Author: By Alexander Gibson, Math and AP Computer Science Principles Teacher, William Penn Senior High School, York, Pennsylvania

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Esports

How to establish international collaboration with esports

A Pennsylvania school's esports team got a firsthand experience in international collaboration using a familiar tool--Minecraft

By Alexander Gibson, Math and AP Computer Science Principles Teacher, William Penn Senior High School, York, Pennsylvania

As the high school esports club advisor for the William Penn Cybercats, I have had the opportunity to work with my students on some pretty awesome projects. From building our club infrastructure to coordinating a beyond the games challenge, to organizing our first esports teams in Rocket League and Madden … Read More

Esports

How to build diversity, equity, and inclusion with scholastic esports

Educators realize scholastic esports is about more than competition--it's about building connections and embracing all who want to participate

By Randall Deich, NASEF Scholastic Fellow, Computer Science Teacher, and Founder/Chief Networking Officer, Regenerate Tech

The inclusion of scholastic esports in academic programs is yielding strong and widespread results in the youth of today. Research demonstrates that strong communities are developing, with deep engagement from students who are involved in scholastic esports, particularly students that normally don’t become involved with school activities. Because of that … Read More

School libraries and librarians

Defining Future Ready by reflecting on the past

Libraries and librarians play a critical role in every aspect of teaching and learning—discover what it means to be Future Ready

By Britten Follett

Confession: I’m a bit of a hoarder. I’ve kept every email, text message, and document I’ve ever written.  It’s probably the journalist in me. Or it’s being the daughter of two antique collectors and the granddaughter of a collector of everything.  Yet quite often, calling on history can help us … Read More

School libraries and librarians

4 tips to make your media center renovation a success

Here are four steps that all K-12 schools can use to transform their media centers into the most student- and teacher-friendly places on campus

By George Geer

When I came on board as Georgetown High School’s Media Specialist three years ago, the school was in the planning stages for a revamped media center. The existing library featured solid oak desks and shelves, which had served our school well when students generally only came to the media center … Read More

School libraries and librarians

School librarians can save democracy

When it comes to equity, critical thinking skills, and evaluating information, school librarians are critical for students

By Eileen Belastock

Regardless of one’s political views, there seems to be consensus on one political reality: America is dangerously polarized. According to Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair at New Canaan High School in Connecticut, in a recent edWebinar, “The future of democracy presents a case for the critical need for school librarians … Read More

School libraries and librarians

6 must-haves in a modern media center

Here are the top six considerations that all school districts should factor in when developing modern media centers for 21st-century learners

By John Milburn, Supervisor, Library Media Services K-5, Hillsborough County Public Schools & Tera Jarrell, Media Specialist, Belmont Elementary School

Our county is on track to outpace the nation’s population growth between now and 2024, and is posting 8.7 percent annual growth (compared to 3.9 percent for the U.S. as a whole). With a current population of over 1.4 million, our area is perpetually in need of new or expanded … Read More

School libraries and librarians

7 tips for future-proofing school libraries

The future of school libraries is all about providing equitable access for all students

By Suzi Tonini

Schools in urban districts like Denver Public Schools often struggle to fund library programs, which only exacerbates already existing equity gaps for students of color. And while it is painfully true that tight school budgets often result in unstaffed or understaffed school libraries, I am hopeful. I sense a revolution … Read More

College and Career Readiness

Are your students ready for their next step?

The case for authentic assessment of essential college and career skills to improve student outcomes in college and career

By Doris Zahner, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer, Council for Aid to Education

After more than a year of virtual learning, many educators and parents are investigating approaches to accelerate learning to ensure students are ready for their next step.  Learning does not just mean facts and content but includes a broad range of skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and effective … Read More

College and Career Readiness

Here’s how we’re preparing our students for workplace success

High school students can improve soft skills while learning about their value to the world

By Carole Ng

When I first mentioned the FlexFactor program to my students, they were concerned that they would not be able to “invent” anything new because they believed that everything had been invented already. But the program had a few surprises in store for them, showing them that technology holds endless possibilities … Read More

College and Career Readiness

Redefining what it means to be ‘college-ready’

According to research and the 2018 National Superintendent of the Year, preparing students for the future is more about creating a personalized pathway than teaching to a test

By Dr. David Schuler

Societal pressures on high school seniors seemingly grow by the year. These days, a student’s level of college and workforce readiness is said to be dependent on their college admission test scores, completing the most rigorous high school classes possible, and obtaining AP credit. But research shows that these are … Read More