Key points:

• Substitute teachers are already critical to the school environment
• Could funds be allocated to help substitutes find a long-term path to teaching?

California is investing $350 million in teacher residencies, recognizing the need for effective teachers, which too many of our classrooms are missing. But this big bet isn’t working. Why? Too many people can’t afford to take on the financial liability to train for the position.  

If we know the approach isn’t working, we need to look toward another solution: Substitute teachers.  

The average K-12 student spends one year of their education with a substitute. However, 56 percent of substitute teachers receive no training. Every day in America, there is a need for 250,000 substitute teachers, but 77 percent of school districts report acute substitute staffing challenges. It’s a reminder that students don’t get do-overs; every day of their education matters.  

Substitute teachers are an important part of our school ecosystem. They impact our students, as well as the well-being of our teachers. Not having effective substitutes–or, let’s be honest, any additional person with a college degree willing to help–is also impacting teachers unable to pursue professional development without sacrificing their student’s learning.  

What if we put some of this investment in residencies into professionalizing substitute teachers and giving them a pathway into long-term teaching?  

Key points:

• Ransomware attacks can be devastating to a school or district, with costly ransoms and leaked sensitive information
• The most effective security is layered; humans are only part of the equation

The biggest threat to K-12 schools’ cybersecurity is, ironically, education. It’s an expensive deficit. But there are funds and tools to help.

Ransomware – where hackers encrypt and lock victims’ data and try to sell the decryption key back to the victim for a ransom – delays education and hurts already-stretched budgets: A GAO report says a ransomware attack can cause K-12 students learning loss up to three weeks and cost from $50,000 to $1 million in expenses.

Or worse. In November 2020, a ransomware attack hit the Clark County School District in Nevada, the fifth-largest school district in the U.S. More than 320,000 students were blocked from accessing assignments and other educational materials. It cost the district more than $4 million to recover from the attack.

Even when schools don’t pay the ransom, as in the Los Angeles Unified School District case in 2022, there are costs. In the LAUSD, some of its platforms were knocked offline and sensitive personal information was released. More recently, the Minneapolis Public School District was attacked by ransomware criminals in March of 2023. District data was held hostage for $1 million. When the district did not pay, the criminals released highly sensitive personnel data.

Charlotte, NC – Minnesota’s Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Public Schools (GFW) today announced a new partnership with Discovery Education supporting the creation of engaging science lessons in K-12 classrooms districtwide. In this new multi-year collaboration, educators in every GFW school will integrate Discovery Education’s suite of innovative digital resources into instruction to create dynamic learning experiences that will awaken students’ natural curiosity about science and the natural world. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. 

Nestled in the prairie of south-central Minnesota and serving students from the communities of Gibbon, Fairfax, Winthrop, and surrounding townships, GFW uses progressive technology applications to access educational resources from around the world. Parents cite small class sizes, school-aged childcare, early childhood programs, and co-curricular programs as the desirable features of the school district. With a mission to grow future world-class leaders, GFW aims to provide all learners an equitable and quality education that meets the individual needs of students with future-forward instruction. 

As part of its continuous effort to prepare students for success beyond graduation, GFW sought digital resources that would drive deeper engagement in science. These resources needed to be simple to use, accessible for all teachers and students, easily integrated into the district’s robust science program, and aligned to Minnesota state and NGSS standards.  

Following a careful review of potential solutions, GFW selected Discovery Education to provide their district the dynamic digital resources needed. Among the resources coming to GFW schools are:    

Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction in any environment. These resources, sourced from trusted partners, are aligned to state and national standards and help educators bring the outside world into teaching and learning every day.  Through expanded, lasting partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Brightspace, and Clever, integrating Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform into existing IT architecture is easier than ever.   

Pivot Interactives. Pivot, which joined the Discovery Education family of services in 2022, makes teaching science with active learning and scientific phenomena engaging and easy. Launched in 2012 by two visionary educators, the platform provides users with more than 10,000 authentic, interactive video-based science interactives crafted by Pivot’s expert curriculum team and teacher community. These resources, tied to state and national standards, are infused with research-based teaching practices and are simple to integrate throughout the instructional cycle.   

Discovery Education Science Techbooks. The Discovery Education Science Techbook series is a comprehensive, research-backed science solution for grades K-12. Used in classrooms across the United States, the Science Techbooks for elementary students drives engagement with exclusive, interactive digital content and companion printed resources. The virtual and hands-on investigations, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities, and instructional supports within Techbook enhance the delivery of impactful, blended instruction, in person or at a distance. Available with the Science Techbooks are coordinated teacher guides offering unit, concept, and lesson overviews, standards connections, and differentiation activities that inform instructional planning and guide three-dimensional learning. Teacher editions also provide flexible pacing options, embedded teacher notes, and pathways for learning that support diverse learners.     

“At GFW, we work to ensure all students can reach their full potential and become successful, responsible citizens in a diverse society with innovative technology and strong teacher support,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeff Horton. “This new partnership with Discovery Education supports all educators as they engage students in our science curriculum.”  

In addition to digital resources, all GFW educators using Discovery Education services will receive dedicated professional development from Discovery Education’s team of professional learning experts. These learning opportunities for teachers help school systems recognize the full return on their edtech investment. Through these interactive professional development sessions, participants will learn best practices for integrating their new digital resources into instruction. Effective professional development maximizes the power of these resources, increases student engagement in learning, and supports the continued academic development of all students.  

All GFW educators now also enjoy access to the Discovery Educator Network. A global network of education professionals, the Discovery Educator Network connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable idea sharing and inspiration.   

“We at Discovery Education are thrilled to partner with GFW Public Schools to provide an equitable and quality education to all students,” said Katelin Greer, Discovery Education’s National Partnerships Coordinator. “The district’s thoughtful use of available funding is already being emulated across the region, and we look forward to supporting this important initiative as it unfolds.”  

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources—which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds—and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.    

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

Key points:

• To improve student engagement, strive to create a positive learning environment
• Offer multiple means of engagement using technology inspired by UDL such as voice/screen capture or different ways to present a project

While schools have largely returned to normal classroom instruction, some ripple effects of the pandemic remain. Educators are searching for a spark to re-engage students in the learning process. According to a recent survey, 38 percent of students reported decreased motivation to excel in school. In comparison, 80 percent of educators feel the pandemic made students less motivated.

In some cases, children traumatized by the pandemic struggle with mental health issues. In most cases, teachers may only need to provide different opportunities and multiple means of engagement to increase participation.

Motivating students starts with building a positive learning environment. The first steps require educators to create a physically and emotionally safe classroom where each student is valued and respected. Fostering student connections, encouraging voice and choice, adding relevance to lessons, and nurturing student ownership results in a supportive community where students feel comfortable as active participants in their learning.

Each student approaches learning uniquely. Prior knowledge, interests, learning styles, language skills, and physical abilities affect a child’s aptitude for learning and achievement. Meeting children where they are and differentiating instruction can mean the difference between a fully engaged learner and a passive learner who tunes out.

Unseen and often silent, the shadows of bullying loom within the walls of schools, casting a dark cloud over the lives of countless students. The PACER Center’s National Bullying Prevention Center engages and empowers kids to combat bullying in all its forms. Through the Students with Solutions contest, my 5^th grade students worked together to raise awareness about bullying and encourage children to actively participate in addressing this issue. This challenge amplified their voices and empowered them to inspire and support one another, creating a united front against bullying.

The winning entry within the “Student with Solutions” national anti-bullying competition this year is a video by my two 5^th grade classes within the Birmingham City Schools System. The students wrote, filmed, and edited the video. It inspires unity and support, drawing from the students’ experiences, with the main message being that bullying hurts and everyone matters.

Students enjoy technology, so being able to integrate technology in an academic setting is highly advantageous. In this instance, we were able to combine social-emotional learning and technology, which are both important in this day and age.

Bullying refers to repeated and intentional aggressive behavior, where one or more individuals target another person to harm, intimidate, or exert control over them. Bullying can take various forms, including:

Physical bullying: This includes physical acts of aggression, such as hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, or damaging someone’s belongings.

(June 08, 2023) –– Rise Vision, the #1 digital signage software solution for schools, announced that it has been named “Student Safety Solution Provider of The Year” in the 5th annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by EdTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies and solutions in the global educational technology market.

Rise Vision helps schools improve communication and safety, increase student involvement, celebrate student achievements, and create a positive school culture. Rise Vision provides easy to use technology, which educators are able to use to manage communications across districts.

Rise Vision offers over 500+ professionally designed, animated, and customizable templates. In addition, through popular integrations, users are able to automatically pull content from services like Google Slides, Canva, Twitter, and more.

The company’s newest feature, Classroom Alerts, is a powerful solution in the event of an emergency.  With Classroom Alerts, schools can broadcast emergency alerts to classroom wireless presentation systems like Airtame, and interactive flat panels like SMART, Clear Touch, Newline, ViewSonic, and more.

Teachers can go about their day using the displays in their classrooms. Then if an emergency alert is sent, Rise Vision will automatically stop the display from being used as a teaching tool and launch the emergency alert message, giving students and staff time to react.

Rise Vision’s Classroom Alerts feature integrates with emergency management systems such as CrisisGo, Singlewire InformaCast, Share911, and Runva – to name a few.

“If there’s one place student awareness and attention is at a premium, it’s the classroom. The clear content and vivid imagery of digital signage offers a powerful tool that can be targeted to reach a variety of audiences, particularly for safety,” said James Johnson, managing director, EdTech Breakthrough. “We’re proud to recognize Rise Vision with an EdTech Breakthrough award for the flexibility that lets campuses construct complex, multimedia presentations that include videos, commentary and analysis, animated diagrams, audio, and more to enhance school safety.”

The mission of the EdTech Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work and success in a range of educational technology categories, including Student Engagement, School Administration, Adaptive Learning, STEM Education, Remote Learning, Career Preparation and many more. This year’s program attracted more than 2,400 nominations from over 16 different countries throughout the world.

“From regular preparedness campaigns to emergency messages broadcast inside classrooms and hallways, we know our technology lives up to EdTech Breakthroughs’ ‘Student Safety Solution Provider of the Year,’” said Brian Loosbrock, CEO of Rise Vision. “Digital signage is an essential tool for communication and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of an emergency alert system. Using digital signage to communicate essential emergency information to an entire school or campus body is something we are passionate about – it can help reduce emergency response time and save lives.”

To learn more about how schools are using Rise Vision to improve school safety visit the company’s website.

ABOUT RISE VISION

Rise Vision is the #1 digital signage software solution for schools. Rise Vision helps schools improve communication, increase student involvement, celebrate student achievements, and create a positive school culture.

ABOUT EDTECH BREAKTHROUGH

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the EdTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in educational technology products, companies and people. The EdTech Breakthrough Awards provide a platform for public recognition around the achievements of breakthrough educational technology in categories including e-learning, student engagement, school administration, career preparation, language learning, STEM and more. For more information, visit EdTechBreakthrough.com.

There’s no avoiding it. Artificial intelligence is here: in your classrooms, in your front office, on your phone. And while the topic can be overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be a burden. One of the best pieces of advice regarding managing AI in schools so far came during a conversation yesterday with Melissa Hortman, a senior industry executive at Microsoft, for our sister publication eCampus news, but her advice applies to all levels of education: First, learn how it works. 

That being said, the amount of information out there can be overwhelming and getting worse by the day. Don’t worry, we’re here for you. The following resources should fill up your weekend reading queue quite nicely. And be sure we’ll be diving in deeper as this phenomenon progresses.

From: eCampus News

Open AI is an incredibly powerful technology that has the potential to transform the way we think about teaching, learning, and research. Used properly, faculty and students can explore new ways to approach complex problems, gain insights into data, and make predictions that were previously impossible. Sounds great right? But there are still many questions and reasonable concerns about how to make this potential practical. This conversation cleared up a lot.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Gale, part of Cengage Group, has added a new resource to its award-winning Gale In Context family of products. The company has launched Gale In Context: Literature, a new resource for literature instruction and learning that helps high schoolers engage and thrive in English language arts (ELA). Read our blog about why English teachers will love Gale In Context: Literature.

Designed with high school students in mind, Gale In Context: Literature provides learners with the context they need to engage and form personal connections with a wide variety of literature from traditional texts to diverse new voices. Educators can easily connect students to standards-based resources that provide the literary context necessary to ensure student understanding of the texts they’re reading in ELA lessons. This sparks greater interest in literature, enabling teachers to facilitate meaningful interactions that inspire more compelling classroom discussions that increase critical thinking skills, delivering better learning outcomes.

Download/view screenshots of Gale In Context: Literature.

For today’s readers, studying literature takes place in the context of a complex world filled with the noise of social and short-form media. Literature instruction in school has grown far broader than grammar, vocabulary and reading traditional texts. Educators need a solution to contextualize literary works in both the past and present day. Gale In Context: Literature organizes an array of high-quality resources into one easy-to-use, searchable platform to help high school students learn about both traditional and non-traditional literature.

“This expansion will allow educators to add relevance to the literature lessons they are using in the classroom and therefore engage their students on a deeper level,” said Shawn Clark, senior vice president of Gale’s domestic learning business. “Literature is one of the greatest ways to get students to connect to their course material, no matter their reading level. Gale In Context: Literature helps broaden and deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of the material.”

Gale In Context: Literature offers:

• Topic Pages: more than 250 topic pages organized around key works, authors and topics scaffolded to provide easy access for all students.
• Essential Questions: over 300 question prompts designed to engage student curiosity and provide a starting point for literature research.
• Book Browse: an easy to browse visual bookshelf that can be filtered by topic, genre, and other key literature focused limiters.
• Full Text: access to select full works of literature in an easy-to-use eBook format.
• Multimedia Content: a robust set of videos, images, infographics, podcasts and more designed to engage students.
• Expansive Coverage: inclusion of both traditional and non-traditional texts that educators are excited to teach, and students are excited to read.
• Gale In Context: For Educators Integration: full Gale In Context: For Educators functionality, including subject and curriculum browse, lesson plans, resource organization, assessments and annotation tools.

Gale In Context: Literature continues Gale’s strong tradition of supporting literature research and instruction — and uses the same design framework as other In Context products. Through grade-appropriate, at-level content, strategic design and an accessible experience, high school students and educators are better set up to succeed with their literature courses.

Gale In Context databases have a long history of supporting academic achievement and future-ready skill development. In a recent nationwide study conducted by Project Tomorrow® on behalf of Gale[i], 91 percent of teachers said their students’ research skills improved from using the Gale In Context databases to support their assignments and projects.

For more information on Gale In Context: Literature or to request a trial, visit its webpage.

About Cengage Group and Gale

Cengage Group, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. The company currently serves the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, part of Cengage Group, believes in the power and joy of learning. For schools, the company helps drive positive outcomes by providing essential, curriculum-aligned content that empowers educators to solve curriculum challenges and meet students where they are. Today that includes supporting distance and social and emotional learning as well as equity and inclusion goals. Gale’s K-12 offerings extend from educational databases and custom eBook collections to instructional tools and professional development resources. For more information, please visit:  www.gale.com/schools.

Follow Gale on:

• Twitter
• Gale Blog
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the upcoming National History Day Finals, The Doughboy Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to World War I education, will be on hand to demonstrate the power of augmented reality (AR) to immerse history lovers in WWI. Using the Foundation’s Augmented Reality Apps, attendees registering on June 11 for the National History Day Finals week can explore life-sized WWI-era aircraft and giant timelines right in the registration hall at the University of Maryland, College Park.

“It can be a challenge to engage students in lessons about events that happened more than a century ago,” said Theo Mayer, chief technologist/program lead for the Doughboy Foundation. “Making the subject experiential and interactive through smartphones and tablets that use the power of AR brings the subject of World War I to life for today’s students.”

While National History Day participants will get a personal introduction to the WWI Teaching Resources, educators anywhere in the country can use them to bring history to life. Using the resources, made available through Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, educators and students can immerse themselves in WWI history. They can experience the wide-reaching effects of the war by viewing it in the context of women’s rights, immigrants’ experiences, Black and Native Americans struggles, propaganda, and the Bill of Rights.

In addition to the augmented reality apps, the WWI Teaching Resources include a series of documentaries called “How WWI Changed America,” a 20-page eBook called “The United States in WWI,” a wealth of primary sources, student worksheets, and teacher guides.

“With so much edtech focused on STEM and STEAM subjects, we’re excited to bring these engaging, contemporary, resources to humanities and history education,” added Mayer. “Whether teachers are attending National History Day or planning their lessons for next year, we would be honored to see them take advantage of these immersive, free resources to bring life to a period of American history that continues to be deeply relevant today.”

For more information, or to access the WWI Teaching Resources, please visit Doughboy.org.

About the Doughboy Foundation

The Doughboy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in the District of Columbia in 2013 under the name “United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars.” The Foundation has as its vision to keep faith with the American “Doughboy,” as soldiers who fought in World War I were called. To learn more, visit Doughboy.org.

About Verizon Innovative Learning HQ

Verizon Innovative Learning HQ is an award-winning, free education portal that makes next-gen learning tools, including a curated collection of lesson plans, available to all. Through Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, K–12 educators nationwide gain free access to over 275 lesson plans, ranging from supplemental turnkey lessons to yearlong courses, with 20 corresponding augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) apps. The education portal also provides educators with extensive training and resources, including over 40 professional development courses, to help educators learn new skills and feel more confident integrating technology into the learning experience. Educators can visit Verizon Innovative Learning HQ to sign up.

Media Contact
Lisette Gushiniere

Email: lisette@prp.group

PHOTO CAPTION

Immersing viewers in the pages of history, this Sopwith Camel airplane is brought to life using Augmented Reality, part of the Doughboy Foundation’s WWI Teaching Resources, that make WWI history an interactive experience.

ISTELive 23 lands in Philadelphia on June 25, and the annual conference promises to be packed with content for administrators, curriculum directors, classroom teachers, and everyone in between.

This year’s conference theme, “Discover Your Next,” celebrates the ideas, partnerships, teaching strategies, and edtech tools that can take learning to its next iteration. Register here, for in-person or virtual access.

With more than 900 sessions, it’s hard to choose a handful to highlight—but here are five sessions that caught our eye:

1. Class Visits: A PD Model for Teachers Growing Teachers

Instructional coaches are frequently asked, “What is everyone else doing in their classrooms?” Learn how our school created a successful PD system for teachers to learn and be empowered by each other by participating in a virtual class visit. Caty Carmendy, the Instructional Coach of Mooresville High School, leads the session.

Key points:

• With cyberattacks on the rise across schools, IBM Education Security Grants have already benefited more than 350,000 students globally
• Now in its third year, grants are expanding to offer students and teachers access to cyber and AI skills through IBM SkillsBuild

In response to the growing threat of ransomware attacks against schools around the world, IBM will provide in-kind grants valued at $5 million to help address cybersecurity resiliency in schools.

Since its creation in 2021, the IBM Education Security Grants program has expanded globally, and this year will also include enhanced offerings from IBM SkillsBuild on topics including AI and cybersecurity. 

Ransomware is unfolding faster than ever, with attackers managing to cut down the time required to deploy ransomware attacks from over two months to just under four days between 2019 and 2021, according to IBM’s X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023. In fact, the share of cybersecurity incidents observed in the education sector more than doubled in 2022 compared to the year prior, experiencing the largest increase year over year than any other industry.

“Time and time again attackers go after the education sector, yet many of these institutions remain constrained in their security resources,” said Andy Piazza, Global Head of Threat Intelligence, IBM Security X-Force.  “To date this program has helped more than 350,000 students across schools in the US and abroad, with IBM Service Corps helping them recover from ransomware attacks, strengthen their security posture against future attacks, and prevent further disruption.”

Raleigh, N.C. — Open LMS, a leading global provider of open-source learning management systems (LMSs), today announces its new partnership with  Copyleaks, the leading AI-based text analysis, plagiarism identification, and AI-content detection platform. This partnership comes at a critical time when AI-generated content is becoming more prevalent in all industries, particularly academia.

Copyleaks uses advanced AI to detect AI-generated content, including outputs from cutting-edge AI tools such as ChatGPT-4. It also detects various forms of plagiarism while accounting for a wide range of common detection-evasion tactics such as hidden characters, paraphrasing, and even image-based text plagiarism. Through these methods, the tool provides institutions and organizations with a deeper understanding of the composition of submitted content while exposing attempts to deceive detection software.

Open LMS and Copyleaks’ partnership adds a powerful tool to clients’ arsenals as conversations around AI-generated content intensify.

“The discourse around AI, and the overall understanding of what AI is and does has changed drastically with the release of ChatGPT,” explains Open LMS Managing Director Phill Miller. “Our clients are looking to us for solutions to detect AI-generated content fraudulently submitted by their students and learners. Adding Copyleaks to our portfolio is among the first steps we’re taking to help our clients mitigate some of AI’s challenges to academic integrity.”

Copyleaks is the only enterprise solution that detects whether content was written by a human or AI across multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Polish, and more. It’s capable of detecting AI content at the sentence level. Along with the ability to read over 100 human languages, each Copyleaks scan searches across trillions of pages of original content and detects cross-language plagiarism matches in more than 30 languages.

“Many academics and professionals across industries are trying to understand how the prevalence of AI-generated content will impact them and their students,” notes Copyleaks CEO Alon Yamin. “This partnership allows us to provide  educators and  enterprises worldwide with complete transparency, empowering them to make informed decisions around the use and role of AI-generated content.”

Copyleaks’  AI-driven detection capabilities are now available to all Open LMS clients.

To learn more about Open LMS and its products, or to request a trial, please visit  www.openlms.net. 

About Open LMS

Open LMS leverages open-source software to deliver an effective and engaging learning experience. As the largest commercial provider of hosting and support services for the open-source Moodle learning platform, it helps global organizations and institutions deliver great learning experiences without complexities.

One of the ways Open LMS supports learning is via its commitment to open-source learning technology. Open LMS is part of Learning Technologies Group (LTG), a global eLearning and talent management business which is headquartered in the UK.

About Copyleaks

Dedicated to creating secure environments in which to share ideas and learn with confidence, Copyleaks is an AI-based text analysis company used by businesses, educational institutions, and millions of individuals around the world. Copyleaks users trust the tool to identify potential plagiarism and paraphrasing across nearly every language, verify authenticity and ownership, and empower error-free writing.

For more information, visit  copyleaks.com or follow Copyleaks on  LinkedIn.

Key points:

• Educators must support efforts that boost online student motivation
• Peer mentors, change of scenery, and spending time with students are important for online students

A student’s motivation in school is a key driver of their academic success. Yet, the demanding nature of high school classes, mixed with a teenager’s natural craving for independence and individual identity, can stand in the way of that motivation. COVID-19 took a toll on student motivation, and 80 percent of educators are still feeling the effects. Following the rapid and sudden shift to online learning, parents and educators remain concerned about keeping online students motivated and engaged. 

As we move past the pandemic and rethink the role of online education, it’s vital to education reform that teachers remain focused on fostering student motivation.

Fortunately, online educators have been addressing this concern for years and have learned how to instill motivation among their students–even when not in a physical classroom. Here are my top tips to help educators foster motivation among students.

1. Take the time to get to know your students

It can be highly beneficial for educators to engage with their online students about their lives outside of school by asking about what they enjoy doing in their free time, their goals beyond school, and challenges that are consuming their time and energy. 

Key points:

• Adopting collaborative edtech tools creates a dynamic classroom environment
• Students often are more engaged when teachers take on a guiding role rather than a purely instructive one

What’s been lacking in education up to now? From secondary schools to master’s degrees, educators often adopt a unidirectional approach, where information flows solely from teacher to student. However, it is imperative for students to actively become part of the teaching process, and teachers must cultivate an environment conducive to peer-to-peer learning.

Edtech tools for teachers made mainstream during the pandemic have undeniably enhanced student collaboration and facilitated the creation of more modern learning classrooms. The projected growth of the edtech industry to $605.8 billion by 2027 is a testament to that.

But I’m not referring to Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, quizzes, or virtual breakout rooms. The discussion extends far beyond these well-known online learning tools. There are some emerging peer-learning and social-learning edtech tools that can further transform every facet of the classroom experience, particularly heightening engagement. Let’s see how.

What is student engagement?

Student engagement refers to learners’ level of involvement, motivation, and commitment. And high levels of active participation directly correlate with positive academic outcomes.

PORTLAND, Ore.– K-12 assessment and research organization NWEA released today a new study that takes a deeper look into instructional practices driving high academic growth. Led by Dr. Chase Nordengren, principal research lead for Effective Instructional Strategies at NWEA, the study zoomed into two schools that have historically shown high growth for diverse populations of students, including through the pandemic. The findings highlight 10 instructional strategies that utilize small changes to teaching practices leading toward growth outcomes for students.

“We wanted to understand what makes these schools tick and how, year-over-year, they were able to produce higher-than-typical student growth, across each decile of student achievement,” said Nordengren, “One of the big takeaways is the way these schools balance meeting students where they are AND providing access to grade-level content they need to succeed.”

The two schools in the study are an elementary school and middle school in Schiller Park, Illinois, which reflect similar demographics to many schools across the country. Fifty-five percent of students in that district are non-white, 62% receive free or reduced-price lunches, 25% are identified as English language learners, and the district’s per pupil spending in 2021 was below the state average. Based on classroom observation and in-depth interviews with the school staff, 10 instructional strategies were identified as effective instruction that helps students grow, and fell into three main categories:

Optimizing instructional time

1.     Provide supplemental learning time for targeted retrieval practice

2.     Mix whole group, small group, and individual activities

3.     Adjust student groups in real time

4.    Share students and strategies within a grade level

Exposing students to more content

5.     Differentiate tasks within a unit

6.     Provide targeted practice for foundational skills

7.    Teach from multiple standards at once

Empowering students

8.     Create opportunities for self-directed learning

9.     Use student discourse as formative assessment

10.  Explicitly teach academic vocabulary

This in-depth look at instructional strategies driving academic growth is a continuation of an NWEA research initiative by Dr. Andy Hegedus who in 2018 released a novel study focusing on growth as a marker of school success rather than just meeting or exceeding proficiency. His study found that schools showing high levels of growth were not necessarily those showing high levels of achievement, and that high growth schools could exist in communities with a variety of income levels and demographics. NWEA’s new study followed that research to answer the next, necessary question: what can be learned from high growth schools about teaching and learning?

Read the full study: https://www.nwea.org/resource-center/resource/the-transformative-ten-instructional-strategies-learned-from-high-growth-schools/

About NWEA
NWEA^® (a division of HMH) is a mission-driven organization that supports students and educators in more than 146 countries through research, assessment solutions, policy and advocacy services, professional learning and school improvement services that fight for equity, drive classroom impact and push for systemic change in our educational communities. Visit NWEA.org to learn more about how we’re partnering with educators to help all kids learn.

Charlotte, NC – Discovery Education, the Caterpillar Foundation, and Learning Undefeated today announced the launch of a new education initiative – Innovation at Play. This unique program leverages the power of play by using engaging, hands-on digital resources to educate and inspire students in grades 9-12 to consider exciting careers in a variety of STEM professions. 

Innovation at Play provides standards-aligned digital resources that make it easier than ever for educators, after-school instructors, and parents to connect STEM concepts to potential career pathways. Classroom activities, play-inspired lessons, and phenomena-based videos exemplify how curiosity drives STEM solutions while empowering students to learn by doing and seeing. The content will equip students with the right skills and knowledge to pursue STEM careers at home, in the classroom, or wherever learning takes place. 

“The future STEM innovators are sitting in classrooms all across the country. No matter where they are, Innovation at Play will empower students to connect their STEM curiosity with STEM skills to solve problems and secure careers,” said Asha Varghese, Caterpillar Foundation President. 

Innovation at Play sources STEM creativity and stories from industry experts at Learning Undefeated who have an extensive history of innovation, insights, and leadership. The non-profit is a long-standing partner of Discovery Education. 

“Innovation at Play connects students to the innate power of play and the power of STEM, in order to change the world,” said Jennifer Colvin, Chief Innovation Officer at Learning Undefeated. “When students have a fun, hands-on learning experience, it brings them one step closer to imagining a career path that involves STEM.” 

Learn more about Innovation at Play at InnovationatPlay.com or within Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides educators with an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction. 

“Students are naturally creative and curious, using play as a universal language. Innovation at Play puts fun at the center, empowering students to explore, problem-solve, and engage in authentic STEM experiences in ways most relevant to them,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Social Impact at Discovery Education. 

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources—which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds—and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.    

About the Caterpillar Foundation 
Founded in 1952, Caterpillar’s philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation, has contributed more than $850 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by building resilient communities that thrive in a rapidly changing world. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, visit caterpillar.com/foundation. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media. 

About Learning Undefeated 
Learning Undefeated is driving race and gender equity in STEM through experiential and deep-impact learning experiences for students from under resourced communities. Best known for its fleet of traveling STEM laboratories, Learning Undefeated’s flagship STEM education program has prepared more than 1.5 million K-12 students for STEM careers since 2003, through hands-on content exploration, game-based learning, summer camps, and talent development programs. In 2022, Learning Undefeated’s shipping container based Drop Anywhere Lab won the Best of STEM Awards in the Social Impact: Promoting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category. Learning Undefeated also operates several other celebrated STEM education programs including custom curriculum development and STEM disaster recovery education. Visit learningundefeated.org or follow us on social media @LearningUNDFTD. 

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

Key points:

• Every moment is critical during a school emergency, and having the right tools is a must
• An emergency response app helped one school leader receive and deploy clear communication

I was in a meeting when I heard the sirens. I immediately excused myself and saw the first squad car screech to a halt in front of our doors and knew it was bad. The police department had just received a call saying there was an active shooter somewhere at Spanish Fork High School and two students were deceased.  

As it turns out, we were the victim of a coordinated hoax that targeted schools throughout Utah and other states, but for the next 24 minutes, this was our reality and as principal, I had to act. My emotions almost got the better of me; not only do I care deeply about each and every one of our 1,469 students, I also have a daughter who was in class just down the hall. I almost lost my motor skills but was able to pull my phone from my pocket to instantly lock down the school with the push of a button and watch our emergency plan unfold almost flawlessly before my eyes.   

To fully understand the importance and power of that simple act, we need to take a step back. I have been the school’s principal for four years. Although we had published an emergency plan and conducted drills four or five times every year, from day one, I felt there was something off or missing from those plans. We had the standard procedures and instructions for locking classrooms, counting students and making announcements on the PA system, but nothing that would help us know what is happing in the moment, coordinate actions between law enforcement and school administrators or communicate with teachers and staff to effectively manage the chaos.  

A few months ago, I was approached by a former student who wanted to introduce me to a technology called AEGIX AIM (Active Incident Management) that other schools have implemented to address the very challenges I was worried about. We received approval from the district to install and pilot the software. As fate would have it, we finished rolling it out and conducted staff training on it exactly one week before the active shooter hoax was perpetrated.   

Key points:

• Absenteeism is a top predictor of academic success and can have serious consequences
• Solutions to chronic absenteeism will require long-term, strategic investment of time and resources

Districts across the country are grappling with elevated levels of chronic absenteeism that have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. The Associated Press and Stanford University’s Big Local News Project found that there were approximately 230,000 students in 21 states whose absences could not be accounted for when looking at changes in enrollment between the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 school years.

We also know a lot about the negative consequences of poor attendance: attendance is the number one predictor of academic achievement. Chronic absenteeism can have serious impacts on students, such as the inability to master basic grade-level skills, reduced access to food and counseling resources, and significantly higher rates of dropping out. Students who drop out of school have a far greater chance of entering the criminal justice system.

Addressing this issue will require a long-term, strategic investment of time and resources. It’s important for schools and districts to understand that much like the adage, “It takes 21 days to build a new habit and only seven days to break it,” a similar approach must be adopted to address absenteeism.

K-12 school administrators often need help as they track and improve student attendance. Based on experience working with districts, I would recommend these four tips for district leaders and educators who are working to address student absenteeism. 

Key points:

• Smarter systems can help protect students
• AI technologies continue to proliferate
• Online learning platforms now support millions of students

ZeroEyes, creators of their AI-based gun detection video analytics platform announced a strategic partnership with AEGIX, a Utah-based provider of industry-leading resources, technology, equipment and training for first responders. Through the partnership, ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection and situational awareness software will be integrated into the AEGIX AIM active incident management platform to create a sole-source solution uniquely built for Utah public schools.

The system enables individuals in an organization, such as a school, to notify others of a crisis with the touch of a button. In a worst-case scenario, such as an active shooter, teachers simply push a button in the app to let administrators and first responders know if they are “safe” or “unsafe.” AEGIX AIM can be operated from a desktop, laptop or smartphone. 

Everyone on the system, including key law enforcement and first responders can utilize the dynamic interactive maps of a school campus, buildings and individual classrooms. This instantly provides room-by-room situational awareness. Users know exactly what the emergency is and where they need to direct their efforts. It also enables real-time communication within the patented chat feature. 

RedCritter launched its groundbreaking AI innovation, CritterCoin, a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) suite for schools powered by ChatGPT from OpenAI. The new AI capabilities automate PBIS on a school-wide level. The suite now offers adaptive and personalized student tutoring and engagement, along with automated recognition and rewards. 

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Cooper Johnson, a graduate of the Global Impact STEM Academy class of 2023, has been awarded the first-ever Waklatsi Service Scholarship. The $500 scholarship recognizes Johson’s exceptional commitment to service and his dedication to making a positive impact in the community, and was established this year by Global Impact alumnus and current Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy, Kordell Waklatsi.

“Cooper was chosen as the recipient of the Waklatsi Service Scholarship because of his remarkable understanding of the importance of giving back to others,” said Waklatsi. “From an early age, he was an active participant in 4-H, which fostered his passion for community engagement. Inspired by his own experiences, Cooper became a camp counselor to ensure that other children have the opportunity to enjoy the same enriching camp experiences he had.”

In addition to his involvement in 4-H, Johnson has made significant contributions to the local Honor Flight program since his freshman year. Through this program, he has provided veterans with the opportunity to visit and pay their respects at memorials in Washington D.C., creating lasting memories for those who served this country.

“I was actually given the opportunity to escort my two Vietnam veteran grandfathers to see their memorials,” said Johnson.

Not only did Johnson graduate from Global Impact this week, he also graduated with an associate of science degree from Clark State College earlier this month, a feat achieved through the STEM school’s college credit plus program. During his high school career, Johnson was active in Global Impact’s FFA chapter as well as a four-year varsity cross country and track athlete for Greenon High School, his district of residence. He plans on attending the University of Cincinnati starting this fall to major in cyber security.

“Cooper’s service extends beyond being a mere bonus for college applications; it has a profound and enduring impact on the lives of those he encounters,” said Waklatsi.

Waklatsi, a 2017 Global Impact graduate, returned to Clark County as a deputy last November after having joined the Marine Corps and serving in Washington D.C. after graduation. Waklatsi is the first alumnus to give back to the STEM school in such a substantial way.

“I am so incredibly honored to be the first-ever recipient of the Waklatsi scholarship,” said Johson. “To be awarded this scholarship in general would have been amazing, but for it to be from a Global Impact alum makes it even more meaningful.”

The Waklatsi Service Scholarship was not only established to recognize outstanding Global Impact seniors like Johnson, but also to inspire and empower local youth to become compassionate and responsible citizens who contribute positively to society.

“I hope this annual scholarship influences others who are currently volunteering to continue their service,” said Waklatsi. “I truly believe we can strengthen our community through volunteering because it instills selfless qualities, which, in turn, develops community members who can rely on one another.”

This scholarship isn’t the only way in which Waklatsi plans on leaving a lasting impact in the community.

 “My long-term goal is to create a funnel program and start mentoring middle schoolers because the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow,” reflected Waklatsi. “Being able to instill good values at a young age is so crucial to thriving in adulthood and creating a future generation of leaders who value service and giving back.”

About Global Impact

STEM Academy The Global Impact STEM Academy is the first STEM school of its kind in the nation, serving 600+ students in grades 7-12 while focusing on career-readiness and preparing Ohio students for jobs in the fields of biosciences, such as food and agriculture, environmental studies, healthcare and energy. With a mastery curriculum focused on real-world, hands-on projects that foster student excellence, Global Impact is located in the Springfield Center of Innovation: The Dome in Springfield, Ohio. Learn more at globalimpactacademy.org.

PHOTO: Kordell Waklatsi, a 2017 graduate of Global STEM Academy and current Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy, presents Cooper Johnson, a 2023 graduate of the school, with the first-ever Waklatsi Service Scholarship for $500