Unpacking Education & Tech Talk For Teachers

Today, we celebrate the 200th episode of Unpacking Education and Tech Talk For Teachers. We reflect on our journey so far and look ahead to possibilities for the future. Throughout the show, we talk about some of our most vivid memories in education and what this podcast has meant to us. We share plenty of laughs as well as sincere appreciation for all of our listeners. We are here for you and because of you. Thank you for joining us on this journey! Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

In today’s episode, we'll explore how students can elaborate and express their learning by analyzing, synthesizing, and interpreting their research as well as how they might communicate those findings. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

In this episode, we talk with Unpacking Education cohost Rena Clark about her teaching career. From her personal experience as a struggling reader, who did not want to be a teacher, to a successful career as an elementary teacher, district learning coach, and educational leader, Rena shares what she’s learned along the way. Overall, Rena says, “I have lots of hopes and things for the future. I think it’s looking good. We’re heading in the right direction, just not as fast as I would like.” She believes that schools are striving to provide students with more choice, leverage family and community assets, understand each other better, and offer creative options to students, and teachers are increasing their use of Universal Design for Learning strategies when planning lessons. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

In today’s episode, we'll review two key elements of weaving information together: the critical consumption of information and the process of note-taking and making connections. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Girls Who Code recently celebrated its 10th anniversary as an organization, having served over 500,000 girls and women during that time. Chrissy Ziccarelli, the Senior Director of School and Community Programs at Girls Who Code, joins us for today's episode to share more about this impactful work supporting girls and women in the fields of computer science and coding. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Girls Who Code, the opportunities it provides, and how you can learn more. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

In today’s episode, we'll review five ways that students can search and seek out credible information to support their inquiry questions. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Dr. Kelly Camak joins us to discuss ways to rethink assessment in our classrooms. Using a five-part framework, she explains how we can use assessment as revelation and make assessment a more collaborative, personal, and student-centered experience. Dr. Camak says that this framework is not a one-way-to-do-things recipe, but rather, these elements include “ideas and constructs to help us really think through how we can truly center student as curriculum—how we can really partner and eliminate the boundaries of any type of constraint around assessment.” Throughout our conversation, Dr. Camak continually references how amazing our young people are and how assessment can become a tool for us to allow that brilliance to shine. She says, “There is so much more kids could do if we get out of the way. How do we step back and bask in the glory and brilliance of our young people? And that’s good for us. That’s what we need. That’s what we want. That’s actually what we say we do this for.” Tune in to learn about the five-part revelatory assessment framework and how it can positively impact learning in your classroom. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

In today’s episode, we'll review how to have students gain general background knowledge about their topic and develop a research plan by noting the possibilities available to them. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

This week, we are joined by Shannon McClintock Miller, a teacher librarian, director of innovation of instructional technology, international speaker, and leader in future ready education. She joins us to talk about the role of librarians in our schools and how the Future Ready Librarians Framework impacts everyone in a school system. Shannon says, “Every person, no matter what role you are within a school, fits into the Future Ready Framework.” Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

In today’s episode, we'll explore step 1 of the ANSWERS inquiry process and learn how to have students generate questions that drive their learning. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.