Category: Collaboration

Posted in Collaboration

Truth Decay

Posted on by Dr. Laura

According to RAND researchers, we need an education overhaul and I could not agree more. They call the new threat to our society the “Truth Decay” and the issues coming from this phenomenon are: political paralysis, erosion of civil discourse, and widespread uncertainty. If we cannot agree on basic facts (such as the COVID 19 pandemic), how will we create a society of future citizens who will solve serious and real issues? This won’t happen without the minimum of the following: opportunities for students to learn about and practice civic engagement in school; opportunities for students to think critically and gather data and facts about real societal issues; access to curriculum and materials that are equitable, inclusive and accurate; teachers and leaders who do all of the above: https://www.rand.org/blog/articles/2020/12/want-to-rebuild-public-trust-focus-on-civic-education.html

Posted in #innovation, Adult Learners, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, EdTech, Faculty Development, Innovation, Pedagogy, Technology

Padlet – Great tool for teachers and others

Posted on by Dr. Laura

I have been using Padlet for years. It is a great way to engage students, share information, and collaborate with others. I also used it today to describe some key things about me that I may want to share with my students or it can even be used to share with an employer when job searching. If you wanted others to add to your padlet, you would leave it open for anyone to add pictures, text, links, etc. https://padlet.com/drmclaughlin/mystory

Posted in #innovation, Adult Learners, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, EdTech, Faculty Development, Technology

Quick survey – all Teachers/Faculty/Educators in all settings – please help!

Posted on by Dr. Laura

I sent this survey out on Friday, and was so excited to send it out that I mistakenly sent a link that didn’t seem to work properly. Here is the correct link. Thanks Dad for letting me know! I don’t know what I would do without my Mom and Dad!!! I promise it will only take 5 minutes or less to complete and we would really appreciate your feedback on teaching in any setting in 2020! Here is a picture of Mom and Dad when things were safer at a family and community event my students and I were hosting at Neumann University.

Posted in #innovation, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Culturally Responsive Teaching, EdTech, English Language Learners, Faculty Development, Family Learning, General, Innovation, Pedagogy, Technology, Young Learners

Teaching in 2020 – Please take our short survey!!!

Posted on by Dr. Laura

Please help us by completing and sharing this short survey. The survey should only take about 5 minutes to complete.

We are collecting research to help us provide resources and tools that are practical, quick, and easy to implement with the goal of increasing student engagement and learning.

We want to know what is working and what are some challenges that others are facing during this time.

This survey applies to anyone who is teaching in 2020 from early childhood through higher education.

Test Driving NearPod with a LIVE Session

On Friday I boldly experimented using NearPod during a LIVE synchronous session for my Math Methods – Teaching Math to Pre-K to 4th grade students.

I let my students (who are all going to be future teachers) know that I was experimenting and that things may not work exactly how I had planned.

I’d created the lesson in NearPod beforehand and then launched it live during my Microsoft Teams meeting.

It allowed all of my students to participate in open-ended questions, live polls, and also post responses on a collaborate board.

At the end of the session, I was able to have a report emailed to me which showed all of the student responses and provided great formative assessment information to me.

This was a great success. Total participation was up, and I gave myself and them another arrow for their quiver in these challenging days of online instruction.

The best part is that NearPod can be used as a free tool for teachers.

Check it out! It can work for all levels of students – K-12 and higher education, too!

And check out my other posts on EdTech, especially VoiceThread.

Status• Posted on by Dr. Laura
Posted in Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, EdTech, Technology

Hack Learning Interview: Education Technology and the 4 Cs with Stephanie Budhai and Laura McLaughlin Taddei

Posted on by Dr. Laura

Mark Barnes from Hack Learning interviewed Stephanie and I on integrating technology into the classroom and helping teachers move technology integration from substitution to transforming teaching and learning.

We talk about the purposeful integration of technology and how can we use this technology to help students develop the 4 Cs (creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication). 

https://youtu.be/DCtaVGYwovs

Teaching the 4Cs with technology: How do I use 21st century tools to teach 21st century skills?

Though it’s now been 5 years, this remains our best (and fastest read) book on the four key skills of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

Budhai, S & Taddei, L. (2015). Teaching the 4Cs with technology: How do I use 21st century tools to teach 21st century skills? ASCD Arias. http://www.ascd.org/Publications/Books/Overview/Teaching-the-4Cs-with-Technology.aspx

Status• Posted on by Dr. Laura