A couple of quick takeaways for me (Michael Wacker) are that it's nice to see professional development called out as something we need, but we really have to get away form the paradigm of thinking it's something we do "to" teachers or is done "to" us. The other takeaway I have after reading this is around a question I've asked before. If we're truly "blending" our teaching and environment, what does the space look like? How can we professionally develop as teachers to be better prepared to adapt and modify our existing learning spaces to better meet the needs of a flexible, student centric, tech infused learning environment? If shifting the ENTIRE teaching model paradigm upside down is NOT an option, what is? Is this something that needs to be built, modeled, and then iterated?
I culled some nuggets from the reading.
"teachers who were most effective at teaching students at risk for failure to
read: (a) used small-group instruction, (b) reported collaborating with colleagues, (c) communicated with parents about students' progress, (d) guided students in applying word identification skills as they read, (e) had a common system for monitoring progress, and (f ) were provided extensive professional development on instructional practices."
"Courses where ID professionals were mandated to support classroom created a nearly 30% increase in student-to-student engagement against classroom where instructional design personnel were not used or not a mandated resource in the learning experience. "
"Beyond the four Ds, machines, robots and algorithms will replace - or augment - many human jobs, including professional jobs in fields like law or accounting"
True but classroom teachers should not be deprived of this special when they have a free period for planning, PD, contacting parents. COWS with a specials tchr to reinforce classroom instruction + classroom integration might work better.
These are routinely banned by administrations - they have not seen the every student response without district paying one red cent - that might change minds.
Love communicating with grandson's superintendent on Twitter - I know before the 'official' notification sources when school's are closed. Wish principal and teacher had Twitter too OR let me into the school's Edmodo.
I have a beef with this blanket statement. Libraries with books ARE invaluable for primary students. Once they are hooked on reading, then introduce digital reading. Libraries could have free hot beverages though....