On Monday, February 9, 2015, a group of 3rd graders and their College Mentors visited the iStudio to learn about stop motion animation. Using iPads and different manipulatives, students created live action videos of everything from a rhino charging a pyramid to Goofy breaking it down on a celestial dance-floor. The day’s goal was to […]
iCare Web Site: Click on the link to learn how to use the Epson Projector in your classroom. First, You MUST download the software. This is essential for wireless connectivity to the Epson projector. Find, download, and install the EasyMP Network Projection from the Epson web site for the Brightlink 481wi projector. Click here to download the Epson […]
In the 2014 spring semester, BSU held a Graduate Research Symposium on a range of topics corresponding to Education studies. It culminated with a keynote speech from Dr. Yong Zhao. Zhao is the Director of the Institute for Global and Online Education at the University of Oregon. He is an internationally known scholar focusing on […]
“The revolution now under way in student assessment will have profound consequences for schools, teachers, and every public school parent in the nation” (ETS, 2012, pg. 5). According this publication by ETS, the most profound changes in the future of effective assessment exist in the realm of technology. “The benefits of using technology in assessments […]
The United States Department of Education EDFacts initiative was created to “… put performance data at the center of policy, management and budget decisions for all K-12 educational programs” (ED.gov, 2012). This initiative has four primary purposes: 1) “Place the use of robust, timely performance data at the core of decision and policymaking in education”; […]
In regards to assessment, one goal of the U.S. Department of Education is that “Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement” (ED.gov, 2010). According to the U.S. DOE website, schools must collect and aggregate student-learning data via processes that […]
According to Chingos (2012) “In the coming years, states will need to make the most significant changes to their assessment systems since the passage of NCLB as they implement the Common Core State Standards” (Chingos, 2012, pg. 1). In this report, the author stresses the significance of reliable, effective assessment systems, and the costs required […]
The National Center on Response to Intervention was established by the American Institutes for Research and researchers from Vanderbilt University and the University of Kansas through funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs. “The Center’s mission is to provide technical assistance to states and districts and building the capacity of […]
Muoneke (2007) outlines the core principles of a Response to Intervention approach, followed by this definition of RTI: “RTI presents a well-integrated system of instruction and intervention designed for implementation across general and specific educational based on students’ academic performance and behavior data.” (Muoneke, 2007). The author continues by examining some of the essential components […]
Klotz and Canter (2007) have created a Response to Intervention guide for parents highlighting the fundamental components and language of RTI, the objectives of the approach, potential benefits, suggestions for parental involvement in the process, and the next steps in implementation. The authors describe RTI: “… a process that emphasizes how well students respond to […]
This journal article from the educational journal, Theory Into Practice, outlines and examines the major components of a Response to Intervention model as well as the processes necessary to ensure effective implementation of the model. Hughes and Dexter (2011) provide the following definition for understanding RTI: “Response to Intervention (RTI) is an instructional framework through […]
This guide provides and examines eight different recommendations to assist educators and administrators use Response to Intervention as a method for identifying learners requiring academic assistance in the mathematic domain, and the processes required for addressing those needs through focused interventions. The authors highlight the strength of each recommendation and provides suggestions on how to […]
Fuchs and Fuchs’ (2006) Introduction to Response to Intervention: What, why, and how valid is it? highlights the important features of Response to Intervention, explicate much of the RTI vernacular, and explain why it is effective model, both economically and pragmatically. Moreover, they provide insight into what questions remain unanswered and what issues remain unresolved. […]
This Self-Assessment Tool designed by the Colorado Department of Education Exception Student Services Unit provides guidance to schools for the implementation process of a Response to Intervention model. According to the Colorado DOE, Response to Intervention is defined as follows: “… an approach that promotes a well-integrated system connecting general, compensatory, gifted, and special education […]
Reeves (2006) refers to data walls as “One of the most powerful techniques educators and school leaders can use to improve decision making in the classroom, school, and district…” (Reeves, 2006, pg. 1). This article provides the essential components of effective data wall building, what information will compose a good data wall, the utility of […]
The Massachusetts Department of Education defines a data wall as “… a visual representation of data related to specific question or problem” (“Building data walls,” 2010, pg. 1). The purpose of this article is to guide and inform the practice of creating data walls. The resource provides on overview of what data walls are and […]
The following resources provide relevant examples of assessment literacy professional development approaches. http://www.assessmentacademy.net/Assessment101/tabid/55/Default.aspx http://qualityinstruction.org/trainings/assessment-literacy http://ati.pearson.com/events-training/leading-professional-development-in-seven-strategies-of-assessment-for-learning.html
This article situates the need for assessment literacy in a current educational context, and provides descriptions of four separate assessment literacy-training programs intended to improve assessment literacy among experienced and pre-service educators alike. According to Lukin, Bandalos, Eckhout, & Mickelson (2004), considering the changing political and professional relationships within education, the need for assessment literacy […]
Volante & Fazio (2007) examined the assessment literacy of teacher candidates enrolled in a teacher education program at the university level. This study provided said candidates with a survey designed to gauge the respondents’ self-efficacy towards assessment literacy, the primary functions of assessment, different methods for assessment, assessment training, and suggested strategies for increasing assessment […]
This study conducted by Mertler & Campbell (2005) intended to develop an instrument that could accurately measure educators’ assessment literacy. The Assessment Literacy Inventory, or ALI, was then examined in order to assess the reliability, and other psychometric qualities of the instrument. The citation for this resource is provided below. Mertler, C., & Campbell, […]
This article by Popham (2009) begs the question, “Is assessment literacy merely a fashionable focus for today’s professional developers or, in contrast, should it be regarded as a significant area of professional development interest for many years to come?” (Popham, 2009, pg. 4). The author begins by defining relevant vernacular, outlines what he considers to […]
Assessment Literacy for the 21st Century discusses the importance of being familiar with the characteristics of sound assessment strategies, provides “redefined” definitions of the goals of assessment literacy, and identifies barriers to the process. Moreover, the author promotes strategies for overcoming such barriers, and outlines a four-part plan for school districts encouraging assessment literacy. Stiggins […]
The keynote speaker for the HECC Conference 2012 in Indianapolis, IN was Milton Chen, Ph.D., senior fellow for the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Dr. Chen talked about his learning journey, his work on Sesame Street, and the details of his website: Edutopia.org. At Eutopia.org you can find educational films, resouces for teachers, and over 150 […]
This is a great resource from the the IDOE Ed Tech Connect Learning Connection Community. As a conclusion to their 29 day web 2.0 challenge they are having a “digital resource smackdown”. This session is an hour long webinar that will provide short introductions to digital resources and apps. There will be presenters and you […]
The following is a list of sites that are dedicated to providing resources on iPad apps in the classroom. Many of these sites also offer tons of other helpful information on iPad apps such as blogs, technical service help, iPad news, etc. Educational App Review Sites: I Education App Review AppStar Pricks Smart Apps For […]
Technology is still a scary word for many teachers out there today. Those who have successfully integrated and stayed committed to using technology in the classroom can attest to the power it can have in the classroom. In the below listed Education Week article educators discuss how technology has improved their teaching and transformed learning […]
At the 2011 ISTE conference, the Bullying Academy Students in the Know Foundation launched a web-based interactive program that will help 4th-8th graders recognize cyberbullies and teach them to respond properly.
Word Magic– Kids fill in the missing letter to form words, accompanied by bright pictures. Dictionary.com-Dictionary and Thesaurus-This easy-to-use app features a search bar, thesaurus, search history and word of the day. Spell and Listen Cards- Kids rearrange letters to form basic words, improving their vocabulary and sight reading. Grammar Up- Help kids learn adjectives, […]
Click on the Link below for details about Ask Erica http://voicethread.com/share/1983111/