Bright Spots: The most and least interesting ways to use digital tools

View in browser

BRIGHT SPOTS

Your weekly source of learner-centered inspiration

☀️Dive into a Learner-Centered Summer☀️

Dear Educator,

I’m headed home from New Orleans after a few amazing days at the ISTELive 22 conference. In addition to some incredible sessions and thought provoking conversations, it was a treat to connect with many of our friends and make some new ones. Plus, we got to enjoy some live music in NOLA after the conference!

This was the first time that ISTELive has been hosted in-person since June of 2019 and Richard Culatta, ISTE CEO, gave us all a warm welcome during his opening remarks. He acknowledged that, since Covid, the proportion of school districts with 1:1 devices for students increased from 50 percent to 90 percent. He highlighted that although access is important, how we use those devices matters just as much. Culatta noted:

“The least interesting thing we can use technology for is to deliver content. The most interesting thing we can use it for is to connect people.”

With Gratitude,
Katie

I'd love to hear from you! Reply to this email to share your Bright Spot this week!

BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK

Using Digital Tools with Purpose

I was happy to see the bulk of the sessions moved beyond apps and cool tools and focused more on utilizing technology purposefully to allow more choice, agency and authentic learning in application.

This sketch note by Margaret Sisler from Holly Clark and Lisa Highfill’s session captures the vast possibilities of technology to explore, explain, and apply blended learning practices in the classroom:

For too long I have felt the tension of two perspectives in education:

Constructivist teaching practices and hands-on learning
Innovation as technology

I believe that learner-centered practices leverage the best of our teaching practices that focus on learners and engage them in meaningful experiences. I also believe that we can leverage technology to create more relevant and personalized opportunities anytime, anywhere. If we take the best of both, we can bridge together the effective use of technology and learner-centered pedagogy to create the future of education and learning.

Interested in discussing ways to integrate technology purposefully in your learning context? Let's connect!

Get in touch

RESOURCE ROUNDUP

Below are some learner-centered resources to support the purposeful use of technology in your school or district.

1. Leveraging technology for learner-centered experiences. In my blog post, I provide some questions (and few ideas) to consider as you reflect on this year and design for the most effective learning.

2. Making blended learning visible. Learn how our partner school Mount Vernon fosters a learner-centered culture where students are encouraged to ask questions, find unique solutions to problems, and take agency over their learning. Read now.

3. Leaning into learning. On the Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast, Catlin Tucker and I discuss blended learning and the key strategies that have been most effective in a post-pandemic classroom environment. Listen now.

LET'S SHARE OUR BRIGHT SPOTS!

How do you integrate technology purposefully in your context?

Use #LCBrightSpots to share your experiences on social media!

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here

Connect with Us: