Unpacking Education & Tech Talk For Teachers

Latest Episodes:

The Power of Empowering Students, with Dr. John Spencer (Part 1) Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

We are joined by Dr. John Spencer for the first part of a two-part conversation about empowering students in our classrooms. In this episode, we dive into the topic of student empowerment by breaking down the book he cowrote with A.J. Juliani, Empower: What Happens When Students Own Their Learning. We explore strategies for helping students develop the key skills that they will need to be successful today as well as adaptable in the future.

Dr. Spencer says, “When people would say we need to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet, I kept thinking, well if we don’t know what those jobs are . . . maybe the best way to prepare students for the future is to empower them in the present.” Tune in to this episode to hear our full conversation. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more and access additional, free resources.

Digital Mind Mapping Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

Explore five digital mind mapping tools as well as seven strategies for using these in your classroom. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Unpacking Blended Learning with Dr. Catlin Tucker (Part 2) Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we continue our conversation about blended learning with international thought leader, best-selling author, and blended learning practitioner Dr. Catlin Tucker. This week, we discuss how to leverage blended learning to reduce workload and improve work–life balance. We also address important topics, such as rethinking assessment, improving equity and relationships, relieving classroom pain points, and getting started with blended learning.

If you missed the first part of our conversation with Dr. Tucker, be sure to go back and listen to the beginning of this insightful conversation about blended learning. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

7 Tips for Effective Digital Note-Taking Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Review seven ways that students can take advantage of the unique capabilities of digital tools when taking and processing notes. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Unpacking Blended Learning with Dr. Catlin Tucker (Part 1) Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we are joined by international thought leader, best selling author, and blended learning practitioner, Dr. Catlin Tucker. Together we unpack why should consider a blended learning approach and discuss how blended learning can be an effective solution for many of the pain points educators may be feeling, including a perceived lack of student engagement, the challenges of differentiation, an increasing teacher workload, and the challenges of pacing a diverse group of learners. Throughout our conversation, we emphasize the need for a flexible approach to teaching and learning that can meet a wide range of learner needs.

“When you are still designing a single experience for all learners, that is not equitable," says Dr. Tucker. "What we need to be thinking about and acknowledging in our design work is different learners just need different inputs to get to a particular output, so we need to design learning experiences that allow for that, that allow us to give learners what they specifically need, and I just think it’s impossible to do in these kind of one size fits all lessons.”

This episode is part I in a two-part conversation with Dr. Catlin Tucker. Part II will be released next week. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more about blended learning.

Evaluating the Credibility of Online Information Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

Explore the ABCs of credibility and the four points of examining BIAS as strategies you can use to help your students evaluate the credibility of online content. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Tips for Better Research Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

Learn strategies and tips for successful online research. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

The Importance of Preliminary Research Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

Learn the importance of preliminary research in the research process and discover key steps your students can use in your classroom. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Online Resources for Digital Reading Practice Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of Tech Talk for Teachers, we'll help you discover online libraries filled with quality eBooks, audiobooks, and video that you can use to give your students practice reading in digital formats. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Broadening Participation in K-12 Computing Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

We live in an innovation economy driven by and dependent on computing and technology. Dr. Fletcher points out: “We’re failing students if we don’t give them the opportunity to learn these skills.” It’s not that all students will become computer scientists. However, an understanding and competency in computer science will narrow the gap between those who become opportunity haves and have-nots. Students who learn to leverage technology to do what they want to do will become the societal “haves,” while the “have-nots” are going to be those that have the world “done to them.” Dr. Fletcher reiterates this point when she stresses, “We need to be giving more students the opportunity to really learn the skills they need to contribute, not just as workers but as citizens in the 21st century. And it needs to be a variety of students.”

Tune in to this episode to hear more about the need for computer science education in our schools and potential ways to expand opportunity, access, and participation in the field. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.