The EduGals Podcast Rachel Johnson & Katie Attwell

This week, we are chatting about how technology has (or hasn't really) impacted student learning. We're talking about how technology affects the learning and cognitive processes of our students, as well as the pros and cons of new technology and adopting these in the classroom.

If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!

We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!

Featured Content
**For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/125**
Why Don't Students Like School by Daniel WillinghamHow To Get Students Thinking - E110Strategies for Enhancing Memory & Critical Thinking - E113Learning That Transfers - E117Supporting Different Types of Learners - E121Chapter 9 key ideas:Guiding Principle: “Technology changes everything… but not the way you think”Will Chat GPT change everything in the classroom?Digital native vs digital immigrant"Comfort with technology comes from your context, not your generation"Myth of multitasking (or task switching)Impact of music & headphones on independent workWorking memory capacity goes downhill after 20sPD for technology is needed with new toolsInstructional tech coaches play a big roleTrain the trainer modelsTools that improve learning work to improve cognitive processesBest tools are the simple tools (Screencastify for example)Start with the problems, then select the tech tool to support itReading comprehension on screens vs paperDigital textbooksMemorization vs Googling itNote-taking - digital vs paperTime spent on devicesParenting with devices (tech addiction)Classroom implications - equity (avoid the digital divide), questions to consider when adopting tech, assistive technology, offer practice in sustained attentionSupport the showConnect with EduGals:
Twitter @EduGals Rachel @dr_r_johnson Katie @KatieAttwell EduGals Website Support the show

This week, we are sharing our favourite formative assessment tools. Formative assessment is essentially how we are assessing students for what they know while they are learning it in an ongoing format. There are so many great EdTech tools available to provide feedback to your students while they are learning, so we are sharing our favourites for inspiration!

If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!

We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!

Featured Content
**For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/101**
Formative assessment = assessment for learning = assessment as learningOur favourite tools:
Screencastify - use prompts, problem solving explanations, pictures, visuals, retrieval practiceMote - great Google integrations, Mote Loops, MoteCon 2022 sessionsGoogle Forms - self-grading quizzes, flipped classroomKahoot, Quizizz, Gimkit, Blooket - great game apps for assessment, spreadsheets for Q uploadsAll things Google - collaborative, slides, comments, emoji reactionsLow tech - paper or whiteboards are great!Digital whiteboards - Jamboard, Miro, etcEdPuzzle, PlayPosit, Nearpod, Screencastify - interactive questions for assessmentInteractive presentation tools - Nearpod, Pear Deck - try self-paced mode!Padlet - online collaborative bulletin board, digital word walls, collaborative sharing, Q&APlickers - combo of low and high tech using QR codesPolling tools - Poll Everywhere, Mentimeter, Answer GardenPortfolios - check out E074 to learn more - Google Sites or Drive works wellInterviews & Conversations - have students prep ahead of time with audio or video tools mentioned abovePodcasting - reflective, works well for problem solvingSupport the showConnect with EduGals:
Twitter @EduGals Rachel @dr_r_johnson Katie @KatieAttwell EduGals Website Support the show

In this episode, we are joined by a special guest from the Vancouver School Board, Jessica Liew, to chat about shifting our grading practices in the classroom. We'll get into all things assessment, focusing on standards-based grading, growth mindsets, and proficiency scales. Get ready to get nerdy about assessment!

If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!

We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!

Featured Content
**For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/84**
Jessica Liew:Vancouver School BoardSecondary Technology Support TeacherSocial Studies TeacherContact: jliew@vsb.bc.caResources Mentioned:Grading for Equity by Joe FeldmanGrading Smarter, Not Harder by Myron DueckGoing Gradeless, Grades 6-12 by Elise Burns & David FrangiosaTom Schimmer and Katie WhiteKey Takeaways:Focus on the skills, using content as the vehicle to practice (skills matter more than content) - performance vs rehearsalFeedback firstFocus on student learning and growth not grades and pointsOrganizing your gradebook based on skills not tasksWhat are the outcomes of your course? What are the transferrable skills? Avoid the omnibus grade, assessment should only focus on the learning and understandingDitch late marks, bonus marks, zeroes, 100-point scale, participation marksCarrot and stick approaches to grading don't work to support learningIs homework necessary or equitable?If you stop putting marks on everything, students stop asking what their grade isChanging your language around assessment can change student language as wellOrganizing gradebooks by standards helps provide focus on where students need to improveStandards-based grading is not a one size, fits all4 point scale:1 - Beginning (just starting to work with the skill, needs lots of support)2 - Developing (partial understanding, lacks consistency)3 - Applying (proficiency, complete understanding)4 - Extending (work is exemplary, NOT beyond grade level) Support the showConnect with EduGals:
Twitter @EduGals Rachel @dr_r_johnson Katie @KatieAttwell EduGals Website Support the show

This week, we are chatting about why teachers are feeling so tired as well as identifying some strategies to cope and survive the rest of this school year. The exhaustion this school year is real so we are sharing different approaches we are taking to make it to summer in one piece!

If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!

We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!

Featured Content
**For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/124**
The exhaustion is real this year!More sunlight is helpingIt's been rough with student behaviour in both of our buildingsLots of evening eventsStrategy #1: It's ok to say no! Don't stretch yourself too thinStrategy #2: Take mental health days as needed to take care of your own healthDon't feel guilty about saying noTake naps as neededStrategy #3: Give yourself permission to not be the best teacher (don't take on extras, keep going with what you are doing and try to rely on your team)Work-life balance is off - commuting more takes away from planning timeResignations are up and, in some boards, bigger than retirementsPolitics and contract negotiationsStrategy #4: Avoid the news and social media (blissful ignorance)Strategy #5: Spend time connecting with friends and family to refill your bucketStrategy #6: Create boundaries (check emails only in school hours)Strategy #7: COFFEE!Strategy #8: Take care of your health (eating well, exercising, listen to your body)Strategy #9: Hobbies (knitting, piano, violin)Strategy #10: Vent with critical friends (avoid bottling things up!)Strategy #11: Planning forward (camping, puppy)Support the showConnect with EduGals:
Twitter @EduGals Rachel @dr_r_johnson Katie @KatieAttwell EduGals Website Support the show

This week, we are getting an update on Katie's project with Living Hyphen. She will be sharing updates on her dual language book project-based learning. The book has printed and officially launched!

If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!

We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!

Featured Content
**For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/123**
Identity Texts & Project-Based Learning - E119Living Hyphen websiteESL classes with a project-based learning lens (creating a book about immigration and settlement challenges)Dual language writing piecesTeams: events, graphic design, publicity, presentation, podcasting, sales, production managersOakville News ArticleLots of due dates, quick turnaround time (less than 1 month!)Book launch - reached out to classes, board members, local mediaPresentation - process of creating the book, sharing some entriesTools used - Canva (needs auto-generating page numbers!), used anonymized accounts to protect student privacyBig wins: courage to share their journey (some were not happy)Roadblocks: low proficiency ELLs and/or new arrivals (how to get them involved to help build language)Going Forward: Give yourself more time, let the students take ownership (give up control), make the role expectations explicit, connect with feeder schoolsFind those opportunities for elementary and secondary schools to overlap to build relationshipsIf you are in the Oakville, ON area and are interested in getting a copy of the book, reach out to us!Support the showConnect with EduGals:
Twitter @EduGals Rachel @dr_r_johnson Katie @KatieAttwell EduGals Website Support the show

This week, we are chatting all about the 100-point scale, why it is biased towards failure, and what we can do instead to make our grading a bit more biased-resistant. 

If you like what you hear, we would love it if you could share this episode with a colleague or friend. And make sure you subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any new content! And consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee or two!

We would love to hear from you – leave a comment on our website OR check out our FLIPGRID!

Featured Content
**For detailed show notes, please visit our website at https://edugals.com/122**
Grading for Equity by Joe Feldman100-pt scale is biased towards failureZeroes disproportionately punishes studentsToo many transitions points between grades (judgement between grades is much harder)More inconsistencies of grading between teachers with 100-pt scaleTry using a scale with fewer points (0-4, 0-3, 0-5 for example)Avoid marking everything - focus on summative tasksMost recent, most consistentMinimal Scales:
Decide how many transition points that you want1, 2, 3, 4, 5 point scales are all possibilitiesSingle point rubrics - criteria listed for level 3Mastery scales (yes, no)  - criteria listed for level 4 (3 attempts allowed because expectations are high)Specifications Grading - E107This is NOT watering the curriculum or grading down!Multiple attempts or replacing grades as skills progressOther suggestions:
Setting a minimum grade (40 or 50%) - essentially equalizes the grade bands to make grading more equitableUsing a 4 pt scale (or something similar), you will eventually need a grade conversion chartSpecific grades - 95, 85, 75, 65, etc. - pick specific values for each levelThink about your zeroes - is it compliance or comprehension?Keep students accountable instead of using a zeroDetermining Final Grades:
Eventually you will likely need to convert back to a 100-pt scaleAutomatic conversions in gradebook softwareConferencing with students (along with reflections)Most recent, most consistent - look for trendsSupport the showConnect with EduGals:
Twitter @EduGals Rachel @dr_r_johnson Katie @KatieAttwell EduGals Website Support the show