Unpacking Education & Tech Talk For Teachers

It's fair to say that no one expected 2020 to turn out like it did. Regardless, there are still lessons that we can take with us into the new year. Teachers have grown so much this year in their use of, and comfort with, technology. Students have had to assume a greater level of independence. This year will fundamentally change the future of education for the better to transform what happens in our classroom when we return for face-to-face learning. Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast.

It's almost the new year! Thank you for joining us for our special holiday series. We are sending you warm wishes for 2021, as we say goodbye to 2020 with tips for establishing a self-care routine for the new year that incorporates time to recharge. We also conclude our countdown by sharing our most popular episode with you. We appreciate your support as we celebrate over 20,000 downloads of Tech Talk for Teachers. Thank you for all you do! 

We hope you are enjoying your winter break! Welcome to the second episode in our special holiday series. Join us as we share tips for rest and relaxation, as well as a countdown of our top three episodes! This week, we are celebrating our episode with the second-most downloads. We thank you for joining teachers around the world who have helped Tech Talk for Teachers surpass 20,000 downloads since we launched in August. Let's celebrate our journey together. Thank you for all you do!

We are preparing for the holidays and hope that you are looking forward to a winter break, as well! Our next three episodes will be a shorter format, focusing on sharing tips for rest and relaxation, as well as a countdown of our top three episodes! We hope that you join teachers around the world who have helped Tech Talk for Teachers reach nearly 20,000 downloads since we launched in August. Thank you for joining us on this journey and for all you do! Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast.

While many things have changed as learning has shifted to virtual and hybrid environments, one thing remains the same: Celebrations and recognition of achievements are essential elements of every classroom. These moments and events drive student motivation and growth, as well as the development of a positive classroom culture. But how do you create moments for celebration and recognition when you’re not physically sharing the same space with your students? Join our Digital Learning Specialists as they talk about figuring out how to build classroom communities online, celebrate students' successes, and encourage families to stay involved. Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast.

Don't share your personal information. Don't talk to strangers. Don't post rude comments. Too often, we have started the conversation about digital citizenship with students around the don’ts. By shifting to the dos, we engage students in a topic that inspires them to become thoughtful, empathetic digital citizens who collaborate to solve important problems at the intersection of technology and humanity. Join us as we talk about reframing digital citizenship to empower students to work together to use technology to embrace the possibilities rather than focusing solely on risks—where personal responsibility inspires global connections. Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast. 

Whether you are in a completely remote or hybrid classroom, the reality of teaching during a pandemic has required teachers to develop new routines. Many of us are struggling with work time that blends into personal time. It’s too easy to slip into being on call 24/7, as we tackle emerging challenges and requests from learners anywhere and at any time. Join us as we talk about how we are tending to own personal health during a time when we feel consumed with urgent work issues on a daily basis. Let's talk about what it means to find balance in taking care of ourselves so that we have the energy to be there for others. Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast.

Unlike face-to-face teaching that relies on your physical presence, teaching presence in virtual learning depends on course design and organization, as well as your facilitation style during online interactions. Join us as we talk about the importance of spending time developing connections among your students to help build a positive and supportive online-learning environment, where even brief interactions hold value for students and motivate them to return every day. Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast.

Teachers need to regularly assess learning while their students are at home. While students and their families are coping with so much, how might we as teachers be mindful of developing assessments that check for understanding along the way, while also engaging students in the learning process? Join our Digital Learning Specialists as we discuss what assessments might look like in both synchronous and asynchronous virtual environments, with a focus on providing students feedback along their learning journey. Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast. 

In this week's podcast, our Digital Learning Specialists discuss how important it is for students to collect exemplars of their work, so they can reflect upon, share, and celebrate their learning growth. With an increase of tech-empowered classrooms and remote-learning environments, the need to teach students best practices for organizing their classwork, resources, and finished projects/performances now extends to the digital realm. Join us as we share strategies for developing eBinders and ePortfolios where students can collect, reflect, and recollect their learning. Visit AVID Open Access for the resources mentioned in this week's podcast.