Alternative Learning – Oct 2022 Digest

Below is a short summary of alternative learning articles and how our readers can best use them in the classroom, boardroom, or home.

In the education and edTech industry, there is a growing consensus that this generation of learners need an education that fits them. In searching for alternative learning approaches, experts across education are developing new strategies that meet the demands of learners, the world we are educating for, and the vast resources that educators and edTech entrepreneurs have.  

Education is changing and developing constantly. From the classroom to the boardroom, now is the most exciting time to be in education because of the rapid growth and creative spirit that is flooding the industry.  

Sharing their creative spirit and pulling from their diverse disciplines in education, psychology, sociology, business, and technology, edCircuit contributors have explored alternative learning in the month of October and brought their own ideas on how education can best serve learners.

Digital Citizenship

• BETTER DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP INSTRUCTION: TIPS FOR INCLUSIVITY: An equity focused approach to digital citizenship, discussing how Digital citizenship is for everyone, and educators, administrators, and all of us can work together to make sure it reaches our entire school community.

Tangible Manipulative Based Learning

(Brought to you by Osmo Education)

• INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTION FOR MISSION-CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE: As science and research have revealed, all students learn differently. However, that knowledge means that one teacher needs to use multiple approaches to teach each new skill.

• PHYGITAL LEARNING: (PHYSICAL/DIGITAL) – AHEAD OF THE CURVE: How did we get to Phygital Learning? The merging of physical elements of learning with digital technology?
• REFLECTIVE AI TANGIBLE TECH FOR THE 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM: The benefits of learning the alphabet in tactile ways have been well documented; however, most children around the world still learn their ABCs with the same methods and materials used 100 years ago.
• PHYGITAL LEARNING: CHANGING COURSE WITH CHANGING TIMES: The engaging power of technology has transformed the way of the world, and for one Spanish teacher, phygital learning has completely rerouted her career path.

Play and Imagination Based Learning

• WHY PLAY AND IMAGINATION FOR STUDENTS IS ESSENTIAL: As children grow more mature, imagination paired with thinking in concepts leads to more sophisticated creative thinking, where they produce novel and useful artifacts. When either play or imagination is hindered during the development process, later-stage creativity gets impacted.

STEM/STEAM Safety

(Brought to you by Science Safety Inc.)

• BETTER SCIENCE AND STEM SAFETY APPROACHES FOR NEW TEACHERS: Join internationally recognized science and lab safety specialists Dr. Ken Roy, and Dr. Tyler Love, as they provide critical insights into the world of Science and STEM safety as it pertains to new teachers.  Both of these respected academic and practical educators bring more than 60 years of combined safety education and experience

• RISK MANAGEMENT FOR K-12 SCHOOLS: In our increasingly litigious world, it is becoming commonplace for people to use the words ‘risk’, ‘hazard’ and ‘liability’ quite interchangeably, which is incorrect, especially when you examine what risk management for K-12 means to a school, or to a whole school district.

• METHANOL IN K-12 IS A PREVENTABLE HAZARD: The recent tragic chemistry experiment events which occurred in Virginia last week where three students and the teacher were injured, this clearly illustrates the dangers of using methanol in a school laboratory setting and the risks of handling this substance safely.

Teacher and Admin Professional Development

• 10 TIPS – HOW TO LEAD AND MANAGE PEOPLE: If you are in a leadership or management position in education, or planning to be, it’s my hope that the following ten rules will help you master education management and guide you to produce the results you’re after.

• 10 AGILE PRINCIPLES THAT CAN BE USED IN EDUCATION: Agile was my solution when I struggled with teacher burnout during the endless virtual learning days of early 2020. Teachers who had no experience with virtual learning were given a weekend to figure it out.

Shows & Podcasts

Note: Several new shows and topics will be released over the next few months in preparation for the 2023 season. In the meantime, please explore episodes published this month such as:  

• Learning Can’t Wait – Interviews with leaders who challenge status quo to rebuild the system for students
• Mind The Gap – A global education conversation YouTube video series
• Author Chats – K12 Authors discuss their latest publications and provide insights into their inspirations.
• CosN podcast – Certified education technology leaders discuss, digital equity, innovation, IT leadership, cybersecurity, and more.

Join The Conversation

• Subscribe to edCircuit to keep up to date on all of our publications, podcasts, shows, and press releases.
• Apply to become an edCircuit contributor to share your voice with our audience.
• Stay tuned to ongoing developments and exciting news of the edTech industry On The Wire.
• Let us emPower your voice through advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
• Stay connected through Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn