What are we reading this week? Here are our favorite blog posts, stories, and news from the world of education:
- Starting to put together your summer learning plan? How about using your gut to guide you? Jennifer Gonzalez at Cult of Pedagogy put together a list of 5 Questions to Pinpoint Your Real Needs.
- The latest in the @ShiftParadigm series on Teacher Problems looks at isolation. "To solve [the teaching problem], you must stop co-existing with teachers and start co-evolving with them." After this inspiring read, you may want to check out Capella University's collection on Creating PLCs That Work.
- This one's just for fun. English Teacher Re-titles Classic Poems as Clickbait in Last-Ditch Effort to Trick Students into Learning.
- We love Kerry Gallagher's TEDx talk: "What if? Reimagining Learning. Technology Can Help." At first skeptical of how technology could actually enhance learning, she talks about how she has used technology in her classroom to transform research, group work, quizzes, and even how students get recognized for their work—resulting in her students not only learning, but wanting to learn. Listen to Kerry's story and then check out our hundreds of resource collections on technology integration in the classroom.
- Classroom discussions can have a huge impact on learning, but they can also be difficult for shy students. Jennifer Hogan at The Compelled Educator discusses backchannels and other resources for inviting the reluctant participator into student-centered discussions.
- What happened when Houston Independent School District (HISD), Texas's largest school district, piloted a competency-based learning model, supported by micro-credentials? Digital Promise asked 400 HISD teachers about lessons learned and how micro-credentials can empower communities of practice, provide opportunities for recognition, and give educators goals and structures for their professional learning journeys.
