• Published on

    Do Educators ❤️ AI? February Resource Of The Month

    Embarking on the transformative journey of integrating artificial intelligence into education, educators often navigate a continuum of skepticism to empowerment. This continuum, spanning from initial skepticism to becoming adept users, serves as a roadmap for educators, instructional coaches, and other stakeholders, providing actionable insights and steps to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in education.
    Picture

    Use the continuum as a springboard to collaborate with colleagues, share experiences, and contribute to the ongoing conversation about AI in education. ​​

    Actionable steps For Each Phase:
    • Skeptics- consider attending workshops or webinars to explore AI's potential benefits and address concerns.
    • Curiosity Seekers- actively experiment with AI, trying different prompts and questions to understand its capabilities better.
    • Dabblers- leverage AI for collaborative lesson planning and seek out specialized training to maximize its potential.  
    • Critics- focus on honing critical analysis skills and teaching students to do the same.
    • Users- continue to strike a balance between AI and traditional methods, fostering an environment of critical engagement.
    Encourage continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-evolving landscape of educational technology.

    ​Add your reactions and ideas in the comments below!

    ​Contact us for professional learning and support around AI! 
    This resource of the month was made in collaboration with Chat GPT
  • Published on

    Support Students in Building Durable Skills: Collaboration

    Picture

    https://americasucceeds.org/policy-priorities/durable-skills

    As technology continues to shift and new tools are available to support us as educators create more meaningful and personalized learning experiences for students we need to begin to think about the importance of developing durable skills in our students (America Succeeds).

    ​Let's be honest- none of us have had a course on how to develop these durable skills!  (Yes, we need to fix that!) 
    Let's start with Collaboration! 
    ​Here are 5 simple ways to add collaborative experiences into your classroom.

    1. Group Projects and Activities:
      • Assign group projects that require students to work together to achieve a common goal.
      • Vary group compositions to provide students with the opportunity to collaborate with different peers.
      • Clearly define individual roles within the group to ensure equal participation.
    2. Classroom Discussions and Debates:
      • Facilitate class discussions on relevant topics, encouraging students to express their opinions and listen to others.
      • Organize debates or structured dialogues where students must collaborate to present and defend different viewpoints.
      • Establish guidelines for respectful communication to create a positive and inclusive environment.
    3. Collaborative Learning Spaces:
      • Arrange the classroom seating to facilitate collaboration, such as clusters of desks or movable furniture.
      • Designate specific areas for group work, equipped with whiteboards or collaboration tools.
      • Rotate students through different collaborative spaces to promote interaction and teamwork.
    4. Peer Teaching and Tutoring:
      • Implement peer teaching activities where students take turns teaching a concept or skill to their classmates.
      • Pair stronger students with those who may need additional support, fostering a cooperative learning environment.
      • Encourage students to seek help from their peers before asking the teacher, promoting a sense of community.
    5. Digital Collaboration Tools:
      • Integrate technology tools that facilitate online collaboration, such as Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, or collaborative project management platforms.
      • Assign tasks that require students to contribute and edit a shared document, encouraging real-time collaboration.
      • Provide guidance on digital etiquette and effective online communication.
    A few things to remember:
    •  Assume students don't know how to collaborate. Take time to discuss what good collaboration looks like.   Even make a list and revisit/ debrief after a collaborative experience to modify and reflect on lessons learned.  
    • Coach students and groups as they are collaborating. Notice effective collaboration and point it out.  If you see an issue, stop and have a discussion with the group and empower them to problem solve. 
    • Be sure group expectations and task goals are clear to help keep groups on task. 
    Download the Durable Skills Framework Today! 
    ​    americasucceeds.org/policy-priorities/durable-skills
    ​

    If you have other ideas or try one of these, share your experience in the comments!! 

  • Published on

    October Resource of the Month: 6 Ways to Use Rubrics in Personalized Learning

    Picture
    Six Ways To Use Rubrics To Support Personalized Learning

    1. Assignment Clarity: 
    Develop a rubric that clearly outlines the expectations and criteria for each assignment. Share this rubric with students before they begin the task to provide a roadmap for success and empower them to take ownership of their learning by understanding exactly what is required.  Give students time to ask questions/clarify the rubric.
    2. Peer Review: 
    Incorporate peer assessment by having students evaluate each other's work using the rubric. This not only promotes ownership of their learning but also helps students develop critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of the assessment criteria.
    ​
    3. Feedback Mechanism:     
    Use rubrics as a feedback mechanism by providing detailed feedback based on the rubric's criteria. (Hint: Use Chat GPT to help you provide feedback using the rubric) This empowers students to understand their strengths and weaknesses and take ownership of their learning by actively seeking ways to improve.

    4. Reflection & Goal Setting: 
    Encourage students to set their own goals by using rubrics as a self-assessment tool. After completing an assignment, ask students to evaluate their work against the rubric. Then have them reflect on their learning and performance to identify areas where they can improve and set new goals for future assignments. This fosters a sense of responsibility for their own progress and self-awareness in their learning path. 

    5. Progress Tracking & Portfolio Guide: 
    Encourage students to maintain a portfolio of their work with attached rubrics and self-assessments. This allows them to monitor their progress over time, identify trends, and make informed decisions about their learning strategies.

    6. Student-Led Conferences: 
    During parent-teacher conferences, have students prepare & present their work alongside the rubrics and self-assessments to demonstrate their understanding of their strengths and areas for improvement. This empowers students to actively engage in discussions about their learning.