Digital Learning Today: Where Productivity Meets Innovation in the Classroom.

Digital Learning Today: Where Productivity Meets Innovation in the Classroom.

Digital Learning Today: Your professional development partner for a tech-infused classroom that truly takes learning beyond the four walls. Hosted by ISTE Award-Winning Instructional Coach Jeff Bradbury from the TeacherCast Educational Network and Diane Manser, author of “I Didn’t Sign Pp For This”, this podcast is packed with honest conversations, key guests, and the latest tips and strategies. From overcoming tech hurdles to building relationships with students and colleagues, each episode offers practical wisdom to enhance your passion as an educator. Whether you're new to teaching or a seasoned pro, join Jeff and Diane weekly as they dive into the challenges and successes they experience within their own classrooms. Learn how to turn your classroom into a dynamic hub of innovative learning where technology amplifies standards-based education. Discover how to create meaningful learning experiences that spark curiosity and ignite engagement in your students. Subscribe today and transform your teaching with actionable advice on effective technology integration.

  1. The National Science of Reading Landscape – Part 1

    4 DAYS AGO · BONUS

    The National Science of Reading Landscape – Part 1

    In this episode, Jeff Bradbury, Laura Stewart, and Kymyona Burk discuss the importance of literacy instruction and the levers that can improve literacy outcomes for students. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today! In This Episode … What is the current landscape of the science of reading? How did the science of reading become a national movement? Conversation Takeaways Investing in teacher knowledge and coaching are key levers for improving literacy outcomes. Funding is essential for implementing effective literacy policies and practices. Teacher preparation programs should include instruction on evidence-based literacy practices. Personal connections and relationships can enhance professional collaborations. Ongoing work is needed to sustain and improve literacy education. Teacher preparation is crucial in ensuring that educators are equipped with the knowledge and skills to teach reading effectively. High-quality instructional materials aligned with the science of reading are essential for supporting teachers in their instruction. The banning of ineffective instructional strategies, such as the three-cueing strategy, is a necessary step in promoting evidence-based reading instruction. Stakeholders, including school boards, play a vital role in implementing and sustaining the science of reading practices. The science of reading movement has gained momentum nationally, with many states adopting policies and initiatives to align with evidence-based reading instruction. There is hope for improving literacy outcomes for all students, and the success achieved in Mississippi serves as an example of what is possible with investment in teacher knowledge and support. The Science of Reading The Science of Reading 2.0: Implementation made easy What is the science of reading? Science of reading: Research and Resources Science of reading: Informed Strategies Download the new book The Courage to Lead and make bold, sustainable literacy change happen today! The Nation’s Report Card State Literacy Leaders About the 95 Percent Group 95 Percent Group is an education company whose mission is to build on science to empower teachers—supplying the knowledge, resources, and support they need—to develop strong readers. Using...

    17 min
  2. 5 DAYS AGO

    Empathy in Education: How Middle School Students Can Step into Administrators’ Shoes

    In this episode of Digital Learning Today, hosts Jeffrey Bradbury and Diane Manser explore the concept of empathy in education, particularly through a project called Middle School 2.0. They discuss how this project allows students to step into the shoes of educators, fostering understanding and respect. The conversation covers various aspects of the project, including creative development, branding, course creation, budgeting, and empowering students to take ownership of their learning. The episode emphasizes the importance of empathy, creativity, and real-world skills in the classroom. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today! In This Episode … Why is it important for students to learn about Empathy? How can we help students understand the challenges faced by school administrators? What are some effective ways to put students in an administrator's shoes? How does experiencing an administrator's perspective enhance empathy in students? What are the potential benefits of increased empathy between students and administrators? How can this empathy exercise improve the overall school environment? Helping Students Create a School of their Own School Building 2.0 Introduction What do you like about your school? What would you like to see changed? Graphic Design New District Colors (Brand Kit) (Google Slides) Create a New District Logo (Google Drawings) New Website Banner (Google Drawings) New School Website (Google Sites) New Mission & Vision Statement (Google Docs) New Curriculum What classes do you like? What classes would you like to see in the school? Budget (Google Sheets) What items are needed for new classes? / How much will they cost? Do those items and the new class fit into the budget? Designing a new school building (Google Sheets) Project Take aways Student Reactions Parent Reactions Administrator Reactions Conversation Takeaways Empathy helps students understand different perspectives. Engaging students in project-based learning fosters creativity. Students can learn valuable skills through real-world applications. Creating a school brand involves thoughtful decision-making. Course descriptions should be well-structured and informative. Budgeting teaches students about resource management. Students benefit from taking ownership of their education. Collaboration enhances the learning experience. Empowering students leads to greater engagement. Future projects can build on the success of current initiatives. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Empathy in Education 03:00 The Middle School 2.0 Project 06:05 Understanding Student Perspectives 09:09 Creative Project Development 12:09 Building a School Brand 14:56 Course Creation and Description Writing 17:59 Budgeting and Resource Allocation 20:59 Finalizing the Project 23:55 Empowering Students Through Ownership 27:03 Future Projects and Conclusion Follow Our Podcast And Subscribe View All Episodes a

    33 min
  3. Unlocking Literacy: Top Ten Principles of Literacy Instruction with Laura Stewart on the 95 Percent Group Podcast

    NOV 13 · BONUS

    Unlocking Literacy: Top Ten Principles of Literacy Instruction with Laura Stewart on the 95 Percent Group Podcast

    In this episode of the Digital Learning Today Podcast, Jeff welcomes Laura Stewart, Chief Academic Officer from the 95 Percent Group, onto the podcast to learn about the 10 Principles of Literacy Instruction. Together they discuss the need for explicit instruction, repeatable routines, and data-driven practices to enhance literacy education. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today! In This Episode … The Science of Reading is crucial for effective teaching. Explicit instruction is essential for learning to read. Repeatable routines help students focus on content. Data collection must inform instructional practices. Evidence alignment ensures resources are effective. Implementation science bridges research and practice. Feedback on the 10 Principles has been positive. Leadership is key in transforming literacy practices. Top Ten Principles of Literacy Instruction Links of Interest: The Science of Reading 2.0: Implementation made easy Download the new book The Courage to Lead and make bold, sustainable literacy change happen today! About the 95 Percent Group 95 Percent Group is an education company whose mission is to build on science to empower teachers—supplying the knowledge, resources, and support they need—to develop strong readers. Using an approach that is based in structured literacy, the company’s One95 Literacy Ecosystem™ integrates professional learning and evidence-based literacy products into one cohesive system that supports consistent instructional routines across tiers and is proven and trusted to help students close skill gaps and read fluently. 95 Percent Group is also committed to advancing research, best practices, and thought leadership on the science of reading more broadly. For additional information on 95 Percent Group, visit: https://www.95percentgroup.com. Links of Interest Website: https://www.95percentgroup.com Web resource pages: https://www.95percentgroup.com/insights-the-science-of-reading/ https://www.95percentgroup.com/district-administrators-toolkit/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/95-percent-group-inc-/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/95percentgroup Twitter - https://twitter.com/95percentgroup Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/95percentgroupllc/ About our Guests Laura Stewart Laura Stewart is the Chief Academic...

    17 min
  4. OCT 30

    What is a Fortnite Physics Playground?

    In this episode of the Digital Learning Today Podcast, Jeff welcomes Andrew Vanden Heuvel onto the show to discuss how he is using Fortnite to teach complex scientific principals to students of all ages. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today! In This Episode … Video games make awesome laboratories: Virtual worlds make excellent pedagogical tools for science educators. They allow us to bend the laws of reality, enter into life-sized experiments, and recreate famous experiments from history. Why Fortnite? It's popular, it's playable on almost any device, and it has an incredible set of game creation tools (Fortnite Creative + Unreal Editor for Fortnite). Also, Fortnite's Replay mode can turn Fortnite into a virtual production studio, enabling amazing storytelling projects far beyond the scope of our science project. Fortnite and the Metaverse: I would argue the Fortnite can/should be thought of as one of the most widely adopted "metaverse" platforms available, and that (as such), it should be taken seriously by educators, employers, and other adults. The Fortnite Virtual Laboratory Curriculum: With the support of a MegaGrant from Epic Games, I created a set of virtual lab activities published as Fortnite Islands. The Fortnite Physics Playground: This free-play Fortnite island allows students to design their own physics experiments and extract the player's motion data in real-time from the game. About our Guest: Andrew Vanden Heuvel is an award-winning science educator recognized for using technology to create immersive learning experiences. He is an online astronomy professor teaching at colleges across the country. Andrew has consulted with organizations like NASA, Google, TED-Ed, and Epic Games to create engaging science content. His greatest joy is sharing his passion for the universe with learners worldwide, inspiring curiosity while making complex concepts accessible and fun. Links of Interest https://www.andrewvh.com https://www.youtube.com/@AndrewVandenHeuvel https://www.instagram.com/stembite/ https://x.com/avheuv https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-vandenheuvel/ https://www.andrewvh.com/fortnite-physics Follow Our Podcast And Subscribe View All Episodes Apple Podcasts Spotify Follow Our Host Jeff Bradbury | @JeffBradbury TeacherCast | @TeacherCast Join Our PLN Are you enjoying the TeacherCast Network, please share your thoughts with the world by commenting on Apple Podcasts today? I enjoy reading and sharing your comments on the podcast each week. Let’s Work Together Host: Jeff Bradbury a...

    25 min
4.8
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Digital Learning Today: Your professional development partner for a tech-infused classroom that truly takes learning beyond the four walls. Hosted by ISTE Award-Winning Instructional Coach Jeff Bradbury from the TeacherCast Educational Network and Diane Manser, author of “I Didn’t Sign Pp For This”, this podcast is packed with honest conversations, key guests, and the latest tips and strategies. From overcoming tech hurdles to building relationships with students and colleagues, each episode offers practical wisdom to enhance your passion as an educator. Whether you're new to teaching or a seasoned pro, join Jeff and Diane weekly as they dive into the challenges and successes they experience within their own classrooms. Learn how to turn your classroom into a dynamic hub of innovative learning where technology amplifies standards-based education. Discover how to create meaningful learning experiences that spark curiosity and ignite engagement in your students. Subscribe today and transform your teaching with actionable advice on effective technology integration.

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