Changed navigational breadcrumbs in groups to be more consistent Changed behavior of zoom function within Create Image tool when changing size of browser window Added functionality to view usage reports for videos in groups and showcases Added ability to select MediaSpot projects as a response to VRS prompts Added MyVRSpot Assignments app in Canvas which currently allows taking SmartSpot quizzes within Canvas with grade passback
This school year has been a strange and challenging one for many school districts so far, as educators, administrators, and students alike are discovering that many of the traditional models for learning and teaching are becoming less and less effective. Those who wish to meet the new and emerging needs of today’s students must find ways to adapt. One such technique that seems to fade in and out of the education lexicon is a flipped classroom. In this model, students learn new material at home by watching recorded lectures and participating in online discussions at home rather than listening to [...]
As a whole, educators tend to be good, law-abiding citizens who would never intentionally break any rules or regulations. However, many school districts across the country are currently breaking ADA and other compliance requirements in regards to closed captioning without even realizing it! There are several laws pertaining to the accessibility of electronic media and their use in schools, each of which have their own unique framework and guidelines and are subject to change. It’s no wonder school administrators can lose track of the requirements set forth for them by the law when there is so much to keep up [...]
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and the same can be said for educating them. On occasion, typically once a month, that village comes together at a school board meeting to discuss and decide on important factors that impact the daily lives and education of all students. While many parents and community members may be unaware that these meetings are typically open to the public, more and more people are waking up to the fact that school board meetings are one of the best places to have your voice heard in a meaningful and immediately impactful [...]
If you ask any educator who is a fan of the popular teaching strategy known as “project based learning”, they will tell you that their students learn best when engaging in the planning and execution of real-world and personally meaningful projects. The critical thinking skills and deep content knowledge involved in such projects instill not only a sense of ownership and independence, but also a level of creativity that students can struggle to find in more traditional settings. When students are invested in the entire process of completing a project, they are given the opportunity to flourish and create well [...]
As educators, making and sticking to a well-designed plan can be the key to success in many endeavors. Each school year begins with a meticulously planned curriculum map, along with detailed lesson plans designed to engage students in meaningful instruction. However, effective teachers also acknowledge the value of constantly monitoring and evaluating the success of said well-designed plan, and pivoting where necessary. What works great for one group of students may not fit the particular needs of the next group. This is where formative assessments come in. By providing frequent, informal, and low-stakes opportunities for students to demonstrate proficiency and [...]
There’s no denying that high-quality video content is here to stay in the world of education. Even when many of today’s teachers were students in school themselves, their eyes widened with excitement the minute they saw the TV cart being wheeled into the classroom, now traded out for projectors and touch-screen boards. However, we’ve come a long way since the days of TV carts in terms of who is making that high-quality relevant content. Gone are the days of having to search the library or video store for the latest and greatest VHS tape. These days, there are no better [...]
