skills.
    –Josh Underwood, Physics and Aviation Teacher, Mason County High School

    As educators prepare for the new school year, we must incorporate scientific probeware into STEM classrooms to enhance student engagement and learning. Probeware, which combines sensors and software to collect and analyze data in real-time, offers a practical approach to teaching science and technology. I plan on using probeware in all my courses, from AP Chemistry to Organic Chemistry to Forensics, as students conduct captivating experiments in colorimetry, melting-point analysis, gas pressure inquiry, gas chromatography, and more. The use of this technology will enable students to engage in active learning and real-time data collection, visualize with graphs, explore complex phenomena, and develop important scientific skills.
    –Diane M. Vrobel, Ed. D., Science Teacher, Archbishop Hoban High School and Member, Vernier Trendsetter Community

    Laura Ascione
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    Laura Ascione

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  • From burnout to balance: How AI could transform teaching

    From burnout to balance: How AI could transform teaching

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    Key points:

    As we turn the corner into a new school year, teachers need a break more than ever. Educators continue to work hard for their students, but the ups and downs of our current environment are not without their tolls.

    Teachers have been grappling with a significant new development: the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. The 2023-24 school year was the first school year AI has been widely available as a classroom tool–and teachers are starting to embrace it. AI has the potential to transform the teaching profession by handling menial tasks, supercharging teacher creativity, and improving accessibility–all while preparing students for an AI-powered future. While technology alone can’t fix teacher burnout, it can certainly be part of the solution.

    Here’s why we have much to gain by empowering teachers to safely embrace AI for their work. 

    Teacher burnout is very real

    To learn more about the teacher experience, a recent survey of 1,000 K-12 teachers across the United States asked about burnout–and the results were sobering. More than four in five teachers report they experience burnout, and more than a third experience it every day or most days. This data is deeply concerning and demonstrates the urgency of improving the teacher experience.

    Teachers reported a variety of drivers of their burnout, including strenuous classroom management responsibilities, lack of administrative support, and inadequate compensation. Remarkably, most teachers have continued to go above and beyond for their students, with two-thirds of teachers reporting they work beyond contractual hours.

    Unsurprisingly, this burnout has implications for students. The survey also revealed that one-third of teachers say burnout has decreased the quality of their instruction. Perhaps the most concerning finding is more than half of teachers have considered quitting or switching schools due to burnout, and two-thirds have considered leaving the profession entirely.

    Teachers see AI as part of the solution

    The survey indicated 42 percent of new teachers have already used AI, whereas 93 percent of teachers knew “little” or “nothing” about it. Teachers with fewer than five years of experience have particularly taken to AI, with 59 percent saying they use the technology.

    Of course, merely using AI isn’t the goal. Ninety-two percent of teachers who are using AI have found it helpful in addressing teaching pain points. Educators highlighted how it can improve work efficiency, promote creativity, and enhance learning. Given those benefits, it’s no surprise that teachers who reported being satisfied in their jobs were nearly twice as likely to be using AI than those who were unsatisfied.

    How AI can support our educators

    AI tools can be a boon for educators, but one of the largest barriers to adopting new technology is knowing where to begin. Teachers can leverage AI to help in many ways to help lighten their load while increasing their impact: 

    • Generate lesson ideas. Use an AI-powered text-based tool to brainstorm what’s possible, map out activities or even create first drafts of materials. 
    • Personalize materials for every student. Tailor teaching materials to meet the individual needs of each student. AI can help either generate a lesson or take an existing lesson and create level-specific ideas to ensure every student can participate in a lesson. 
    • Create a lesson presentation. Some tools allow teachers to type a prompt with a few words of inspiration and have the first draft of a slide deck be created.

    As one teacher said, by using AI, “teachers can foster more creative opportunities for themselves and students while saving time and alleviating some common stressors within this field. I hope that with advancements in AI and sparking more teachers’ curiosity, a more fulfilling environment for educators emerges, benefiting students and school communities.”

    Appreciating our teachers

    While some have claimed AI could replace teachers, I believe nothing could be further from the truth. What AI can do is allow teachers to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on delivering creative, engaging instruction that moves the needle for the next generation of the workforce. In other words, AI can help teachers spend more time doing the things that made them want to become educators in the first place. If we want to truly appreciate our teachers, that feels like a worthy goal.

    Our teachers are so incredibly important–and we must be doing more to make their jobs easier. With better systems, additional resources, and safe use of technology, we can help them focus on doing the work they love.

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    Jason Wilmot, Canva

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  • Insights from educators: Priorities for 2023-2024

    Insights from educators: Priorities for 2023-2024

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    Key points:

    Education news is full of trends and predictions for the new school year, but hearing from the folks doing the work is a more direct path to understanding what educators need at this moment.

    Heading into the 2023-2024 school year, K-12 teachers and principals are sharing their honest views on their goals and challenges. Let’s uncover what really matters to educators and how it’s shaping our schools.

    Question 1: Setting the stage

    When we asked educators about their top goals for the school year, a whopping 75 percent said “building strong communication” was at the top of their list. This goal is the cornerstone of a successful school year. Why? Because solid, consistent communication between school and home builds trust, leading to better attendance and academic achievement, improved behavior, and stronger social-emotional skills. It’s even backed by new research showing that students whose families had the highest levels of trust in their community had the best outcomes coming out of remote learning. So, setting up a good communication routine is a fantastic goal for a successful 2023-24.

    One way to approach it is to picture your communication plan as a funnel:

    Top of the funnel:

    The trick is to make sure every family gets updates through the whole funnel regularly and on a consistent schedule.

    Coming in second place, 55 percent of respondents mentioned “prioritizing self-care.” It is not just acceptable, but essential, to prioritize self-care. Taking time to rest and recharge is vital for personal well-being and sets an example of healthy practices for the entire school community.

    Question 2: Facing challenges head-on

    A top challenge for 71 percent of respondents was “effectively reaching all families with back-to-school information and communication.” Ensuring that crucial information reaches families is directly linked to student success. But it can be a complex task. Families have diverse languages, and information access methods, and some face housing instability. To ensure successful learning recovery, it is essential to get students back to school, and this begins with effective communication with parents and guardians. Districts must adopt a multifaceted approach, which includes clear, positive guidance in families’ home languages on the importance of attendance, group messages to classes or grades with information and expectations, and one-to-one outreach by teachers, advisors, or counselors.

    After the challenge of reaching all families, the next big concern was “making attendance a core value,” mentioned by 45 percent of folks. Research shows that taking a punitive approach to attendance can backfire on students. Instead of encouraging them to show up, it can have the opposite effect. Why? Because students need to know that their presence at school matters. Positive outreach is the way to go.

    Promoting attendance as a core value can take many forms, from a letter from the superintendent in a family’s home language, to building shoutouts for good attendance, to class-wide pizza parties, to simply creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes students want to be at school.

    Question 3: Words of wisdom

    Here are some insightful tips from fellow educators that align with the top goals and challenges our respondents identified:

    • “We stick to our nighttime routine and get to bed early.”
    • “Consistent, short, informative communication.”
    • “Be positive!! Things will work out.”
    • “Starting with an engaging communication activity.”
    • “Breathing and finding calmness.”
    • “Keep my planning calendars from previous years. Allows a framework to begin from each year. Minor tweaks vs. full creation.”
    • “Started a newsletter to communicate celebrations, expectations, and resources for my teachers.”
    • “There’s so much to do as we head back to school; it is easy to get distracted. So, I help myself stay on track by picking a task, setting a timer, and going hard at that one thing (and I put my phone in a different room to lessen distractions).”
    • “Supporting admin and teachers with establishing multiple pathways for communication. one phone call, one email, one newsletter, before our ‘Back to School’ event.”

    In summary, the key takeaway is to communicate openly and take care of yourself.

    Uniting for student success

    In these insights from educators, we can see twin themes for a productive year: strong communication and self-care. Communication is our foundation, self-care our strength, and empathy our guide. By fostering trust, embracing well-being, and addressing challenges head-on, we can make every school day count for every student.

    Thank you to all the educators who shared their insights. Here’s to a year of growth, resilience, and student success!

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    Dr. Kara Stern, Head of Education Solutions, SchoolStatus

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