The scholarship of teaching and learning is thriving

I read with interest Richard Arum’s article “Does research conflict with teaching? It depends what you are researching”, which Times Higher Education published on 5 July. It’s a subject close to my heart, as I’ve spent the past eight years researching how academics engage with the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) to improve both their teaching practice and their students’ learning within a research-driven culture.There are many things on which Arum and I agree. First, that research drives university culture. This is true in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and beyond. It’s also true that research outputs guarantee an academic a more secure future, although this is changing. And I agree that it is of concern if students are not learning during their time at university. However, I was confused by Arum’s assertion that we, as academics, do not enquire into our own practice or into our students’ learning.

Spotlight

Code.org

Code.org is a non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science.Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn how to code. We believe computer science and computer programming should be part of the core curriculum in education, alongside other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, such as biology, physics, chemistry and algebra.

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Education Technology

7 Tips to Better Learn French Verb Conjugation

Article | October 7, 2022

If you’re here, you might be struggling with your French verb conjugations. If English is your native language, learning French conjugations may seem complicated because there are so many more French verb conjugation rules than English ones. Today, instead of diving into the conjugation of avoir or the conjugation of etre, we’re going to share a few tips that can help you learn your French conjugations even better.

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Online Education

Smart Classroom Management Can Boost Student Engagement: Here's How

Article | July 12, 2022

2020-21 proved pivotal for online learning technologies. The sudden shift to remote classrooms pressed educators and parents to emphasize environments conducive to anywhere learning, creating anywhere classrooms everywhere. Classroom management has become integral to these new settings where learning has to be an extension of the physical classroom. Virtual classrooms may still be in their nascent stage, but this is the time to test better ways and establish smart classrooms that are flexible, advanced, and encourage knowledge retention. What Makes a Classroom Smart? A smart classroom will make extensive use of technology to engage and immerse learners. The tools will be designed to generate interactions between educators, learners, and parents through multiple media. For instance, laptops and tablets will complement or even replace books, and a significant portion of the curriculum will require online tools to implement the study plan. According to TeachThought experts, there are eight components to a smart classroom technology stack: Integration of the digital and physical space in learning Live feedback from teachers Diverse technology usage, like smartphone apps and Wi-Fi Workflows that are not linear Customized learning paths and environments Transitioning lessons with no beginning or end A new approach to delivering learning Availability of an immense amount of data Managing a Smart Classroom Traditional classroom management thrives on the ability of educators and students to create a robust learning environment that promotes an exchange of ideas and the creation of a learning ecosystem that is conducive to creativity and productivity. Managing a smart classroom with or without technology is about keeping learners engaged and focused on the learning outcomes. A technologically-driven smart classroom only aids learners to develop self-initiative and act independently when it comes to presenting ideas and projects. Smart classroom management will focus on three things, namely: lesson and group organization; instructional approach, and optimization of technology and time. Passive learning isn’t something every student will prefer, so digital smart classrooms offer them the avenue to initiate learning, actively learning and get involved in class forums. Smart classroom management also comprises addressing technology-based hurdles for accessibility and technicalities. For instance, issues like cyberbullying, data security, ransomware, and a breakdown in internet access can hamper lessons and cause interruptions. What Are the Best Practices to Follow? In traditional classroom management, the emphasis on student-teacher association is paramount. The point is to establish relationships, define boundaries and help identify the students’ strong and weak points in order to help them thrive. Educators and school administrators can follow a range of best practices to get the most out of smart classroom technologies. Here are some best practices to follow: Do a thorough check of whether all technology is working as it should Set a contingency plan for when something goes wrong Determine protocols for providing students with the help and point of contact they need when something isn’t working Set collaboration guidelines to avoid unnecessary back and forth Provide teachers and students with an avenue to engage offline as well Take regular screen breaks What’s Next? Today, technology is a playground of the youth and even the youngest school students are well versed with the use of technology. It is only a matter of leveraging this familiarity and affinity and ensuring that learners are making the most of these skills. Embracing a smart classroom fully will take tome but the possibility to create a springboard for richer learning experience using it is immense.

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Education Technology

What is the Future for AI in EdTech

Article | July 15, 2022

Education Technology, or EdTech as it is colloquially known as is a term that refers to the practice of deploying technology to impart education. As it is highly adaptive and progressive; the education industry has always adopted new technologies, quite readily. Many types of education are already commonly used for educational purposes. These include search engines, live webinars, video streaming, and even specialized training applications.

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Learning from the Pandemic: Steps to Take to Lessen the “Summer” Slide

Article | August 4, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic created unparalleled disruption in worldwide education systems. Schools shut their doors and moved lesson delivery online, forcing educators and students alike to adapt, often without the necessary processes and tools to do so. A recent article in The New York Times reported the sudden switch from classroom to remote learning cleared the slate on academic gains for U.S. students while widening the racial and economic gaps. Thus, catching up when the fall session begins – which is already an annual issue, will become even more of a challenge for many.

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Spotlight

Code.org

Code.org is a non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science.Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn how to code. We believe computer science and computer programming should be part of the core curriculum in education, alongside other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, such as biology, physics, chemistry and algebra.

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Education Technology

Practically acquires Fedena school Erp, becomes world's first company with a comprehensive EdTech product suite

Practically | March 03, 2022

Practically, India's first experiential learning app for students of classes 6th to 12th, has acquired Fedena (Foradian Technologies Pvt Ltd), world's most widely used ERP. Practically is now the world's first EdTech company offering a comprehensive end-to-end product suite for schools. The integrated product will now offer experiential learning content, innovative teaching features, to school management tools. Practically (Lnkdn), recognized as a 'Minicorn' by Tracxn, has carved a niche for itself in the immersive learning space using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Fedena's wide range of features include cloud-based technology solutions for easy administrative and resource planning, examination management, identity card generation, platform for parent-teacher collaboration, timetables to name a few. Through its open-source project, Fedena's products are used extensively in 40,000 institutions, by 20 million users in 20 different languages spread across 180+ countries with India, Middle East, Africa and SouthEast Asia being major regions. "We are thrilled to announce that Practically has become the world's first most comprehensive edtech product suite. This move not only boosts our active user base but also gives us an immediate global reach, besides allowing us to offer our product and services to Fedena's existing network of schools." Ms. Charu Noheria, Co-Founder and COO, Practically "Practically has meticulously built a strong presence in the school education space in India and the Middle East, gradually expanding to other territories as well. By being part of Practically product and team, Fedena's own offering will see greater adoption, more stickiness and deeper reach," said, Neelakantha Karinje, CEO of Fedena (Foradian Technologies). About Practically Practically was founded in 2018 by Mr. Subbarao Siddabattula, Founder & CEO, Ms. Charu Noheria, Co-Founder & COO, and Mr. Ilangovel Thulasimani, Co-Founder & CTO. Practically uses next-generation interactive methods, such as Augmented Reality, Simulations, 3D videos for an enhanced learning experience focused on STEM. We launched the industry first AI led #ScanAnything feature. Practically offers Live classes, Coding ++, 24x7 Seek Help feature for doubt resolution with subject experts. 1,500,000 students, 350+ schools, 18,000 teachers across India & the Middle East are benefitting from Practically. We have been awarded as the Best Edtech start up of the year at Start Up Awards 2021 and was adjudged as the winner at TieCon2021.

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Online Education

Stride, Inc. Launches Pandemic-Proof Professional Development

Stride, Inc. | February 18, 2022

The ongoing pandemic has taught educators everywhere a powerful lesson – the need for flexibility and adaptability to include online or hybrid learning. With more than 20 years of experience in the virtual learning space, Stride, Inc. has much insight to offer during their Promising Practices Conference Series, six online events designed to provide budget-friendly, student-centered professional development for any present and future educator across the globe. According to MDR Education’s EdNET Insights, it is estimated that 74% of teachers in the United States spend about $250 per year, out-of-pocket, for their own professional development. With traditional teaching workshops and conferences ranging from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, Stride’s Promising Practices Conference Series is filling a need for affordable and convenient professional development options at no cost for the first event and $1.99 per person for each of the following five events. “As students become more digitally fluent there is a tremendous opportunity for schools to invest in their teachers’ ability to meet them where they are in order to ensure learning gains. We are excited to extend our decades of expertise in online teaching and learning to educators around the world for the benefit of every student, in a way that is highly accessible and welcoming to educators of all backgrounds.” Niyoka McCoy, Chief Academic Officer at Stride Since 2000, Stride has transformed teaching and learning experiences by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs, training thousands of educators to bring quality hands-on and online curriculum to more than two million students worldwide. About Stride, Inc. At Stride, Inc., we are reimagining learning—where learning is lifelong, deeply personal, and prepares learners for tomorrow. The company has transformed millions of people’s teaching and learning experiences by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary, secondary, and postsecondary settings. Stride is a premier provider of K-12 education for students, schools, and districts, including career learning services through middle and high school curriculum. For adult learners, Stride delivers professional skills training in healthcare and technology, as well as staffing and talent development for Fortune 500 companies. Stride has delivered millions of courses over the past decade and serves learners in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The company is a proud sponsor of the Future of School, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap between the pace of technology and the pace of change in education. More information can be found at stridelearning.com, K12.com, galvanize.com, techelevator.com, and medcerts.com.

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Online Education

Parkway School District Optimizes Blended Learning Environments with PowerSchool Solutions

PowerSchool | January 15, 2022

PowerSchool, the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education, today announced that Parkway School District in Chesterfield, Missouri, utilizes PowerSchool solutions to create optimal learning environments for students. Through their partnership, Parkway Schools sees benefits from PowerSchool’s Unified Classroom® Schoology Learning and Naviance by PowerSchool solutions to support district-wide teacher collaboration and student career preparation efforts, respectively. “As a long-time Unified Classroom Schoology Learning and Naviance by PowerSchool user, both solutions have played an instrumental role in improving our in-person, distanced and hybrid learning environments,” said Bill Bass, Innovation Coordinator - Instructional Technology, Information, Library Media, and Federal Programs, Parkway School District. “Thanks to PowerSchool's dedication to interoperability and teaching and learning, we have been able to transform our work and foster more meaningful learning experiences for our students and staff. PowerSchool continues to serve as a trusted partner and resource for our district, and I look forward to working with them for years to come.” Parkway Schools cited PowerSchool’s Unified Classroom® Schoology Learning as an instrumental solution that has helped the district foster improved learning environments over the years, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With the district’s ongoing usage of Schoology prior to school shutdowns, the district was prepared to shift from in-person to virtual classrooms in a timely and efficient manner, creating a seamless virtual (and now blended) learning environment for students and staff. Additionally, the district said Schoology’s Assessment Management Platform (AMP) enables educators to collaborate with one another to create improved question-based assessments for students. Prior to partnering with PowerSchool, the district used various learning management systems and realized the need for a comprehensive platform to manage student assessments, district curriculum, e-learning efforts and digital content. Since integrating Unified Classroom® Schoology Learning, Parkway School District has seen improvements related to personalized student instruction, teacher collaboration and student performance. The district has also used Naviance by PowerSchool, providing students self-discovery tools that help them uncover their strengths and interests to make informed decisions about their futures. “Parkway School District’s use of our Unified Classroom Schoology Learning and Naviance by PowerSchool solutions truly shows the expanded capabilities educators can have by partnering with PowerSchool. We’re proud to see the continued impact our solutions make for Parkway Schools’ educators and look forward to empowering these changemakers for years to come.” Craig Greenseid, PowerSchool Chief Revenue Officer Parkway School District is a diverse, suburban school district located in Chesterfield, Missouri. The district serves over 17,000 students across 29 campuses within the St. Louis County community. Since its founding, Parkway Schools has received several accolades within the broader St. Louis community, including a designation as a Top Workplace by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Business Health Culture Award from the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition, among others. About PowerSchool PowerSchool is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents, with the shared goal of improving student outcomes. From the office to the classroom to the home, it helps schools and districts efficiently manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, assessments and analytics in one unified platform. PowerSchool supports over 45 million students globally and more than 13,000 customers, including over 90 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States, and sells solutions in over 90 countries.

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Education Technology

Practically acquires Fedena school Erp, becomes world's first company with a comprehensive EdTech product suite

Practically | March 03, 2022

Practically, India's first experiential learning app for students of classes 6th to 12th, has acquired Fedena (Foradian Technologies Pvt Ltd), world's most widely used ERP. Practically is now the world's first EdTech company offering a comprehensive end-to-end product suite for schools. The integrated product will now offer experiential learning content, innovative teaching features, to school management tools. Practically (Lnkdn), recognized as a 'Minicorn' by Tracxn, has carved a niche for itself in the immersive learning space using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Fedena's wide range of features include cloud-based technology solutions for easy administrative and resource planning, examination management, identity card generation, platform for parent-teacher collaboration, timetables to name a few. Through its open-source project, Fedena's products are used extensively in 40,000 institutions, by 20 million users in 20 different languages spread across 180+ countries with India, Middle East, Africa and SouthEast Asia being major regions. "We are thrilled to announce that Practically has become the world's first most comprehensive edtech product suite. This move not only boosts our active user base but also gives us an immediate global reach, besides allowing us to offer our product and services to Fedena's existing network of schools." Ms. Charu Noheria, Co-Founder and COO, Practically "Practically has meticulously built a strong presence in the school education space in India and the Middle East, gradually expanding to other territories as well. By being part of Practically product and team, Fedena's own offering will see greater adoption, more stickiness and deeper reach," said, Neelakantha Karinje, CEO of Fedena (Foradian Technologies). About Practically Practically was founded in 2018 by Mr. Subbarao Siddabattula, Founder & CEO, Ms. Charu Noheria, Co-Founder & COO, and Mr. Ilangovel Thulasimani, Co-Founder & CTO. Practically uses next-generation interactive methods, such as Augmented Reality, Simulations, 3D videos for an enhanced learning experience focused on STEM. We launched the industry first AI led #ScanAnything feature. Practically offers Live classes, Coding ++, 24x7 Seek Help feature for doubt resolution with subject experts. 1,500,000 students, 350+ schools, 18,000 teachers across India & the Middle East are benefitting from Practically. We have been awarded as the Best Edtech start up of the year at Start Up Awards 2021 and was adjudged as the winner at TieCon2021.

Read More

Online Education

Stride, Inc. Launches Pandemic-Proof Professional Development

Stride, Inc. | February 18, 2022

The ongoing pandemic has taught educators everywhere a powerful lesson – the need for flexibility and adaptability to include online or hybrid learning. With more than 20 years of experience in the virtual learning space, Stride, Inc. has much insight to offer during their Promising Practices Conference Series, six online events designed to provide budget-friendly, student-centered professional development for any present and future educator across the globe. According to MDR Education’s EdNET Insights, it is estimated that 74% of teachers in the United States spend about $250 per year, out-of-pocket, for their own professional development. With traditional teaching workshops and conferences ranging from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, Stride’s Promising Practices Conference Series is filling a need for affordable and convenient professional development options at no cost for the first event and $1.99 per person for each of the following five events. “As students become more digitally fluent there is a tremendous opportunity for schools to invest in their teachers’ ability to meet them where they are in order to ensure learning gains. We are excited to extend our decades of expertise in online teaching and learning to educators around the world for the benefit of every student, in a way that is highly accessible and welcoming to educators of all backgrounds.” Niyoka McCoy, Chief Academic Officer at Stride Since 2000, Stride has transformed teaching and learning experiences by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs, training thousands of educators to bring quality hands-on and online curriculum to more than two million students worldwide. About Stride, Inc. At Stride, Inc., we are reimagining learning—where learning is lifelong, deeply personal, and prepares learners for tomorrow. The company has transformed millions of people’s teaching and learning experiences by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary, secondary, and postsecondary settings. Stride is a premier provider of K-12 education for students, schools, and districts, including career learning services through middle and high school curriculum. For adult learners, Stride delivers professional skills training in healthcare and technology, as well as staffing and talent development for Fortune 500 companies. Stride has delivered millions of courses over the past decade and serves learners in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The company is a proud sponsor of the Future of School, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap between the pace of technology and the pace of change in education. More information can be found at stridelearning.com, K12.com, galvanize.com, techelevator.com, and medcerts.com.

Read More

Online Education

Parkway School District Optimizes Blended Learning Environments with PowerSchool Solutions

PowerSchool | January 15, 2022

PowerSchool, the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education, today announced that Parkway School District in Chesterfield, Missouri, utilizes PowerSchool solutions to create optimal learning environments for students. Through their partnership, Parkway Schools sees benefits from PowerSchool’s Unified Classroom® Schoology Learning and Naviance by PowerSchool solutions to support district-wide teacher collaboration and student career preparation efforts, respectively. “As a long-time Unified Classroom Schoology Learning and Naviance by PowerSchool user, both solutions have played an instrumental role in improving our in-person, distanced and hybrid learning environments,” said Bill Bass, Innovation Coordinator - Instructional Technology, Information, Library Media, and Federal Programs, Parkway School District. “Thanks to PowerSchool's dedication to interoperability and teaching and learning, we have been able to transform our work and foster more meaningful learning experiences for our students and staff. PowerSchool continues to serve as a trusted partner and resource for our district, and I look forward to working with them for years to come.” Parkway Schools cited PowerSchool’s Unified Classroom® Schoology Learning as an instrumental solution that has helped the district foster improved learning environments over the years, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With the district’s ongoing usage of Schoology prior to school shutdowns, the district was prepared to shift from in-person to virtual classrooms in a timely and efficient manner, creating a seamless virtual (and now blended) learning environment for students and staff. Additionally, the district said Schoology’s Assessment Management Platform (AMP) enables educators to collaborate with one another to create improved question-based assessments for students. Prior to partnering with PowerSchool, the district used various learning management systems and realized the need for a comprehensive platform to manage student assessments, district curriculum, e-learning efforts and digital content. Since integrating Unified Classroom® Schoology Learning, Parkway School District has seen improvements related to personalized student instruction, teacher collaboration and student performance. The district has also used Naviance by PowerSchool, providing students self-discovery tools that help them uncover their strengths and interests to make informed decisions about their futures. “Parkway School District’s use of our Unified Classroom Schoology Learning and Naviance by PowerSchool solutions truly shows the expanded capabilities educators can have by partnering with PowerSchool. We’re proud to see the continued impact our solutions make for Parkway Schools’ educators and look forward to empowering these changemakers for years to come.” Craig Greenseid, PowerSchool Chief Revenue Officer Parkway School District is a diverse, suburban school district located in Chesterfield, Missouri. The district serves over 17,000 students across 29 campuses within the St. Louis County community. Since its founding, Parkway Schools has received several accolades within the broader St. Louis community, including a designation as a Top Workplace by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Business Health Culture Award from the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition, among others. About PowerSchool PowerSchool is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents, with the shared goal of improving student outcomes. From the office to the classroom to the home, it helps schools and districts efficiently manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, assessments and analytics in one unified platform. PowerSchool supports over 45 million students globally and more than 13,000 customers, including over 90 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States, and sells solutions in over 90 countries.

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