Myth #1: Technology is ‘Disruptive’ The ‘disruptive’ label is commonly associated with technology, one which has urged educators to look in the opposite direction. While the term may not hold a place in education, the tools certainly do. Technology within the classroom encourages a new approach to pedagogy, facilitating a more collaborative, engaging and creative workspace, with no cause for distraction. It’s time for educators to re-evaluate their understanding of technology, as a tool that can bring harmony to a class, rather than pose a ‘disruptive’ threat. Myth #2: Technology is Over-Complicated and Time-Consuming We often linger under the false…
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5 Common Myths about Teaching with Technology
The Problem with Grades and Subjectivity in Education
Can you remember the last grade you received? How much of an influence did it have on your life today? What does a grade tell us about ourselves? Experts on the subject claim little to nothing. Yet with an age-old system rooted in state exams and test scores, this is a hard pill to swallow. Mark Barnes and his movement Teachers Throwing Out Grades are attempting to rid our system of the grade altogether as others begin to question its value, or more importantly, its credibility. As we continue to ask how we can measure student learning accurately, the objectivity…
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You Cannot Teach a Child You do Not Know
“Children learn at their own pace. It’s inconvenient. It’s terribly inconvenient.” Renowned educationist, Ted Sizer, made this comment, among other thought-provoking statements during his speech at the Australian National Schools Network entitled “I cannot teach a child I do not know.” Sizer goes on to express the need for teacher collaboration on a daily basis to get to know students, the importance of teamwork and flexibility, and why we need to stop categorizing children by their ages. Years on, a similar conversation is still thriving as ‘personalization’ again takes center stage, and we continue to ask if it’s possible to…
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5 New Year’s Resolutions for Educators in 2015
The beginning of a new year is a time where most turn to resolutions as a way to change their lives for the better. For educators, it generally just means getting back into the swing of things as quickly as possible with the new school term fast approaching. What many of us overlook is the opportunity to use the new year as so many others do: as an excuse to try something new. While your new year’s resolutions should be personal goals, tailored to you, here are a few ideas to get you started at making lasting changes in your…
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5 Important Reasons to Give Better Student Feedback
Good feedback is a fundamental aspect of effective learning. Without it, students are left to wander their learning paths aimlessly with no direction, eventually stumbling off task in search of a more stimulating experience. Good feedback should be regular, clear, precise, and positive, urging students to advance towards the specified learning goals with continuous effort, encouraging both personal and academic growth. Despite its necessity, the feedback process is often a very demanding, time-consuming task for educators struggling to meet state, school, and student demands. Learning platforms like Fishtree have since made efforts to alleviate the stress of offering consistent feedback,…
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Competency-Based Education: From Grades to Mastery
Competency-based education is nothing new. Dating back to the 1990’s, postsecondary institutions have been integrating CBE as a means of measuring learning as opposed to measuring time. A more robust, self-paced method of assessment, “CBE shifts the focus from grades to learning, emphasizing frequent, meaningful feedback that empowers students to take more responsibility for learning than in conventional models” (Educause, 2014). Advancements in technology have since brought a new focus on CBE, as an ideal solution for the assessment of learning in both K-12 and higher education. Grades to Mastery With extensive units to cover and a hectic curriculum to…
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A 7-Step Framework for K-12 Technology Integration
‘Technology integration’ is an exhausted term, frantically being passed around schools and districts as a high priority. While aware of its sense of urgency, the term has earned a reluctant reaction from many educators simply fed up of hearing it. While no school wants to get left behind, the added concern of disrupting the harmony of a school body at a time where stability is key has urged some to continue sidelining the inevitable move. What many remain unaware of is how simple technology integration can be, with the right system. Before deciding on an LMS, SIS, or learning platform…
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