How a blended program can change Common Core math

By Gina Piero, eSchool News

One of the biggest advantages it provides is preparing our educators for Common Core instruction through professional development, training, and information sessions. They are given the strategies they need to utilize the online portal’s resources, such as lesson plans, student activity pages, and teaching tools. It also allows us to take a blended learning approach to our Common Core math instruction. Blended learning at the elementary level is different than the traditional definition. In the elementary classroom, we typically think of incorporating multiple instructional strategies, instead of the “sit and get” instructional model of long ago. In our classrooms, educator-direct instruction is minimal and there is much more student exploration and interaction, as well as some type of technology incorporated in most lessons. It’s an approach that seems to be working.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/10/16/blended-math-core-301/

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=14124

Report: How Millennials Use Mobile Devices at College

by D. Frank Smith, EdTech

A new study on the mobile device habits of college students shows they’re leaving their desktops behind and venturing out into an increasingly mobile landscape — one in which higher ed infrastructure will have to evolve to accommodate. The survey from cloud provider Domo polled 2,228 higher ed students to see how they’re using their mobile devices on campuses. Although the survey found that millennials spend more time browsing the Internet on their mobile phone than on their desktop, cellphone web surfing won by only a 2 percent margin (45.7 percent versus 43.4 percent for laptops or desktops).

http://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2015/08/report-how-millennials-use-mobile-devices-college

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from Educational Technology http://people.uis.edu/rschr1/et/?p=13702

44 Kentucky school districts approved for non-traditional learning during bad weather

by WKYT News

When bad weather hits in the upcoming school year, students in 44 Kentucky school districts will now continue their learning even when they aren’t at school. The Kentucky Department of Education has approved waivers allowing the districts to use virtual or other non-traditional means of instruction when school is cancelled because of weather or another emergency. In most cases, students will participate in lessons online. Under the provisions of the waiver, a district may count up to 10 non-traditional instruction days as regular attendance days in its school calendar and not have to make them up.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/44-Kentucky-school-districts-approved-for-online-learning-during-bad-weather-308217471.html

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Aggressive new Nevada law puts private schools in reach of all

By Eric Schulzke, Deseret News

Nevada went all in on school choice this month, with the new GOP legislature passing and the GOP governor signing a sweeping bill offering parents direct access to the money used to educate their children. The new Nevada law, the most aggressive private school choice program yet, allows parents to treat education as an a la carte menu, including mixing and matching public, online, private and home school options. Most parents will be able to take 90 percent of the state funds allocated to their child and put them in a restricted-use education fund. Children with special needs or from low-income families can take 100 percent.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865630714/Aggressive-new-Nevada-law-puts-private-schools-in-reach-of-all.html

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What Reviews Divulge About Online Education

by CourseTalk

1. Providers should embrace reviews from unbiased, third-party sites as a way of promoting improved course selection and engagement.

2. They should not be afraid to charge for quality content.

3. Providers should make courses experiences clear, easy to navigate, fun, interactive, supportive and flexible.

4. They should focus on short course modules, but not hesitate to challenge students with heavier workloads where appropriate.

https://d3q6qq2zt8nhwv.cloudfront.net/s/coursetalk/pdf/newco/What%20Reviews%20Divulge%20About%20Online%20Education.2a5dca1b10b5.pdf

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Dispelling 9 common myths on how to improve student achievement

By Meris Stansbury, eSchool News

According to Dr. John Hattie, a professor and researcher at Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education, research and detailed statistical examination can determine which teaching methods actually improve student achievement and which are, essentially, a waste of time. “Visible learning is about understanding the attributes of schooling that truly drive student learning and have a significant impact on student achievement,” explained Hattie. “As the school year comes to a close, summer provides an opportune time for teachers to reflect on their successes and challenges in the classroom. An important aspect of this reflection is figuring out what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to improving student achievement.” Hattie said he spent more than 15 years conducting nearly 800 meta-analyses of 50,000 education studies focused on student learning.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/06/08/dispelling-common-myths-913/

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The Power of Personalized Learning for School Improvement

by Cameron Pipkin, EdSurge

Personalized learning is on the rise in the American classroom, but let’s be honest: much of the interest has been driven by hope, wishful thinking, and platitudes about the needs of “digital natives.” But now, with over half a decade of on-the-ground implementation to examine, the buzz around personalized learning is being justified by more than just hope. Hard data and peer-reviewed research are confirming the great potential of a well-implemented personalized learning model for creating rich, engaging learning environments that result in dramatic improvements in student achievement—and this research is informing everything that occurs in the personalized classroom.

https://www.edsurge.com/n/2015-05-27-the-power-of-personalized-learning-for-school-improvement

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How To Use Google Voice Commands In Google Drive

By Aiden Wolfe, Edudemic

Since its inception, Google Drive has been a source of excitement for innovation-minded educators. However, as with any new teaching technology, you may find yourself thinking “it sounds intriguing, but will it really make a difference?” In regards to Drive features like audio feedback, the answer to that question is an unequivocal yes. Aside from offering convenience and helping spare teachers from endless amounts of typing, the addition of voice commenting brings with it profound benefits to the learning experience as a whole. Below, you’ll find five compelling reasons to give it a try, as well as a simple guide on how to get started.

http://www.edudemic.com/use-google-voice-commands-google-drive/

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