Planning Plinko

Martin SilvermanBlog, Classroom Management, Differentiation, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Sometimes teachers plan lessons or units that are disconnected to their desired student outcomes, like the Plinko effect. It’s important that you consider the pegs and barriers that exist with your students. It’s better to look at individuals and groups of students, and determine how to remove barriers so that the chip can fall into the desired slot.  The … Read More

The Time is NOW for Compassionate Hiring

Brad HughesBlog, Leadership, Student Engagement

TL;DR: During the interview process, teacher candidates deserve compassionate conditions through which their competence and character may be revealed. Some ways to show compassion are: provide details before the interview, set a welcoming and positive tone at the beginning of the interview, make it visible that you are listening, close the interview by asking if the candidate has any questions … Read More

Connect Better with Voxer

Alex T. ValencicBlog, Edtech, Leadership, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

TL;DR: The diffusion of innovation is often used to describe the different phases of adoption of new technology. Voxer is not actually a social media platform but rather, a communication tool intended for a private group. You will learn how to get started with using Voxer. Tips and tricks on how to use Voxer efficiently will be shared. The Diffusion … Read More

Getting the Most Out of Twitter

Megan BaldufBlog, Edtech, Leadership, Student Engagement

TL;DR: There are multiple social media platforms to choose from. Determine what your needs are and use the app that will fit that best. Discover 4 tips for getting the most out of Twitter: (1) determine who is worth following, (2) find a way to collect the tweets you want to come back to, (3) engage in Twitter chats, and … Read More

Evaluating EdTech, Content, and Other Classroom Tools

Teach Better TeamBlog, Grading & Assessment, Innovation, Leadership, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Assessing Content in Education Systems (ACES) is a strategy for evaluating educational content created by the author of this post. ACES is based on four key spectrums: active or anchored, creation or consumption, educational or entertainment, and social or solo. Knowing how to assess content is a foundational skill, especially because the technical aspects change often in our fast-paced … Read More