Kaleigh Braverman ESchoolNews

August 30, 2017

How Digital Badges Are Shaking Up Teacher PD - Post
As soon as I saw the title of this article, I was intrigued by the information it may contain. I am
familiar with digital badges in a fun aspect when using social media sites, but have never thought
about their uses within the educational sphere. This article speaks to the advantages of using digital
badges to track teachers' PD experiences and skillsets that are learned through professional work.
These badges would serve as a continuously growing portfolio used by educators to track their
credentials and pave a way for their professional growth. To me, it seems as if this revolutionary idea
bridges the gap between teacher education and student education, making educator's PD more
individualized and engaging. Teachers can be excited to develop skills and strategies that are
beneficial and directly relate to their position and students. Teachers can feel particularly validated
for their efforts in professional growth by applying what they have learned and receiving a digital
badge that will follow them through their career as a component of their resume as opposed to
simply sitting through a lecture-style meeting. The friendly competition that digital badges creates
within the educational community can also be a fun way to encourage colleagues to constantly
continue their education. It feels good to see educational technology making gains not only in regard
to student achievement, but also in regard to teacher achievement.
https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/08/31/digital-badges-shaking-teacher-pd/2/
Makerspace - Response
The idea of makerspace is interesting to me. I love the DIY concept and getting the students
involved in creating something, since we all know that creation is the highest level of questioning in
Bloom's Taxonomy. Thank you for including this informative infographic. It definitely provides
teachers with a place to start for an idea that can seem like a big task to tackle. I'm wondering if it's
possible to incorporate makerspace into subject areas other than STEAM (such as 5th grade
ELA??). Thanks for making me think!

Digital Badges Response

I also wrote about this article and was very intrigued. I whole-heartedly agree with what Toni
is saying about the importance of teacher PD being differentiated and the ability that digital badges
gives us to identify "experts" in a certain field.

Eileen, here's a quick definition of digital badges from Wikipedia- "Digital badges are a
validated indicator of accomplishment, skill, quality or interest that can be earned in various learning
environments." Think of it like a literal badge a girl scout or boy scout may be awarded for a specific
skillset. However, these badges would be displayed digitally in an online platform. The article also
talks about how these badges are portable among different platforms, meaning that the badge is
"owned" by you, rather than the website it is held on. Take a look at this picture to see what it may
look like. =)
September 6, 2017
"Nearly a third of U.S. teenagers use technology to cheat" - Post

As much as technology is a benefit in the classroom, many teachers find it difficult to safeguard
against common issues when it comes to technology- cheating and cyberbullying. This article spoke
about nearly a third of students in high school using the technology that they are expected to use
Kaleigh Braverman ESchoolNews

responsibly to cheat or skirt around school content blocks. Our students are smart and resourceful,
and they can certainly figure out more than we know when it comes to technology. One fact that
disturbed me was that "the percentages of reported cheating and accessing banned sites were
higher in the United States" than in countries such as Australia, the UK, and Canada. What are we
doing differently here in the states?

In addition to cheating, cyberbullying has been a huge hot topic in regard to technology. The
article stated how easy it is for students to lose sight of empathy and hide behind social media
platforms. In my personal opinion, we can combat these issues by starting to teach digital citizenship
in kindergarten. Teachers should be frequently speaking to their students and engaging their
students in activities to promote positive images online. Expectations must be set and students must
buy into why it is important to be responsible with the technology that they use. If we begin this at a
young age and actually follow through with it frequently, we may see some improvement.
https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/09/07/teenagers-use-electronics-cheat/

Copyright Response
I am excited for your presentation on digital citizenship because although I would consider
myself an excellent digital citizen, I realize that I probably unintentionally make many mistakes when
it comes to copyright. There are so many rules that we often forget even as adults. I think it is going
to be so beneficial to be reminded of this so that, like you said, we can practice what we preach and
demonstrate these practices in our classrooms!
Roadblocks Response

I totally agree with you, Kelly! Even though technology is readily available to my students due
to the fact that they have 1:1 devices, there are many times that the technology we want to use just
does not work. The internet often gives out (probably due to the fact that there are so many people
signed on at once), and this causes a huge problem because almost everything we do involves
network connection. I can easily see how nearly 100% of teachers find some kind of roadblock that
prevent them from using it the way they wish they could. When we can use technology to its full
potential though, we see some amazing things happen in the classroom!

September 13, 2017

Why we need to change the teacher vs, tech narrative Post

The main point of this article was to emphasize that teachers will never be made obsolete by
technology. The author wants to shift teachers focus from thinking negatively (teachers vs.
technology) to thinking positively (teachers embracing technology). One quote from the article that
particularly stuck out to me was, the future of learning technology is not replacing teachers, but
amplifying their ability to meet the learning needs of their students. As teachers, we often find
ourselves battling with the technology that is supposed to be benefiting our classrooms, and it is
easy to feel frustrated. It is also easy to feel obsolete when the same technology is working so well
that the students can practically teach themselves.
Kaleigh Braverman ESchoolNews

There are two areas specifically in which technology serves us well as teachers, allowing us
to amplify our ability to reach our students reallocating teachers time and targeting students
individual learning needs. Due to the fact that we have a never-ending list of things to accomplish in
a given day, educators can use technology in their classroom to offload basic, yet very important
tasks to learning management systems and applications. This gives us the opportunity to spend the
most time on the aspects of teaching that have the biggest impact on students such as creating
classroom environment, providing guidance and mentoring, offering feedback, and facilitating higher-
level thinking. Without technology, teachers find it very difficult to reach a classroom of students on a
variety of academic levels without some students falling behind or some students becoming
disengaged. With technology, teachers have the ability to easily collect and access student data in
order to determine strengths and weaknesses and implement differentiated instruction.

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/09/12/change-teacher-vs-tech-narrative/

Growth Mindset Response

I love that you chose to search for something that is relevant to you and your classroom! I
always begin my year with a focus on growth mindset, and the students love learning about it. They
honestly always reference the things that we spoke about during the very first week of school
relating to this topic. I have a flipchart that I love to use for growth mindset, if you're interested!

I definitely agree with your statement that technology is unbelievably valuable to us as

teachers, especially when accessing research. I am always looking for the "why?" Why is this
particular educational approach really beneficial, and will it work in MY classroom? Technology has
allowed me to do this research on my own rather than just blindly accepting what others tell me is
correct.

Edtech Developments Response

The title of this article specifically jumped out at me as I was perusing the ESchoolNews
website this week. I noticed that they mentioned "coding as a literacy" as one of the many
developments set to impact K-12 teaching and learning. I'm very interested to learn more about this
and what it would look like in schools. I feel like "coding" has been a buzz word lately that I have
heard will be a skill required of our students in the work force in the future, but I realize that I don't
know much about it. I also really liked that this article categorized the challenges educators face by
"solvable challenges, difficult challenges, and wicked challenges." This was so realistic and
relatable!

September 20, 2017

"For PD, the days of one-and-done are dead and gone!" Post

This article speaks about teacher education and professional development like student
education. Instead of a "one and done" approach, it is now understood that teachers should not be
expected to learn all that there is to know on an ever-changing subject in one class or session. To
accomplish providing beneficial, on-going professional development opportunities for teachers, the
Kaleigh Braverman ESchoolNews

article suggests 4 best practices for teacher education: collaborative learning, creative engagement,
goals the feel important, and online access. That sounds similar to best practices for student
education as well.

By participating in collaborative engagement, teachers are given a voice in their professional

development and therefore are more likely to be fully immersed and engaged in the work they will be
implementing in their classrooms. Creative engagement is essential since, let's face it, teachers can
sometimes be the worst students. We want to see activities and professional development that are
relevant to our subject areas and follow best teaching practices as we do in our lessons each day.
Goals that feel important are not just important to teachers, but to all people. We need to have goals
in mind in order to keep us involved in our work. Lastly, online access helps to make professional
development resources always accessible to its participants. It allows for increased collaboration
and immersion in the study which is important for meaningful work.

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/09/21/pd-days-one-done-dead-gone/

Small Group Instruction Response

My school's SPP was geared towards small group instruction last year, so I can relate to this.
The research here is undeniable- small group instruction driven by data (all types) benefits students
academically. At my school, we were encouraged to use a 10 day organizer to plan our small group
instruction and identify what data was driving our instruction. A little tedious, but definitely helpful! :)

Makerspaces Response

Very interesting article! I have heard so much about makerspaces recently, but I honestly did
not know much about them. I am surprised that my school has not embraced this concept more. I
would be really interested to see it in action!

September 27, 2017

District Technology Specialist: These are the critical success factors for 1:1 Post

This article talks about a school district that, like BCPS, implemented a 1:1 device initiative
for its students recently. It documents the district's journey towards 1:1 because, as we know, this
type of beneficial initiative does not happen overnight. The district began supplementing their
outdated technology years before even tackling the question of whether or not 1:1 devices would be
feasible, but after seeing the ever-lasting need for up-to-date technology in the classroom, the
district decided to take this proposition very seriously. After compiling the research and thoughts of
multiple programs, the following list was compiled as a guide to the successful implementation of 1:1
devices- "The right infrastructure, the right devices for all users, a good mobile device management
(MDM) solution, a strong communications plan, a consideration for online safety, detailed project
planning, and lots of flexibility."

In my opinion, I feel as if the most important take-away from this article was that there are
many factors that go into the effective implementation of 1:1 devices for students. As educators, we
must use data to drive our decision-making when it comes to using technology in our classrooms to
our advantage. We must ask ourselves, "Does this technology enhance or transform my students'
Kaleigh Braverman ESchoolNews

learning?" If the answer is no, then is the technology worth it? This article highlights that the next
step is promoting digital citizenship with our students. I believe that we need to be promoting digital
citizenship even before putting these devices into our students' hands. Our students need to know
what is expected of them when using technology in school as opposed to outside of school before
being expected to adhere to these expectations.

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/09/27/mobile-device-management-data/2/

Maslows Hierarchy to Edtech Response

This is a very interesting read. I loved learning about Maslow's theories in Psychology
classes throughout college, but I never considered how that would apply to educational technology.
It is very true that technology and communication are two essential needs of students in today's
society. I feel as if there are so many other ways that we can apply Maslow's theories to edtech, now
that I think of it. Self-actualization and esteem are two things that can be further developed through
the use of technology.

Social Media in the Classroom Response

Wow, I really agree with this article! What a great read after last week's presentation, as you
said. I also love using social media in order to understand, relate to, and engage my students. They
love tweeting from our classroom twitter, making musical.lys, etc. However, I recognize that there
can be downfalls to social media in the classroom. I feel that if we can introduce using social media
safely and for an educational purpose early in schools, then maybe students would be more likely to
use social media appropriately outside of school as well.

October 4, 2017

Text, tweet, email, call what do parents want in school communications? Post

In terms of school communication, parents these days expect a lot from their children's
teachers. They expect more information than ever before (rightfully so), and they want that
information to be "timely, targeted, and personalized to their children or their interest areas." With
such a wide audience of people schools are trying to reach, parents, guardians, grandparents, etc.
often receive school-related information by word of mouth. However, this form of communication is
often unreliable and not the most effective for the school. Some areas that parents specifically
requested to know more about revolved around technology. They included information about apps to
support learning, types of technology and skills their child is learning, and types of technology they
should have at home to support learning. In an evolving tech-based world, I'm not surprised that
these are the areas about which parents seek more information. When it comes to parent
communication, it is important to keep in mind that one specific mode of communication is not going
to reach all audiences. A combination of simple modes of communication are necessary and it does
not have to be a hassle. Parents prefer email and text messaging with a combination of social
media. Join the community and start communicating!

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/10/05/parents-school-communications/2/

School Communication Response

Kaleigh Braverman ESchoolNews

I think it's funny that we both chose to read the same article, probably because parent-
teacher communication is a huge deal at our school. I was so surprised to see the statistic about the
amount of parents that use Twitter as a form of communication. I have to believe that that statistic
would be higher specifically at our school. It just goes to show that although Twitter is a great way to
stay connected, we have to be sure to have alternative forms of communication with our families as
well!

Tech Essentials Response

The Lightspeed Activate System sounds awesome! I think that would be really beneficial in
my ELA classroom. That way, when I am preoccupied meeting with a group of students, I can still
listen in or assess learning in other small groups of students. In addition, I would be able to monitor if
students were on task during the small group!

October 11, 2017

6 paths to innovation under ESSA Post

This article discusses a new act that has been passed called the Every Student Succeeds
Act (ESSA) that gives states more power than they previously had under No Child Left Behind
(NCLB). It provides a guides for schools to use this new-found power to focus on innovation.
Innovation can be defined as the creation of something new, so it is imperative that schools are not
simply adding on to previous efforts. They must go beyond and experiment with how innovation fits
best in their school, introducing new initiatives effectively.

The article outlines four principles to help schools manage innovation. They are as follows-
Principle 1: Pursue both sustaining and disruptive innovations

Principle 2: Understand your RFP and its limitations

Principle 3: Deploy tools of cooperation

Principle 4: Organize the right teams to pursue innovation

Additional strategies that are suggested are using grant money to address disruptive innovation and
create course access programs, rethinking teacher preparation programs, creating better measures
of student success, and supplying the right tools for cooperation and innovation.

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/10/13/6-approaches-innovation-essa/2/

Lack of Resources Response

I love your first-hand take on this article. With this wonderful switch to tech-based instruction,
there are downsides that must be addressed. We talk about the immense amount of digital
resources coming in, but we forget about our lack of resources to properly and effectively implement
these new digital initiatives. The hard truth is that its not up to individual schools, and we need
county support and county reps in our schools to see our struggles in action. Then maybe a little
more funding could be allocated towards the resources needed for these new initiatives to be
successful!
Kaleigh Braverman ESchoolNews

Literacy Strategies Response

This post appealed to me as an ELA teacher specifically, and I thought it was interesting
thinking about this from a foreign language stand point. Im sure that a focus on literacy in your
school is easier said than done in a classroom in which students are learning a language at an older
age. That, of course, doesnt negate its importance! I like your point that using rich and plentiful
language orally is key. The more our students hear us being literate, the more their literacy will
develop!

October 18, 2017

Identifying wolves among sheep in the age of student cyberbullying Post

This article discusses types of cyberbullying, how it affects students, and what can be done
to remedy it. One quote that particularly stuck out to me while reading is "Imagine being in a
classroom of 25 people, knowing that this classroom is not normal unless at least five of those
students are being bullied." The statistics around bullying, specifically cyberbullying, are alarming as
a teacher. How can I expect my students to use technology appropriately in my classroom when
they are not using it appropriately at home? Some basic methods of cyberbullying are harassing
someone directly, impersonating someone, and photographs and video. Cyberbullies have gotten
creative as time goes on, and they do things such as reporting people with the intention of getting
them banned or investigated on social media sites, spying on people, posting personal information of
their victim publically online, or creating internet polls on social media sites to make fun of
individuals. Cyberbullies have also begun stealing victim's passwords, pretending to be them online,
and ruining their public perception. All of these things, coupled with the sharing embarrassing photos
or videos, publically shame individuals and lower their self-esteem. In order to alleviate the effects of
cyberbullying, parents and teachers need to be aware of the supports put in place by schools and
the government to protect their children.

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/10/18/identifying-wolves-cyberbullying/

Co-Teaching Response

This is SUCH A GOOD IDEA!!!!! Obviously, by reducing the student to teacher ratio, student
achievement was benefitted, and teachers were able to effectively reach their students in a timelier
manor. The biggest downfall would probably be the fact that we just don't have enough teachers (or
money) to have two teachers in a classroom. =( I wish!

Modern Schools & Workplaces Response

I think it's wonderful that modern schools are beginning to mimic modern workplaces! In
addition to removing us from our stagnant schoolhouse past and improving instruction (as you said),
it better prepares our students for what is waiting for them beyond our school doors. My student-
centered classroom provides the students with so much structured choice, and they absolutely love
it. It helps them to be more engaged, interested, and successful in my classroom, and I believe it
better prepares them for the choices the world provides them.