The 2021-2022 State of Engagement Report by GoGuardian is out.  This survey of 2000 educators found that the top five motivators for students, especially now that they are back to face-to-face learning, are as follows:

1. Creativity and Self-Expression

2. Academic Engagement

3. Curiosity and Life-Long Learning

4. Critical Thinking

5. Tie: Social-Emotional Well-Being / Conceptual Understanding

JPS selected iPads as our one-to-one device of choice largely because of the ability for students to create and personalize their learning.  The findings of this survey support what we already have witnessed.  As Mariana Aguilar, Senior Director of Education at GoGuardian, stated, "When teachers emphasize creativity and self-expression, it has the strongest impact on engagement."

If you'd like to find new ways to have your kids create and personalize their learning in your class with their devices, please reach out to Jason and Jeff.  We'd love to help!

While iPads can be used to have students complete the questions at the end of a chapter, why stop there?  The tools for creating, collaborating, and problem-solving are right at the students' fingertips.  10 Minute Tryouts Link

We wanted to share this blog post from A.J. Juliani with you because so many of us are feeling this.  And, yes, teaching is hard.  So, grab a cup of joe, enjoy the read, and know that we are nodding in agreement with you.  Please let us know how we can help you on your journey.

Check out the "For Parents" and "For Educators" pages on the  Common Sense Education website.  Their free PK-12 lessons on media literacy, cyberbullying, relationships, digital footpring, privacy and security, and media balance/well being are second to none.  Check them out!

Jeff walks you through the components of the coaching cycle.  

This student-centered approach to blended learning is a great way to think about combining what worked during distanced learning and what works in face-to-face learning.  Check out this brief overview of "The Modern Classroom."

William Shakespeare famously said, "Fear not the tech!"

Okay, we made that up.  But many teachers express nervousness about adding a new idea or tool into their classroom assessments because they are not "experts" in how the technology might work.  The good news is you don't need to be an expert!  

If you know the starting point of a task and you have a goal in mind for students to accomplish, often that is all the kids need to be successful.  Students have a bevy of tools at their fingertips - cameras, presentation software,  whiteboards,  and drawing and recording tools.  Let the students determine their path to your destination.  

If your course standards require students to know how a food web works, just tell the kids that they need to create something that shows mastery of that content.  Does it matter if they interview someone from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute to get this information?  Will it hurt that they create an interactive presentation showing fungi breaking down organic material over time and predators chasing prey?  Is it wrong that a student sketches out a food web on a Jamboard and drops in copyright-safe images from the internet?  

Just as you can choose your route to a destination, consider giving kids the same option.  And as a bonus, kids develop the skills to be independent creators and thinkers as opposed to someone who just follows a step-by-step path who doesn't need to consider creative ideas.

AJ Juliani asks about the future we want for our students