The Tech Director Checklist for a Future-Ready School District

Education Technology

Article | August 4, 2022

Since some schools across the UK have started to re-open in phases, it’s opened up a whole new set of questions for families. What will it be like for our kids? How will my child adjust to school after months at home? As well as adjusting academically to full-time education again, the emotional impact will be big too. We spoke to NHS Senior Clinical Psychologist, Dr Shreena Ghelani, about how parents can help their get kids ready to return to school, whenever that might be. Here’s what she had to say: Prepare in advance Before it’s time for them to go back, keep school in the minds of your kids – drive past the school if you can so that they can see that it’s still there. When they’ve been given a return date, treat it like the beginning of the school year. Do a test run of getting ready in the morning, make sure school uniform fits, practice packing bags and walking the route to school. For younger children, they may need a settling in period again – parents may have to come into the classroom and ensure their child is settled. For teenagers – use the time while they’re still at home to keep their friendships alive by video call etc. This will help make returning back to their peer group feel less unfamiliar. One step at a time Even when school re starts, you may find that children are more tired than usual by the extra demands and sensory stimulation placed on them. Ease them back in to their routine gently and wait to start other activities (clubs and activities) in a few weeks time. Manage expectations When the time comes, you’ll find you’ll feel less stressed if you know there will be bumps in the road. Allow enough space and time in a new schedule for any hiccups so that you’re not having to manage too many demands (i.e batch cook dinners before hand, don’t agree to extra activities or if possible, adopt flexible working hours). Try to notice if you’re feeling anxious about the return to school in any way and if so, spend some time thinking about it and unpicking it. If children pick up on your anxieties they may feel anxious too. Managing worry and anxiety If you know your child might struggle with going back to school, try developing a toolbox of things they can do when they are worried at school. This might include a song to sing to them selves, visualising a calm place, some affirmation cards, practicing a breathing techniques and identifying safe staff they can tell. You can make this box together and the child can take some bits with them to school. Speak to your children about the impact of Coronavirus Let children know that it is likely that other families have been impacted by the virus (whether that’s key worker parents working hard, or family bereavements). Encourage your child to be patient with and kind to other children. Talk to them about what they might still be expected to do – not hug friends, wash their hands often, not share food or toys etc. For any children with special educational needs, they might need adaptations made for them. This might include visiting the school while it’s empty to familiarise them with the space, a video call with their teacher or a more phased return than other pupils – whatever’s best for them.

Education Technology

Article | October 7, 2022

With more world-class content launching every week, there are always new topics to explore, new skills to learn, and new ways to achieve your goals. These latest courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and MasterTrack™ Certificates cover everything from AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity, to contact tracing, social work, and UX design. What will you learn next? Financial technology (FinTech) is changing the way we think about financial services, and with blockchain technology serving as an encryption base for a variety of applications, understanding its use and limitations is a critical skill for FinTech leaders across industries.

Education Technology

Article | July 20, 2022

At Edmentum, we are so proud to be surrounded by a network of educators that are open to sharing their expertise and best practices in response to enormous challenges. This past spring and summer were no exception. As a result, we’ve collected stories of success, transition, and creative ingenuity to keep students learning and achieving academic growth. Dig into some of the top tips and stories shared with us, then tell us your experience with us by tagging @edmentum on your favorite social platform.

Article | August 11, 2020

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.