Speak Up 2016: Introduction &Tips Webinar

Webinar Thursday, October 6, 2016

1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT

Julie Evans (and some special guests) held an introductory Speak Up webinar on September 27th at 3pm ET / noon PT. The session was for anyone new to Speak Up, anyone still considering getting involved and anyone who just needs a refresher ahead of this fall’s surveys.

October 6 Webinar information.

Register for the Webinar.

• Overview of Speak Up 2016
• What’s new for 2016
• Why schools and districts participate
• How to get started
• How to promote and boost participation
• How schools will access data
• And, more!

Julie was live and welcomed questions during the webinar! Tweet your questions using the #speakupintro hashtag or email them to Amber at ataylor@tomorrow.org.

Speak Up 2016: Introduction & Tips

Video Recording on You Tube

 

 

 

 

Education Technology in the News – 26 September 2016

News:

• The White House released an online interactive resource package called a Safe Place to Learn. The package provides materials to support school efforts to prevent and eliminate peer-to-peer sexual harassment and sexual violence. They are also putting guidance out for districts to consider when developing a sexual misconduct policy.

Department of Education News:  

• The Department of Education awarded the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) a contract to develop Future Ready Technical Assistance for States. SETDA will engage state education technology leaders in this work at the Leadership Summit Oct 16-19.
• The Department of Education released new guidelines on how states and school districts can better serve English-language learners. The guidelines include information about using the funding for related technology uses. More broadly, the guidance includes information on using ESEA, Title III funds to serve English Learners; design and delivery of language instruction educational programs (including for educators of English Learners); information on parent, family, and community engagement; information on distinct populations of English Learners, former English Learners, immigrant students, and students with disabilities; and publications and resources for administrators and educators who work with English Learners.
• The Department of Education released non-regulatory guidance titled “Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments” to help stakeholders make more effective education investments using relevant, rigorous evidence to improve outcomes for students under ESSA.
• The Department of Education posted a series of fact sheets which highlights the nation’s educational progress over the last either years. The fact sheets cover the following:
  • “Quality Preschool: Providing Every Child with a Strong Start”
  • “Protecting Students’ Civil Rights”
  • “Advancing Opportunity and Success in Elementary and Secondary Schools”
  • “Connecting America’s Classrooms”
  • “Expanding Equity and Opportunity through Strong Student Supports”
  • “Making Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education a National Priority”
  • “Elevating the Teaching Profession and Supporting Educators”
  • “Increasing Postsecondary Access, Affordability, and Completion”

Growing New Hampshire’s 21st Century Science Standards

K-12 Teachers across New Hampshire have been working towards 21st century learning experiences for our students for many years now. The current NH Science Framework will be transformed to improve the integration of content with scientific process skills and cross-cutting themes that nurture deepened opportunities for learning by doing science.
These multi-dimensional learning standards for science provide for strong conceptual learning along with the work study practices needed by critical thinkers and persistent problem solvers. We invite you to learn more about the new direction for our standards and to share in the discussion about how they support the growth and development of our students in science and other career pathways.

• Download a printable flyer

Public forums are being held to learn about the direction for our new K-12 NH Science Standards at:

• September 20 – Concord, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Concord High Media Center)
• September 22 – Plymouth, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Museum of the White Mountains, PSU)
• September 26 – Keene, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Keene State College Student Center)
• September 29 – Hanover, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Hanover High Library)
• October 17 – Groveton, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Groveton High School)

A New Model for Teacher Professional Development

Teachers who embrace new technologies recognize that professional development (PD) can be achieved in part through collaboration with other educators. This type of collaborative learning is not as easily achieved through traditional professional development practices.

Professional development in the digital age should be participatory in nature, where ideas and resources are exchanged and incorporated into instruction. For decades, lofty school reform rhetoric has identified the skills and knowledge that have to be integrated into everyday practice. Yet all too often the structures and demands of teaching in most schools create too many barriers. All stakeholders need to come together to create an environment in which innovative, collaborative PD can thrive.

Free Webinar: Realizing Potential with Mindset

Complimentary 1.5-hour NAPE Webinar

Wednesday, October 5, 2016
3-4:30 pm ET, 2-3:30 pm CT, 1-2:30 pm MT, 12-1:30PM PT

Description
This 90-minute virtual workshop can assist educators and counselors in transforming their practice to foster a growth mindset in themselves and in their students. The workshop will provide an overview of growth mindset, including key characteristics, benefits and strategies to employ in the classroom. Participants will be asked to engage fully in the workshop through activities such as identifying mindset characteristics, reflecting on personal experiences with mindset, considering how to change practices to foster a growth mindset and more. This webinar aligns with the “Realizing Potential with Mindset” Toolkit, featuring research-based strategies and turn-key activities.

STEM 2026 Report Released

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Education, in collaboration with American Institutes for Research (AIR), convened a series of 1.5-day workshops that brought together invited experts and thought leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning to share their ideas and recommendations for an innovative future of STEM education. Nearly 30 individuals, representing a wide range of expertise, contributed to this project. These individuals were selected based on their work in the areas of learning sciences research, culturally relevant teaching and learning, equity and access, assessment and measurement, preschool through 12th-grade (P–12) education, higher education, education technology, afterschool and informal STEM learning, and community networks of learning. This report synthesizes the key observations, considerations, and recommendations put forth by the workshop participants under the auspices of an aspirational vision for STEM education, or “STEM 2026.”

New AIR Report Offers Vision for Accomplishing STEM for All, THE Journal https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/09/15/new-air-report-offers-vision-for-accomplishing-stem-for-all.aspx

Find out more at http://www.air.org/resource/stem-2026-vision-innovation-stem-education

You can download a copy of the report at http://www.air.org/system/files/downloads/report/STEM-2026-Vision-for-Innovation-September-2016.pdf

Education Technology in the News – 14 September 2016

News:

• The Association for Career and Technical Education and Advance CTE released a joint statement, encouraging Congress to act immediately to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, citing momentum on legislation in the House. The House Education and the Workforce Committee unanimously approved the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act” (H.R. 5587) in July. The full House may consider the legislation next week. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has not considered CTE legislation in 2016.
• The State Educational Technology Directors Association released a report titled, “The Broadband Imperative II: Equitable Access for Learning.” Building upon the organization’s prior research, the report encourages broadband access both in and out of school to better prepare students for college and careers. SETDA introduced the paper during a Capitol Hill briefing on September 8. A video archive of the event will be available on SETDA’s website later this month.
• A judge in Connecticut ordered the state to create a new way to fund public education, finding the current system unconstitutional. The judge’s order also will require the state to set mandatory standards for high school graduation, as well as establish new evaluations for public school teachers and standards for special education, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• New Jersey Education Commissioner David Hespe is resigning. Kimberley Harrington, assistant commissioner and chief academic officer, will become acting education commissioner at the end of September.
• The California State Board of Education released a new evaluation system for schools that would rely on a number of measures, including progress of English learners, high school graduation rates, college and career readiness indicators, as well as local indicators such as school climate and student engagement, rather than primarily on standardized test scores.
• The 2017 Creative Commons Global Summit will take place from April 28-30, 2017, in Toronto.

Department of Education News:  

• The Dept. of Education launched the seventh “Opportunity Across America” tour, focusing on the progress made to expand educational opportunities across the United States. Stops will include Washington, D.C., Charlottesville, VA, Bristol, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis, TN, Harvest, AL, Little Rock, AK, Indianola, MS, Monroe, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, LA.

Every Student Succeeds Act News:

• The Illinois Department of Education released the first draft of its ESSA State Plan, which is available here.
• Arizona also released the first draft of an ESSA State Plan for comments, which is available here.

Events:

• Wednesday, September 14 – STEM4US is hosting the third annual Energy, Tech, and Education Festival, with the theme “Mission Critical: Training the Cybersecurity Workforce of Today, Tomorrow” at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Register here.
• Thursday, September 15 (3-4:15pm ET) – AYPF is hosting a webinar titled, “Competency-Based Education as a Strategy for College and Career Readiness for All,” focusing on K-12 competency-based education strategies to prepare students for college and careers. Register here.
• Tuesday, September 20 (6pm ET) – Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) is hosting a Tech Talk titled, “Virtual Reality in Education,” discussing education and virtual reality, with a hands on demo of Google Cardboard and Expeditions. More information is available here.