Outdoor Lessons Build Environmental Stewardship
At Panorama Middle School in Panora, Iowa, teacher Mark Dorhout has developed an outdoor education program that connects students with nature and fosters environmental stewardship, according to an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette (IA) and summarized in Education Slice. Dorhout has a background in wildlife and fisheries sciences. He emphasizes real-world applications of science…
How to Safeguard Student Privacy in the World of AI
In a survey of 1,020 teachers conducted by the nonprofit RAND Corporation in the fall of 2023, 18% of teachers reported using AI for teaching, with 53% saying they use chatbots like ChatGPT at least once a week, and another 16% reporting using AI grading tools with the same frequency. Many AI companies offer services…
Six Factors Driving America’s Student Absenteeism Crisis
As schools continue to recover from the pandemic, there’s one troubling COVID symptom they can’t seem to shake: record-setting absenteeism, according to an article in The 74. Troubling data are beginning to emerge: In Oakland, Calif., district officials said 61% of students were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year; In Providence, R.I., the district…
How to Use Game-Based Learning to Engage a Reluctant Reader
On average, about 25 percent of children in the early grades struggle with reading, according to an article in eSchool News using content provided by 3P Learning. These reluctant readers find the process complicated, and they lack confidence in their abilities. Then there are disinterested readers. The percentage of students who say they read for…
Three Strategies to Keep Students Engaged Post-Pandemic
In a recent discussion, educators highlighted the pressing challenges they face in engaging students, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an article in Education Week and summarized by Education Slice. Penny Kittle, a literacy coach, emphasized that “engagement is essential to a roomful of creators learning together.” Rigid curricula often stifle…
How to Research and Evaluate AI Programs for the Classroom
How do we ensure that AI supports the fundamental goal of fostering a student’s understanding, rather than simply focusing on speed, efficiency, or correctness, questions Dr. Steve Ritter of Carnegie Learning, writing in eSchool News. Here are a few considerations: Does AI think like a student? Good teachers adjust their instruction to match each student’s…
How to Use Curriculum to Help Students after Extended Absences
Chronic or lengthy absences necessitate additional consideration and planning to help students who miss class regain lost ground, according to a K-12 Dive article. A student’s family should also be involved. Knowing why a student is absent — such as illness or because of the death of a loved one — can help educators understand…
How to Connect Learning to Career Readiness — and Maintain Education’s Relevance
“According to the Post Graduation Readiness Report by YouScience, 83 percent of students cannot connect the skills from school to future employment,” writes Amy Nakamoto of Discovery Education in eSchool News. “Recent research shows that 88 percent of district leaders, teachers, parents and students rate life skills as very important, but only 57 percent of…
4 Tips to Keep Teachers from Burning Out
Writing in Education Week, Kelly Scott, a secondary English teacher in Chesterfield, Va., offers four tips to survive the long winter months before spring break — when you’re already feeling burnt out. 1) Turn off a barrage of social media negativity. Following teacher accounts on Instagram and TikTok is pretty much synonymous with teaching these…
How to Develop Artificial Intelligence Literacy Skills
The question of what makes a person AI literate is evolving, according to an Education Week article. AI literacy is something that every student needs exposure to—not just those who are planning on a career in computer science, experts argue. Experts and educators weigh in on how to begin developing AI literacy: 1) Understand the…
