For many teachers, the last few weeks of school is a strange time. Students are restlessly awaiting that final bell to mark the beginning of summer, and you know there’s little point overloading with new curriculum. For some, it’s a waiting game. For others, it’s a scramble to the finish line. Either way, the homestretch should always be a time to wind down, take in the school year, get to know your students, and bring some fun and laughter to the table. 1. Stop Talking! Regardless of what you’re familiar with, the last few weeks of school is no time…
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Teacher’s Toolkit: 5 Ways to Finish the School Year Like a Pro!
Reflections on the School Year: What Should We Do Differently?
As we reach the homestretch, principals and education leaders everywhere are beginning to reflect on the school year, asking critical questions like: ‘Was it successful?’ ‘Are my students satisfied?’ ‘Are my teachers satisfied?’ These are important not only for professional development and school progress, but for the health and well-being of staff and students alike. With an emphasis on self-assessment, this final stretch marks the ideal time for school leaders to come together and answer one simple question: What should we do differently? #1. Did we build a positive school culture? Creating a positive school culture is always a top…
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5 Things You See in a Student-Centered Classroom
It’s no big revelation that classrooms are evolving. They’ve been changing for a long time, with some faster than others to embrace reform. Much of this change is edging us ever closer to what many consider the ideal: Student-centered education. Student-centered learning essentially means challenging the traditional ‘teacher-centric’ approach to give students more control over their learning, to help them become active classroom participants, and to maintain a focus on the 21st century skills needed for the outside world. With many technology-enabled trends playing a key role, what you see in a typical student-centered classroom is less what we’re used…
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Do Today’s Graduates Have the Workplace Skills to Succeed?
“Are we adequately preparing our students for the 21st century workforce?” Recognizing the need for education reform to better align with a rapidly changing job market, this is a question that continues to be asked. In a recent survey, 126 CEOs were quizzed about STEM and other workplace skills in which 98% said the skills gap is posing a problem for their companies. With the knowledge that 60% of job openings require basic STEM literacy, and considering the impact the skills shortage is having on businesses and graduates alike, the need to re-evaluate our approach is clear. Skills-Centered Learning Highlighting…
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Why is Peer Feedback Fundamental to Education?
We all know the value of collaboration in helping students to learn and develop, but how important is peer-to-peer feedback? Teacher of 16 years and co-director of AusMinds, Tammie Meehan, aims to educate communities about the value of developing a growth mindset in our children, through the art of peer feedback. “It’s about revisiting the notion that “it takes a village to raise a child”, she says. “Our school understands the importance of giving our students a voice, allowing them to do the talking, not listening to the teacher talking constantly. Peer-to-peer feedback gives students the opportunity to learn collaboration…
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5 Ways to Create a Learning Environment Without Limits
What do you think of when you hear the term ‘learning environment’? Most of us think of school, or the typical classroom, seeing learning as a scheduled activity restricted to buildings and rooms dedicated to the practice. But what if we saw it differently? Better yet, what if students saw it differently? Many are now beginning to see learning in a different light, creating learning environments without limits that inspire students to learn the way they want, using it as a means of discovery and self-education. Limitless learning environments make it possible to learn anywhere, at any time, and any…
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Teacher’s Toolkit: 10 Survival Tips for Testing Season
For many, April marks the beginning of pollen-related allergies, longer days, and less layers. For educators, it means standardized testing season is upon us. With administration piling high, and pressure steadily mounting, preparations for state tests are in full swing across the country. To help educators keep a cool head and focus on what really matters during this hectic rush to the finish line, we’ve gathered a few of our top tips: #1. See the Bigger Picture Despite the many shortcomings of standardized tests, the focus of testing season should be on the value of assessment, above all. By continuously…
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Why Educators are the Driving Force of Change in Education
Education technology is a fast-paced industry, continuously evolving to meet the challenges of 21st century education. Every now and again, a concept comes to light that claims to ‘revolutionize’ or ‘transform’ education as we know it. Over the years, as a result of these recurring promises that often fail to deliver, we’ve become cynical of far-reaching statements offering an alternative to our familiar ‘one size fits all’ approach to education. But regardless of the innovation that technology puts forward, as Sir Ken Robinson states, “teaching is a creative profession”, and one that requires an innovative mindset that will “mentor, stimulate,…
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Lessons in Success: Why Self-Assessment Matters
Every success story is different. Richard Branson was a dyslexic child who struggled in school whose net worth is now at 4.8 billion dollars. Steve Jobs was a free spirit and college drop-out who went on to revolutionize the computer industry. Oprah Winfrey went from the very depths of poverty and abuse to a multi award-winning talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. What do these stories have in common? Many would say perseverance, ambition, confidence… But without regular self-assessment and reflection, our stories, extraordinary or not, never reach their full potential. While important in every aspect of life and…
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How to Motivate Students to Become Self-Educators
“I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” – Albert Einstein When Einstein first made this statement, many questioned his logic. With educators viewed simply as ‘teachers’, there to offload information and provide answers as they’re needed; teachers taught, students listened. But providing students with the answers and encouraging them to learn is no longer enough. With technology’s ever-growing influence, 21st century students now have every answer they need, when they need it. So what’s the role of the educator? Rather, as Einstein aptly points out, educators are not there to…
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