Why We Should Flip Education Conferences

More and more teachers embrace flipped classrooms every year. In a 2014 survey, 78% of teachers said they’dflipped at least one lesson in their classroom.

And they’re finding that the flipped model is successful. Teachers who try out flipped classrooms find that students can learn at their own pace, have an easier time asking for (and receiving) help, and show more engagement in the classroom.

But you’ve heard all of this before. The flipped classroom made its mark in education years ago. You know the benefits and understand its appeal.

So why haven’t we brought the same model into teachers’ own version of classroom learning: the educational conference?

• Think about what your conference experiences look like:
• You spend a lot of money
• You’re out of the classroom for days at a time,
• You travel to some far-flung locale,
•  All in order to… sit in a room and listen to someone give a lecture.

Do you get more from that lecture because you’re in the same room as the presenter than you would if you watched a video of it?

If your students get more out of direct interaction with you than they would from a lecture, doesn’t it just make sense that the same would apply to how you learn at a conference?

What a Flipped Conference Looks Like

The particulars could change a bit from conference to conference, or evolve as the model gets tested out more, but the gist of a flipped conference is this: lectures are replaced by more interactive discussions.

This is already happening in a few different forms. “Unconferences” like EdCamp switch the conference model around to be run by the participants – with the structure being worked out as the event happens.

Flipped conferences could keep more of the traditional model than unconferences do. You could ask educational influencers with something important to teach the conference audience to speak. But instead of doing their teaching and presenting at the conference itself, they can work out an assignment for the attendees to complete in advance – a slide share, video of a speech, or a collection of reading materials – and then spend the actual conference time discussing, or workshopping, the ideas from the assignment.

The Benefits of Flipping Education Conferences

1. Everyone learns from each other.

You know that you’re never the only teacher in a classroom. Students have plenty to learn from each other as well. In a room full of educators, the amount of experience and knowledge contained in that small space is massive. Why would you want to miss out on all of that in order to just learn from one person who’s been designated the expert of the moment?

A flipped conference model gives the many brilliant and creative educators in the room a chance to weigh in. You can learn from the input of your peers and help inspire them in kind.

2. Attendees are more engaged.

Sitting quietly through lecture after lecture for a couple of days can be enough to help you sympathize with the students who occasionally doze off in class. No matter what your age, paying attention to a long lecture can be really hard. And the more tired you get, the more the lectures start to really drag, no matter how great the speaker is.

Even when the information is revolutionary, the lecture format isn’t one that encourages engagement. A format that encourages questions and discussions, on the other hand, that’s engaging. People who have the chance to contribute will be more on their toes to see what others have to say. And if an outright argument happens? Oh boy, everyone will pay attention to that. Passionate opinions keep people interested.

3. Everyone has more time for making contacts.

“For me, conferences are more about meeting people than the sessions.” Who is that quote attributable to? Probably half of the conference attendees ever. If you haven’t said it, you’ve probably heard it.

Conferences offer you a chance to be surrounded by people from all over the country (or world, even) who share your passions and interests – all of whom come equipped with unique experiences and knowledge. The potential for great conversations, new friends, and valuable collaboration opportunities is everywhere you look. But only if you can find the time to actually talk to people and make those connections while you’re there. A flipped conference makes that experience part of the sessions themselves, rather than something that happens randomly in between them.

4. You can see what the flipped classroom experience feels like from the other side.

If you’ve been implementing the flipped classroom model in your own classrooms, or if you’ve been thinking about it but haven’t tried yet, getting some experience into what it’s like for the student can be valuable. If you find certain aspects of the flipped conference experience frustrating or especially valuable, you can make an effort to bring rules or guidelines into your own classroom to limit what doesn’t work and emphasize what does.

5. A good discussion can just be fun.

This point doesn’t need much elaboration. Every time you have a riveting conversation at a party, get into a passionate debate with an acquaintance, or spend hours talking on the phone with your best friend, you get a reminder that good discussions are a good time.

The word “lecture” can make people groan, but sub in “discussion” instead and suddenly people perk up.  Most people will take being an active participant any day over being a passive listener.

And people learn better when they’re active participants anyway. That’s what started this whole craze of flipping classrooms to begin with. Why should the idea only benefit your students, when you could start getting more out of it too?

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Ten Websites to Help Students Connect with Books

Teachers might see the Internet as the enemy of old-fashioned books, but the two entities can actually compliment each other nicely. Websites devoted to reading and literacy help children connect with other readers, delve deeper into what they are reading, and discover new books of interest. And they provide teachers with ideas for the classroom. Your students could start an online book group, write reviews on a website, or use Internet tools to research a favorite author. We’ve gathered ten of the best free, reading-related websites to inspire you and your young readers.

1. Goodreads

Goodreads is the largest reading site on the web and a great tool for high school students. Students can keep track of the books that they are reading and see what their friends are reading. Goodreads will recommend books based on what a reader has enjoyed in the past, and teens can keep a list of what they want to read. Note that kids must be at least 13 to use the site.

Teachers can create a private group for their class to discuss books or make book-related quizzes for their students. Some students feel more comfortable sharing online than sharing in class, and reading becomes a more dynamic experience when students can exchange views with their classmates. Assign students to write a book review on the site or to create their own quiz for something they have read.

2. BiblioNasium

BiblioNasium has many features similar to Goodreads but is made for younger readers. Students can keep track of how long the read each day, which books they have read, and which books they want to read. They can also see what their friends are reading. Users can search for books by reading level, genre, and author.

BiblioNasium is a great resource for motivating students to read. You can use the site to send reading challenges to students or their parents. Teachers use the site to challenge students to read books from a new genre or to increase the time they spend reading. To raise the stakes, you can set up a contest between classes to see which can read more books.

3. Book Wizard

Scholastic’s Book Wizard site is a comprehensive resource for both teachers and students, alike. It provides book lists by subject and grade, book reviews, and suggest student activities and lesson plans for books. Students can peruse the author section to learn how their favorite writers and illustrators began their careers.

The Book Wizard search feature is fantastic for teachers and librarians. Enter a book title, and the site provides the reading level, synopsis, author biography, and links to free resources. You can also enter a title to search for similar books that are easier or more advanced. Pass along the website to parents to help them find books appropriate for their kids.

4. BookAdventure

Use this site to find books, quiz students, and reward reluctant readers. Students from kindergarten to 8th grade can take quizzes for books they have read, and teachers and parents can view the results. Kids earn points toward a prize when they answer the questions correctly. Teachers can track how many books their students have read and how they have done on quizzes.

5. Common Sense Media

The book lists at Common Sense Media might be the most teacher-friendly available. From a list for reluctant readers to a list of ghost stories, Common Sense Media chooses high-quality books and offers a guide to age-appropriateness. You can click on books within a list to get more information, including a synopsis and discussion points. Use the site’s review section to keep on top of high-quality new books.

6. Reading Rockets

The site for this national literacy initiative is packed with ideas for reaching every child in your class. In the Children’s Books & Authors section, the literacy calendar offers a list of holidays and reading celebrations with links to related books, classroom activities, educational websites, and author interviews. The author interview videos are engaging, with children’s favorite writers sharing stories of their own childhood experiences.

7. Start With a Book

An offshoot of Reading Rockets, this site was created to promote summertime reading, but it’s helpful for teachers year-round. The content is designed for elementary school children and organized around 24 themes, such as dinosaurs, the night sky, and art.

You can use the site to turn a read-aloud into a lesson that includes science and history content. Each themed section includes a list of books, related websites, and links to hands-on activities. Look for writing ideas, too. The themes include dinosaurs, art, cooking, and the night sky. This is a great resource to pass along to parents for school breaks and summer vacation.

8. Education.com

If you’re in need of inspiration, this site has a bit of everything. Find reading lists by grade level and subject. There are thousands of worksheets and activities, some of them tied to particular books. And the site recently added interactive books, which young readers can listen to or read themselves. Add this resource to your audio center to encourage independent reading in young students.

9. Jim Trelease on Reading

Author and educator Jim Trelease keeps an online trove of information that’s ideal for teachers and librarians. Click on the “Book Lists” link for a collection of great read-aloud books. The lists include fairy tales, picture books, novels, and poetry, and the site provides grade ranges and page length. This site is great for collecting books around a topic. Display the different titles in your classroom library.

10. American Library Association’s Banned and Challenged Books

Censorship is a topic that engages reluctant teen readers. This site discusses banned books and the First Amendment, and it provides lists of the most-challenged books. Have students read a book from the list and then write their own defense or challenge of the book.

Think beyond the book

These websites provide the essentials that students need, such as help finding books of interest and quizzes to aid with recall. But they also connect readers and books to the wider world. Online reviews and discussion boards provide students with new ways of looking at a story. And classroom crafts and research projects help students connect literature to history, science, and the arts. So you can help students recognize that turning the last page of a book is only the start of learning.

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30 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Special Education

Awhile back, we wrote about places that offer teaching degrees online.We definitely need more teachers here in the US, and that need is only slated to grow in the future. 6.8 million teachers are going to be needed by 2015 to fill new positions and replace teachers who are retiring or otherwise leaving the profession.

About 10-13% of students in the US receive special education services. Obviously, that represents a fairly large spectrum of services and student needs. Some may be in full-time special education programs, others may be in part day mainstream classes and part day receiving special education services. Whatever the case, that represents approximately 7 million students – all of whom need a teacher well-versed in the ins and outs of special education.

Whether you’re completely new to teaching, a new teacher looking to complete your Master’s degree, a veteran teacher who is new to Special Education in particular, an online special education degree might be a good option for you. Especially if you’re working full-time, moving to a place with a good program and losing your income might not be feasible.

Not all of the programs have the same offerings and rules, so you might be able to test out a course from one school without fully enrolling in the program to see if it is a good fit for you. Many of the schools we’ve listed below that offer teaching degrees online also offer teaching degrees in an on-campus format as well, and hybrid formats may be available, too. (Note: the schools listed are in no particular order, and the list is far from exhaustive. If you think we’re missing a great school, please leave us a note in the comments)

Top 30 Online Master’s Programs In Special Education

• USC Rossier
• University Of Arizona
• California State University
• Hunter College (CUNY)
• Michigan State University
• Drexel University
• Concordia University (St. Paul)
• Fort Hays State University
• Saint Joseph’s University
• Nova Southeastern University
• Texas Tech
• University of Louisville
• University Of North Dakota
• Georgia State University
• Walden University
• University of Cincinatti
• University Of Missouri
• Adams State University (Colorado)
• Baker University
• University Of Southern Mississippi
• Liberty University
• Florida State University
• Drake University
• University Of Wyoming
• Regent University
• Loyola University (Chicago)
• Kentucky State University

These statistics come from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) – the primary source for cross-nationally comparable statistics on education, science and technology, culture, and communication for more than 200 countries and territories.

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6 Ways Social Media Can Change Your Classroom

Remember when schools had policies outlawing cell phones in the classroom? Teachers used to tell students, “Keep it in your locker, in your backpack, in your car, or at home, just don’t bring it in here. Your phone is a distraction.” Yet here we are, a handful of years later handing out laptops and tablets to every student, holding Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) days, and encouraging students to engage in class work online in ways we never imagined tolerable, or even possible. Today, many forward-thinking teachers are embracing gadgets and social media as a way to connect with students, families, and other classrooms.

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay and JeShoots.

Social media is broadly defined as online sites or tools where people create and share content in written and visual formats. Students are social beings and want to share their opinions publicly, so it’s easy to why social media sites hold such an appeal. Perhaps that’s why teachers who used to be concerned with students texting, tweeting, pinning and posting during class time, have begun to harness the power of their students’ favorite online sites. Instead of being seen as a possible distraction, the use of social media in the classroom is now a vehicle for driving engagement and learning. What’s more, by implementing the use of social media as an acceptable form of communication about classroom topics, educators are validating students’ understanding and development.

We’ve put together a few ways that using social media can change your classroom for the better. We also have a few tips for how to get started if BYOD isn’t yet your thing.

6 Ways Social Media Classroom Will Change Your Classroom

1. You’ll get a real sense of what students are thinking: Communication styles in person are often very different from those online. Students who are shy and reserved in class may end up contributing more often using social media. Check out this list of ways to use Twitter with students from TeachHUB. You’ll find that asking students to engage with each other and answer questions online will prompt real opinions and discussions, which sure beats staring out at a sea of blank student faces from the front of the classroom.
2. You’ll have easy access to in-the-moment materials: Because social media is all about people sharing directly with each other, you’ll have access to breaking news and hyper-relevant resources. Mashable put together this useful infographic on the most viral news sources on both Twitter and Facebook. Imagine assigning a different student each day to monitor the news for developing stories. Other students can contribute social messages as soon as news breaks, as well as throughout the days, weeks, or months as events continue to unfold. You’ll be able to have great discussions about changing opinions in light of new evidence.
3. You’ll connect your classroom to people making a big impact: It used to be that in order to connect our students with amazing guest speakers and relevant experts we had to handwrite a letter or email a request. And then we’d hope that we could get a speakerphone in our classroom or be able to reserve a room where we’d be able to hold the phone conference. Social media has changed all of that. Nearly every celebrity, author, scientist, mathematician, historian, and news anchor has some sort of public social media account, and many respond to followers directly. You can sign up for Skype in the classroom and search for guest speakers who are eager to share their experiences with students and teachers via video conferencing.
4. You’ll globalize your classroom: One obvious use of social media is to communicate with peers near and far. Teachers using Twitter can have students follow certain hashtags and engage with other students from around the world. Another way to bring the world to your classroom is to follow accounts on different sites from teachers, students, and publications from different countries. Adweek put together this great list of 10 Instagram accounts to follow that bring you photos and viewpoints from around the world.
5. You’ll connect with families: With students using social media sites during class, family members can easily be tagged and made aware of what’s going on in the classroom. Many teachers have given up on printed classroom newsletters in favor of classroom blogs and Twitter accounts. Parents appreciate constant updates about what their children are learning. Education World put together this helpful list that gives you tips on using different platforms to communicate with families.
6. Students will think about lessons outside of class: Including social media participation in homework assignments can help educators engage students with lesson material after they leave the classroom. You could ask students to create Pinterest boards to reflect the interests of a character in a novel. Or they could collect recipes to rewrite using metric measurements for mathematical conversion practice. We’ve created aTeacher’s Guide to Pinterest to get you started with the site.

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The Long-Term Effects of Skipping Your Reading Homework

When elementary school students have math worksheets to fill out, spelling tests to study for, after school activities to participate in, and chores to finish, it’s no wonder that the standard daily reading homework assignment can fall to the wayside.  It may seem like a small concession necessary to prioritize a busy life. After all, parents may reason, their child can catch up on reading over the weekend, over the summer, or during a less hectic time. But the effects of regularly skipping that reading homework can have long-term effect on a child’s life.

Image from Flickr via KOMUnews

Reading Really is Fundamental

No one is going to debate the importance of being able to read in order to learn and navigate through life. But reading provides many surprising and important additional benefits

Reading makes kids better at math. A British study found that students who frequently read for pleasure not only had better vocabulary and spelling—which is to be expected—but that those students were also more proficient at math. The theory is that reading exposes students to new ideas, which may make new math concepts easier to comprehend.

Reading fiction helps children be more empathetic. The University of Buffalo found that students who read novels could put themselves into other people’s situations more easily, and had increased compassion.

Reading can boost self-esteem and communication skills.  One education provider says that since students who read usually have an enhanced vocabulary, they can often find the words to express themselves and do not feel as frustrated and angry.

Reading changes the structure of the brain. In a six-month daily reading program, scientists found that the amount of white matter in the area of the brain associated with language actually increased. Another study found that reading helps the brain exercise cognitive function.

What Happens When Kids Skip Reading

This infographic, an oldie but goodie from Perry and Lecompton School District, quantifies the long-term difference between regular, periodic and infrequent reading. This is a great graphic to share with parents to help them get on board with your daily reading assignment.  It’s worth sharing with students, too. The graphic format really emphasizes how important reading is.

Ways to Make Reading an Enjoyable Habit for Students

With all of the lifetime upsides that come from reading, how can teachers and parents help kids develop a habit of daily reading?

Start with a mini habit. In his book “Mini Habits,” Stephen Guise suggested starting a new habit with a small change that can easily be accomplished. His example? Doing one pushup as the start of an exercise program. Once you’ve finished one pushup, you’re likely to do at least one more. Then the next day, knowing how easily you accomplished the task before, you’re more likely to do it again. With reading, perhaps set a limit at two or three minutes, then gradually adding a minute at a time. Longer periods of reading are obviously preferred, but reading consistently, over a period of time, is an effective way to create that habit.

Add variety to reading.  For reluctant readers, or even those who need a change, use different forms of reading sources, not just books. Magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, recipes, audio books and online reading can add a new dimension of skill and enjoyment.

Model reading. Share your love of reading with your class. Tell them about some of your favorite books when you were young and let them see what books you are currently reading. Keep in mind the benefits reading offers adults, such as providing stress relief, decreasing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s, and boosting analytical thinking.

Make reading assignments positive. Avoid making kids read as punishment. Scholastic.comsays that to foster a love of reading, let students see that reading isn’t a chore, a competition, or a test.

Read aloud to the class. No matter what the age of your students, give them the chance to form pictures in their heads as you read to them.

Have students read to others. Have students read to a parent, a younger sibling, a pet or a stuffed animal. Ask students to report back on how the listener reacted to the story (yes, even the inanimate ones).

Build reading time in your classroom every day. Help students develop the habit by consistently setting aside a few minutes a day for your class to relax with a book.  Once they realize you think reading is important, they’re more likely to think it’s important too.

What This Means for Teachers

Regular reading provides significant life-long benefits. Help your students reap these advantages by encouraging their love of words. Life can get hectic, even for our youngest students, but helping them form a daily reading habit really can make a huge difference.

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How to Help Students Make the Most of Their Local Libraries

In the age of information ubiquity and rapidly evolving media delivery formats, today’s librarians have learned how to evolve along with the technology. In addition, librarians actively seek out new means for creative expression and intellectual growth for student library users, and frequently volunteer as early adopters of these exciting resources. In turn, librarians partner with users in navigating a complex information landscape and in engaging them in enrichment programming. Check out 5 ways librarians are molding their libraries into community spaces for students.

Libraries as Space

The days of card catalogs and endless stacks of books and little else may be long gone for modern libraries, but the utility of libraries’ physical space remains. For example, many public library patrons, students and adults alike, lack access to technologies that others often take for granted. Basic computer access for word processing, printing, and Internet access is a privilege most, but not all, enjoy. The ability to use these tools after school hours is critical to the success of all students, and in offering these critical resources to members of the general public, libraries support the scholastic needs of those who must rely on such tools outside the home. In addition, both school and public libraries are adding tablet and e-reading devices to their collections and librarians instruct students in how to use them, which further enhances students’ exposure to and knowledge of culturally significant technologies. There are, of course, physical books in libraries today, but the use of physical space within libraries has undeniably become much more diverse in recent years.

Libraries as Mobile Makerspaces

For some, particularly in rural areas, a trip to the physical library space presents a challenge. Leadership at Washington State’s North Central Regional Library (NCRL) network constantly seek out ways to further extend outreach to teens in the four-county area that the branch libraries cover. In late 2014, NCRL was $40,000 in federal grant funding to facilitate the creation of a “Mobile Makerspace,” which will enable staff to do just that. The Mobile Makerspace targets 12- to 18-year-olds, and offers students the chance to experiment with projects in audio/visual engineering, robotics, and 3-D printing. Mobile Makerspace participants will also be able to interact with computer engineering and program language by exploring Raspberry Pi, a mini-computer designed specifically for young adults and teens. In essence, the Mobile Makerspace will bring library resources directly to the rural communities they serve, which is exciting for all involved.

Libraries as Access Points for E-Resources

In addition to computers, printers, and tablet and e-reading devices, libraries provide access to the media these technologies deliver. Students with limited access to the aforementioned resources similarly experience barriers to accessing electronic media. As students learn to use the devices, librarians can teach them how to load their favorite books, magazines, and MP3s for free through their electronic lending libraries. What better way to engage students in reading, learning, and library use than to give them first-hand exposure to media delivery technologies andthe content they deliver (did I mention it’s free)?

Libraries and Reading, Writing and Critical Evaluation Education

Students can also turn to school librarians to develop reading, writing, proofreading, evaluation, and citation skills, and to consult them for copyright compliance expertise. A healthy amount of the services librarians offer involves working with patrons to develop best practices in the works they produce, to critically evaluate the works of their peers, to critically assess the information they encounter both on the web and in print resources. Librarians also guide students in appropriate attribution and use of documents, websites, songs, photos, artwork, and many other copyright-protected works. These skills foster students’ information literacy and they carry them forward as they navigate the rapidly expanding information landscape of our increasingly digital world.

Libraries as Community Health Resources

In a similar vein, as a medical librarian, I work with health professionals, as well as members of the general public. Information is everywhere, but when it comes to health information, in particular, it can be difficult to determine what constitutes good information, and much of it is notas freely available on the Internet as is commonly perceived. My job is to connect users with health information they can trust, and I do so through the extensive access to biomedical, nursing subscriptions and knowledge of consumer health resources I possess. As students delve into exploring health information, I, and health sciences librarians like me, are here to steer them toward identifying information that is trustworthy, and away from information that isn’t. Needs range from information about a particular diagnosis or procedure to assistance with database and literature searches, and we’re here to offer guidance and enhanced critical evaluation skills to students.

In Short

These are just several of the many ways librarians are stepping up as community partners for students. Stop by your local school, public, or medical library (many are open to the general public!) to take advantage of the offerings are available to you and to students. Your friendly community librarians will be happy to assist you!

Jeannie Tucker is the medical librarian for Confluence Health in Wenatchee, WA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Whitman College and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Washington. Her professional passion is for connecting library users, which include physicians, clinical and non-clinical staff, and members of the general public, with reliable, evidence-based health information. In her spare time, Jeannie enjoys reading (almost exclusively) fiction, travel, and caring for her two adorable dogs.

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3 tips for launching a career in international development

If you’re interested in developing a social-impact career, there are very few straightforward paths to follow. This week, we’re sharing the advice and stories of a few people in various fields to help shine a light on the opportunities that exist in the social sector. Today, Asiyah Sharifi—a lawyer who focuses on gender justice and women’s entrepreneurship in Afghanistan—shares her tips for launching a career in international development.

When it comes to international development and human rights, we’re often drawn into the conversation by the magnitude of the problems that pop up on our screens. Last year in particular, KONY 2012 and Half the Sky encouraged many people to spring into action by making donations or volunteering. Others became eager to build a career tackling social issues around the world. But how does one get started?

Asiyah Sharifi, a lawyer who focuses on gender justice and women’s entrepreneurship in developing countries, has spent 12 years navigating the international development field, focusing on the rule of law: how laws are created and enforced in developing nations. Asiyah became interested in law while she was an intern at the International Rescue Committee, working with refugees, where she noticed people needed help with basic legal issues, like how to deal with difficult landlords. This revelation prompted her to pursue a career as a lawyer and work internationally, specifically in Afghanistan, her home country.

Her commitment to helping people leverage law to create better lives has led her to take on various roles in various sectors: from working with the Ministry of Finance in Afghanistan to help set up their legal department to her current role as head of legal and regulatory affairs at  Afghanistan Financial Service (AFS), a private company that provides legal and financial support to businesses and nonprofits operating in Afghanistan.

Do you want to launch a career in international development?

Here are tips:

• Learn a language (and other hard skills). “Language skills are critical. If you know what region you want to get into, pick up language skills. It’s a risk to hire someone internationally; it’s not enough to be eager. You have to have an added value and language is one of them. And what can you offer that’s not already in that country? This is where a technical skill is important too. Soft skills are more difficult to translate internationally. An engineer might have an easier time finding a work.”

• Embrace the different sectors. “Internationally, it is recognized that the economy needs to move forward to generate jobs and growth. Because of this private sector work is key in addition to NGOs. So keep your mind open when looking for opportunities to work abroad.”

• Do the unsexy work. “The work that one has to do overseas may not be interesting. A lot of the work I do is legal; a lot of writing, editing, a lot of paperwork. People looking to work internationally want to travel and go all over the country. But this is not a vacation. Be truly open and able to do the work that is needed. You can’t come and only do work that you think is interesting.”

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