Author: By Janine Walker Caffrey, Ed.D.

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Digital learning trends, tools, and strategies

3 digital tools that are shifting the teacher’s role

Digital tools can help transform the teacher's role--as long as they aren't complicating the instructional process

By Janine Walker Caffrey, Ed.D.

Technology has infused classrooms with useful digital learning tools and has ushered in a new model of connected teaching. Teachers are now linked to professional content, resources, and systems designed to improve instruction and increase personalized learning. But are all these tech tools making a teacher’s job easier. or more … Read More

Digital learning trends, tools, and strategies

Tips to help IT teams manage digital transformation

District IT teams are tasked with protecting distributed education networks from attacks, while at the same time enabling digital growth

By Peter Newton

From educators, IT teams, and school administrators to parents and students, nearly everyone with a stake in the education industry is aware of the promise new digital technologies hold to improve learning outcomes, increase student engagement, and add variety and depth to instruction and assessment. Whether they’re talking about one-to-one … Read More

Digital learning trends, tools, and strategies

10 online tools for STEM and movement

As students and teachers adjust to learning at home, these online tools help engage students in STEM learning and physical activity

By Michele Israel

If circumstances call for social distancing (think COVID-19!), distance learning comes into play. It has its benefits, wearing PJs among them. It also has its challenges: lots of screen and seat time; virtual tools that might not fully engage learners; and programs that may not be a good fit with … Read More

Assessment

Student assessment trends: A brief history and a bright future

A psychometric expert looks back on 50 years of testing innovation and highlights emerging technologies and methodologies to show educators what their students have learned

By James McBride

Assessment is a valuable complement to instruction. It tells us who has learned and who hasn’t so educators can determine what’s most likely to help a student grow and succeed in the future. With nearly half a century invested in psychometric research—the study of educational and psychological measurement—I think it’s … Read More

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Assessment

Assessment in 2020: How data will mitigate COVID-related learning losses

Assessment is critical to providing targeted instruction in any year, but this fall, understanding where learning gaps exist will be essential for schools looking to make up lost ground

By Dr. Katie McClarty and Dr. Gene Kerns

In normal times, a discussion about the future of assessment might look five years ahead to talk about the prospects of more authentic computer-aided assessments or potential developments in continuous assessment. However, in 2020, we have more immediate needs right in front us, and the assessment tools we may have … Read More

Assessment

How districts can use data now to plan for the fall

Start the year strong by leveraging existing and new metrics to identify performance gaps and increase performance

By Janelle Cach and Rielle Grant

As schools rushed to move face-to-face classes online, the unique challenges faced by students attempting to learn remotely came to the surface. The enormous loss of instructional time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to widen performance gaps in public education. The early warning indicators that districts typically … Read More

Assessment

Try these great digital strategies for assessment

Assessing students over time using digital tools also helps save teachers' time

By Robert Low

Educators can make their instruction more effective and provide practice linked directly to progress monitoring and formative assessment results using a number of free digital tools. Teachers can also take advantage of time-saving features such as automatic grading and the computerized compilation of points awarded for correct answers so that … Read More

Assessment

Modernizing student evaluation in 3 steps

This district used a framework to gather teacher data on modernizing student evaluation and assessment

By Marty Stilin

The Algoma District School Board (ADSB), located in Ontario, Canada, serves a diverse group of 9,400 students across 39 elementary and 10 secondary schools. Through our strategic priorities of achievement, well-being and engagement, we seek to graduate confident learners, caring citizens. For the past number of years, our district has … Read More

Assessment

4 best practices for remote testing as schools reopen

Remote testing may be necessary—but proceed with caution, experts advise

By Dr. Fred McDaniel

As America’s schools reopen this fall, most are returning at least partially–if not fully–virtual. While policymakers, health experts, parents, and educators continue to debate the right course of action, one thing is for certain: back-to-school is here. As students log into their classrooms, another question arises – what has been … Read More