edWebcasts

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Intellispark.
The edLeader Panel recording can be accessed here.

The concept of empathy has been well explored in many educational circles. The colloquialism, “walk a mile in my shoes,” is a concept which many teachers embrace. Educators strive to take on the perspectives of their students in order to create connections and develop lessons that are engaging; however, as the world of young people becomes increasingly complex due to current events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, enacting empathy may present a difficulty.

For an educator who hopes to see all students succeed and wishes to prepare students for future success, empathy is not optional. The most perfectly designed lesson delivered with impeccable pedagogical execution will not reach students if they are disconnected. Student engagement depends on students’ relationships with their teachers more than ever. The key to building strong relationships is the ability of the educator to know individual students on an authentic level. This means developing an understanding of student culture, home environment, interests, and values outside of the classroom. Educators also must explore learning preferences, strengths, and challenges within the classroom. Getting to know students on this level may sound like an insurmountable task. In this edWeb podcast, we discuss a range of strategies that offer opportunities for success.

This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers, school and district leaders focused on student support services, school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is hosted by edWeb.net.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

In this edWeb podcast, Chris Dede and John Richards explore new models and strategies for lifelong learning in an era of profound economic disruption and invention. The presentation is based on their recently published book, The 60-Year Curriculum: New Models for Lifelong Learning in the Digital Economy, a compilation of the work of continuing educators and higher education institutions leading the way to better models for lifelong learning.

Over the next half-century, globalization, regional threats to sustainability, climate change, and technologies such as artificial intelligence and data mining will transform our education and workforce sectors. Higher education and adult training must shift to offer every student life-wide opportunities for the continuous upskilling they will need to achieve decades of worthwhile employability. Universities can increase learners’ trajectories across multiple careers from mid-adolescence to retirement spanning computer science, inclusive design, critical thinking, civics, and more.

This edWeb podcast is of interest to all stakeholders in education, workforce development, curriculum and instructional design, lifelong learning, higher education, and continuing education.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is hosted by AASA, The Superintendents Association.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

In the current dual pandemic of COVID-19 and racial injustice, school leaders across the country are renewing their commitment to equity in education. Listen to Nancy Duchesneau, a Research Associate at The Education Trust, and Superintendent Dr. Jack R. Smith of Maryland’s largest school system, Montgomery County Public Schools, as they discuss the district-level policies and actions needed to close opportunity gaps for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds and other historically marginalized groups.

Hear findings from The Education Trust’s qualitative research study on equitably supporting social, emotional, and academic development, specific policy and practice recommendations, and learn about tools that can support superintendents in doing equity-centered work.

In his second term, Dr. Smith along with Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight, discuss the systems work to identify, understand, and implement strategies to put equity at the forefront of all efforts to support teaching and learning. The district has implemented the All In: Equity and Achievement Framework that has three critical components:

1. Evidence of Learning: Are our students learning? Are they learning enough?
2. Equity Accountability Model: How do we know? If not, why not?
3. Equitable Access to Resources: What are we going to do about it?

The framework, informed by an external study performed by Educational Resource Strategies, identified multiple strengths and challenges driving the district’s equity work and how school administrators are now working to close the opportunity and achievement gap.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is hosted by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

Listen to an edWeb podcast interview with Medal of Honor Recipient David G. Bellavia. Staff Sergeant Bellavia was awarded the Medal of Honor for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in Iraq.

Interviews with Medal of Honor Recipients are part of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, a free program that helps middle – high school students build character and promotes responsible citizenship. The Medal of Honor is awarded for “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one’s life, above and beyond the call of duty.” Those awarded it drew upon their deepest convictions and values in the most challenging of circumstances. Their examples of courage and sacrifice can inspire us as we face our own challenges.

Staff Sergeant David G. Bellavia distinguished himself by acting above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader in Fallujah, Iraq. While clearing a house, a squad from his platoon became trapped in a room by intense enemy fire coming from a fortified position under the stairs leading to the second floor. Recognizing the immediate severity of the situation, and with disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Bellavia retrieved an automatic weapon and entered the doorway of the house to engage the insurgents. Acting on instinct to save the members of his platoon from an imminent threat, he ultimately cleared the entire enemy-filled house. Staff Sergeant Bellavia’s courageous actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States.

Here are ways you can share this inspiring story and interview with your middle – high school students:

• Share Staff Sergeant Bellavia’s story with your class.
• Watch the edWebinar to share and discuss with your class.
• Take advantage of the free lessons provided by the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. For shortened activities specifically for you to use while learning has shifted to an online format, follow the Character Development Program on Facebook.
• Please note that students are not permitted to log into the edWebinar to protect student privacy.

This edWeb podcast is of interest to all teachers and school and district leaders for their middle – high school students.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is hosted by AASA, The Superintendents Association.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 100 plus days of protests in nearby Portland, and while wildfires threaten the district’s southern boundary, Dr. Katrise Perera and Ms. Lisa Riggs share how Gresham-Barlow School District is helping students develop agency and voice to advocate on behalf of themselves and their peers. Particular attention has been paid to increasing the engagement of students who are typically underrepresented or marginalized.

Essential questions for discussion include:

• What is the district’s plan for enhancing equity and inclusion?
• How do you encourage and collect the voices of students?
• When do you begin engaging students in career-technical education?
• How do you align resources for equitable outcomes?

Listeners hear district-wide K-12 approaches to supporting and enhancing student voice, which grows students to become open-minded critical thinkers, compassionate communicators, and culturally aware community members that thrive in an ever-changing global community.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools (LAB) and hosted by Digital Promise.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

In this edWeb podcast, the Brooklyn Laboratory school community, in partnership with Turnaround for Children, EL Education, and City Year, demonstrates how schools must go beyond safety measures to meet the needs of students and ensure that every young person has a relationship with a trusted adult to provide the support they need to learn and grow.

On August 12th, Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools (LAB) announced the launch of its Success Coaching Playbook to help schools nationwide consider how they can train staff to help every student navigate different learning environments and succeed in a COVID-19 world. Given the financial and health challenges created by COVID-19, as well as ongoing racial trauma, students need support in a variety of learning contexts, including remote, in-person, and hybrid options. Brooklyn LAB is training a range of adults—including teachers, support staff, administrators, and teaching fellows—to be the primary support people for designated sets of students, working with each student individually to make sure they are set up for success.

Hear from key partners in the development of the Success Coaching Playbook: Pam Cantor, M.D. from Turnaround for Children, Jennifer Boyce and Kirsten Davis from City Year, and Ron Berger from EL Education. Learn vital information and get access to practical resources to ensure that every young person in your learning context has access to a safe, supportive, and knowledgeable adult who can effectively serve our learners and guide them through trauma, stress, and upheaval.

This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 teachers and school and district leaders. 

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is hosted by AASA, The Superintendents Association.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

The conversation continues with Drs. Bren Elliott and Avis Williams. The previous session introduced six impactful equity practices proven to positively impact the most vulnerable scholars. Listen as these leaders share the progress being made in Selma City Schools and explore how the district can position itself to be on the forefront of districts that lead through an equity lens.

Essential Questions for discussion include:

• How do school districts communicate a vision for equity?
• What strategies can school districts implement to establish a culture of high expectation leading to more equitable outcomes?
• How can school districts ensure the raising of expectations and meeting the needs of all students?
• How can district leaders build teachers and leaders’ skills, knowledge and capacity to lean into equity work?
• How can relationships with key stakeholders, such as students, parents, the community and elected officials be leveraged in order to support equity work?

Listeners learn about strategies to address systemic disparities and inequities in order to benefit all students.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Ripple Effects.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

Listen to education leaders working on the front lines of distance learning as they share how they are successfully implementing social-emotional and mental health supports for students and staff.

In this edWebinar podcast, the presenters share:

• How to effectively connect and build trust with students, laying the groundwork for engagement and learning
• Best practices for supporting students in special education in distance learning
• How to ensure staff feels safe and supported
• How to implement SEL that supports anti-racism and equity in distance learning
• How to implement digital tools in an MTSS for efficacy and sustainability

School and district administrators learn concrete steps they can take to deliver effective, trauma-informed SEL and mental health supports to students and staff as schools and communities continue to grapple with the challenges of COVID-19.

This edWebinar podcast is of interest to school and district leaders of preK through high school grade levels, federal program coordinators, and those involved in student mental health.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Digital Promise.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

There is no one-size-fits-all teaching and learning approach for students. Variability matters, not only among all learners, but within the community of deaf learners.

In this edWebinar podcast, we discuss a broad range of questions often asked by many teachers, including: How can I motivate and engage deaf learners, especially those with different cultural, language, and low socio-economic status? How can I better understand and address in classroom practice the diverse language and cultural needs of my deaf students? And, as a teacher, how can I work with families to meet the needs of deaf students in a digital environment?

This conversation focuses on educational equity, including critical curricula, critical consciousness, and compassionate practices among teachers and students with multiple intersecting identities. We explore ways to provide support for deaf students with different background experiences, cultures, and languages. And, we dig into the research behind learner variability that has an impact on the teaching of and learning by deaf students.

During this edWebinar podcast, we also:

• Discuss ideas to improve professional development for teachers working with deaf students that seek to elevate strengths rather than lead with deficits
• Provide guidance on how to choose appropriate resources
• Offer ideas on how to partner with parents that are mindful of culture
• Encourage and nurture student identity, including the intersectionality of deafness and race

This edWebinar podcast is of interest to preK-12 teachers, especially those who teach English language learners, librarians, and school and district leaders.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by ClassLink and co-hosted by CoSN, AASA, and edWeb.net.
The webinar recording can be accessed here.

Leading learning in this new 2020-2021 school year comes with much more than the usual set of challenges for school leaders, educators, students and parents in K-12 education. AASA and CoSN came together and formed a partnership to assist school leaders in leading digital transformations.

Whether school districts are currently functioning in a traditional face-to-face teaching and learning setting, in a totally remote learning environment, or in some sort of hybrid model, maximizing technology tools for learning — as well as for school operations — has never been more critical.

In this edWebinar podcast, Dr. Dan Domenech, Executive Director of AASA, and Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN, are joined by Illinois Township High School District 214 Superintendent Dr. David Schuler. Together, they share lessons learned over the past school year and describe successful leadership strategies for navigating the constantly changing challenges districts and schools are currently facing. Resources and tools from AASA and CoSN are highlighted.

This edWebinar podcast is of particular value to school superintendents, K-12 school and district leaders, and aspiring leaders.

Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.