Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

3 things to consider when designing digital learning experiences

Editor’s note: This story on digital learning originally appeared on CoSN’s blog and is reposted here with permission.

Key points:

Teachers, principals, and district administrators are creating digital content every day for a variety of audiences. From classroom lessons and professional learning resources, to staff guides and announcement graphics, more and more information is being delivered in a visual way. Research shows that we process information presented in visual form more quickly than that presented in writing. However, if digital content is created without consideration of accessibility, visual processing, and basic design principles, the message we are trying to communicate can get lost, or worse, misinterpreted. …Read More

Gale and SirsiDynix Announce Partnership That Will Expand CloudSource Index by More Than One Billion Records

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. & LEHI, UT – Gale, part of Cengage Group, a global provider of research and learning resources, and SirsiDynix, a global leader in library technology solutions, are excited to announce a strategic partnership that will deliver more than one billion records to CloudSource, SirsiDynix’s premier content and discovery services platform.

The collaboration is a natural fit for the two companies, whose missions both emphasize the importance of libraries as hubs of discovery and whose software and services are dedicated to helping libraries demonstrate their value and ability to empower their communities. Working together, they aim to offer a seamless search experience for Gale and CloudSource subscribers alike.

The integration displays Gale’s wide range of online databases—including full-text journal articles, newspapers, archives, and eBooks—into a single discovery index.…Read More

5 innovative ways educators are using digital learning tools

Key points:

Digital learning has not always been as ubiquitous as it is today–in fact, a decade ago, the concept made many educators uncomfortable. But today, digital learning resources are embraced as tools that highly-skilled educators can use to boost student engagement and connect classroom lessons to the real world.

Digital Learning Day celebrates this evolution and highlights how educators across the country are using digital learning tools to create authentic connections and personalized learning opportunities for every student, everywhere. Check out All4Ed’s Digital Learning Day resources to find digital learning tools, hear from fellow educators about their digital learning strategies, and more.…Read More

Discovery Education and Boeing Present a New Virtual Field Trip for Students Exploring STEM and Robotics in Aviation Manufacturing 

Charlotte, NC — Discovery Education and Boeing present a new virtual experience – Manufacturing the Future of Aviation Virtual Field Trip – to show students how STEM makes aviation manufacturing more efficient and safer. This virtual field trip is part of FUTURE U, an award-winning program that provides standards-aligned, hands-on, experiential learning resources that ignite excitement and inspire students to become tomorrow’s innovators. 

Premiering Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. ET and available on-demand, this virtual learning experience transports students to manufacturing centers in Renton, Wash., Portland, Ore., and Salt Lake City, Utah to meet the diverse mechatronics, robotics, and ergonomic engineers at Boeing. During the Manufacturing the Future of Aviation Virtual Field Trip, students discover the revolutionary devices and machines that make modern manufacturing safer, faster, and safer. Learn more and register here. 

“It’s critical for us to do all that we can to get students excited about the careers of the future. This new virtual field trip is another exciting way students can learn more about how important STEM careers are in the aerospace industry–and how fun and rewarding they can be,” said Vice President of Boeing Global Engagement Cheri Carter. …Read More

7 Black History Month resources to use the whole year

Each year, we share our 10 most-read stories. Not surprisingly, many of this year’s Top 10 focused on innovative ways to engage students, digital resources, and online and hybrid learning strategies related to post-pandemic teaching. This year’s 8th most-read story focuses on Black History Month resources educators can use throughout the school year.

During Black History Month, educators have the opportunity to delve into the difficult–and often uncomfortable–experiences of Black people in the U.S. and around the world.

Perhaps one of the most important “do’s” is this: Don’t limit your teaching of Black history to the month of February.…Read More

Discovery Education and Social Impact Partners Present Engaging Resources to Support Cybersecurity Awareness Month Observances

Charlotte, NC. — Discovery Education and select social impact partners are offering engaging, high-quality digital learning resources to students and teachers to support observances of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Established in 2004 by Congress, Cybersecurity Awareness Month seeks to raise awareness about cybersecurity and online safety. Discovery Education is the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.   

Observed annually in October, the 2022 theme – See Yourself in Cyber – puts people at the center of cybersecurity. In support of this theme, Discovery Education is providing educators and students access to curated digital resources that can be used to educate students about the importance of online security in all learning environments. Among the no-cost resources created in collaboration with leading social impact partners are:  

Classroom Activities 
In this 30-minute classroom activity from the STEM Careers Coalition™ – the first-of-its-kind national STEM initiative powered by corporate and non-profit leaders and anchored in schools by Discovery Education – students step into the role of a security employee at a technology company and explore the importance of cybersecurity. The activity also features important STEM skills and a step-by-step guide for implementing activities into your classroom.  …Read More

Are teachers in your district spending more time on SEL?

More than 80 percent of teachers say they are spending more time than ever on social-emotional learning (SEL), according to a new survey.

Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) released its State of Education May 2022 Report, which surveyed over 2,000 U.S. educators to understand their perspectives on the state of students’ well-being and social-emotional health, the ways in which schools are handling these needs, the role of social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom, and the overall health of the teaching profession. 

Key findings from the State of Education May 2022 Report include:…Read More

Riverside Insights Joins Forces with Renzulli Learning to Foster Instructional Equity through Engagement

ITASCA, Ill. – March 16, 2022 – Riverside Insights®, a leading developer of research-based assessments and analytics, today announced a new partnership with Renzulli Learning, an interactive online system for whole school enrichment that provides students with personalized learning resources based on their unique interests and learning preferences. With this new partnership, educators can now readily combine the ability insights from Riverside Insight’s Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT®) with Renzulli Learning’s dynamic library of resources to better differentiate instruction and engage all learners in the classroom.

Riverside’s CogAT enables educators to understand students’ potential for learning while Renzulli Learning allows them to leverage students’ interests and preferences to unlock that potential. Educators can attest that aligning instruction with student interests encourages strong levels of engagement from all learners. Paired together, CogAT and Renzulli Learning provide a powerful combination to make learning accessible and fun for every student.

“Riverside Insights’ partnership with Renzulli Learning is a first step in our commitment to support the whole child and their ‘Limitless Learning’ to reach their full potential,” said Riverside Insights’ CEO, Rajib Roy. “We know students learn best when they are invested in the content. CogAT’s unique Ability Profile™ for each student combined with Renzulli’s interactive resources will empower educators to meet every student’s needs through interest-based instruction.”…Read More

Family Of Mission-Led Educational Toy Companies To Support Children And Families In Ukraine

Vernon Hills, IL (March 9, 2022) – With thousands of children and families gravely affected by the conflict in Ukraine, the family of award-winning educational toy companies Learning Resources, Educational Insights, and hand2mind today announced they are providing support in numerous meaningful ways. Along with financial support, the companies are sending a number of educational toys and activity sheets translated into Ukrainian to benefit thousands of refugee children who are in desperate need of resources in their native language.

The family of companies is supporting relief efforts through United Hatzalah of Israel, a non-profit emergency response organization currently aiding families fleeing the war in Ukraine with medical assistance, psychological support, supplies, medicine, and food. A hand2mind employee, Elina Saksonova, Senior Graphic Designer originally from Kyiv, started a fundraising campaign for United Hatzalah to help families affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The campaign has already raised over $13,000 largely from employee contributions and the companies added another $20,000 to the total. The company’s Learning Resources UK office raised money for the British Red Cross serving Ukraine and set up a special project team to create local language, free educational worksheets working with partners located in the UK and Ukraine as well as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. These partners have offered to help by translating and distributing the content, informing others of its availability, and providing toy donations of their own. The translated activity sheets will be available online and also delivered through local relief organizations serving in the region. 

“The war in Ukraine created a massive humanitarian crisis for thousands of families and children. Our team has a sense of urgency to offer meaningful support during this difficult time,” said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources and hand2mind. “With the help of our employees, partners, and local distributors, some of which are in Ukraine and the surrounding areas, we sprung into action. Our hope is to inspire others with our initiatives and support thousands of children and families in dire need right now.”…Read More

9 new digital learning resources from TCEA

With the realization that COVID will stick with us, and with determination to live with it and resume aspects of pre-pandemic life, educators are once again eager to gather at edtech conferences and experience the latest and greatest solutions, digital learning resources, and professional learning opportunities.

In Dallas, TCEA began with keynotes and sessions from top edtech thought leaders and real-world practitioners.

Here’s a sampling of new digital learning tools and innovations from edtech solution providers.…Read More

7 Black History Month resources for February and beyond

During Black History Month, educators have the opportunity to delve into the difficult–and often uncomfortable–experiences of Black people in the U.S. and around the world.

Perhaps one of the most important “do’s” is this: Don’t limit your teaching of Black history to the month of February.

Check out these learning resources (last year’s resources are available here) to get started in February and to plan out how to include Black history in your teaching throughout the academic year.…Read More