#professionaldevelopment – Bearded Tech-Ed Guy

Embracing the technological wave, our district is thrilled to introduce the ’23 Tools for 2023 Challenge’. I firmly believe that technology can enhance and elevate learning, making it more engaging and effective for educators and students and this challenge will help guide you. In this blog post, I am excited to share everything about this challenge, designed to seamlessly integrate technology into the classroom in an authentic manner. For those of you who are already leveraging technology in your teaching…

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Episode 93: SPS Digital Learning Hour featuring Kaitlin Neilsen

April 1, 2020 Mike Thomas

In what could very well be our last episode of the year, I met with Kaitlin Neilsen, an awesome first grade teacher. Learn all about what she is doing in her classroom! Links:https://www.springfieldpublicschools.com/

Episode 92 featuring Principal Vinnie Regan

March 20, 2020 Mike Thomas

This week we stopped by Mary M. Walsh for a chat with Principal Vinnie Regan to hear about what’s been going on at their school. During the interview you will hear all about how Principal Regan is helping his school take the next steps, moving towards Student-Centered Learning. This year, Walsh was selected as one of three Springfield School to be a part of the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning pilot. For Walsh and Principal Regan, there is a strong focus…

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SPS Digital Learning Hour presents Episode 91: Emily McKinley

February 27, 2020 Mike Thomas

This week we talk with Emily McKinley from Mary O. Pottenger all about her 5th grade class. Learn how she uses Project-Based Learning throughout the school year to enhance and enrich her students learning. I know you will walk away with great strategies for your classroom; I know I did! Links: (Just because) http://rickriordan.com/series/the-trials-of-apollo/ https://wakelet.com/home https://my.springfieldpublicschools.com/welearn/Lists/Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=112&Source=https%3A%2F%2Fmy%2Espringfieldpublicschools%2Ecom%2Fwelearn%2FSitePages%2FBlog%2Easpx&ContentTypeId=0x010400806F816B838E37459D9B1020784E7A0A https://www.beardedtechedguy.com/project-problem-and-challenge-based-learning-part-1-project-based-learning/ Follow Me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Wakelet @beardedteched Music: mantleeCorporate Technology Innovation Backgroundhttps://audiojungle.net/item/corporate-technology-background/23555034Item

Part 3: Challenge-Based Learning

January 23, 2020 Mike Thomas

For the final week of this three-part series I delve into the last term. It’s important to understand the three terms we have been looking at, so we can see the differences. To start, let’s recall the definition of each of the three terms: Project-Based Learning (PBL) is the ongoing act of learning about different subjects. This is achieved by guiding students to identify, through research, a real-world problem (local to global), developing its solution using evidence to support the claim, and…

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Part 2: Problem-Based Learning

January 14, 2020 Mike Thomas

As we begin this week’s post, let’s take a quick look at the three terms we are focusing on before we jump into Problem-Based Learning. Project-Based Learning Problem-Based Learning Challenge-Based Learning Project Based Learning (PBL) is the ongoing act of learning about different subjects simultaneously. This is achieved by guiding students to identify, through research, a real-world problem (local to global) developing its solution using evidence to support the claim and presenting the solution through a multimedia approach based in a…

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Project, problem and challenge-based learning Part 1: Project-Based Learning

January 7, 2020 Mike Thomas

Here we are again with another series of posts where we are trying to figure out what each of these terms are and aren’t and they relate to how we teach. Over the next few weeks we will look at these three terms and include practical ways you can implement them into your classroom. I promise this though, it will take some work to set up any of these learning styles in your classroom. Problem Based Learning, Project Based Learning and/or Challenge-Based Learning helps students develop skills for being 21st Century Learners. …

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