Virtual School Meanderings

May 10, 2024

Tomorrow’s News Today: Speak Up Summer Planning Series

An item from the folks behind the Speak Up survey.

May 8, 2024

preparing students of today to be innovators, leaders, and engaged citizens of tomorrow

are you an educator?

We would love to include your voice in our national story!

By participating in Speak Up, you contribute to a nationwide conversation on the challenges and opportunities facing educators today. Your feedback helps policymakers, administrators, and educational leaders understand the needs of teachers like you, enabling them to make informed decisions that benefit students and educators alike.

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to improving education!

Click here to preview the Educator Survey

Please know that all your responses are secure and kept confidential.

take the survey!

are you a school or district leader?

Take just 2 minutes to set up your own Teacher Speak Up efforts, as we have simplified sharing Speak Up with your educators at the district level:

  • Share the Speak Up Educator Survey link with your teachers: https://projecttomorrow.questionpro.com/SUEducator
  • Have some fun with it and designate a Teacher Speak Up Day for your district!
  • Bonus: use these promotional resources to share your Teacher Speak Up efforts with your educators: Promoting the Educator Speak Up Survey
  • Let us know who to send the data to and begin using your district-level data to kickoff your summer planning efforts!

If you would like school-level data, please contact us to receive customized survey links.

how to use your educator Speak Up data at the end of the school year

check out our blog post for details and question alignment

partner spotlight

Thank you from the Project Tomorrow team!
Julie, Michelle, Ian, Sam, Irene, & David

May 2024 EdTech Catalyst: Elevating Education Innovation in Michigan!

An item from a US-based K-12 online learning program.

Walt Sutterlin, Scott Watkins, and Jamey Fitzpatrick along with two 2023 Pitch Contest winners.

A Note from Michigan Virtual

As the school year wraps up, we’re gearing up for our 2024 EdTech Catalyst programming! If you’re part of Michigan’s education community with an innovative idea or new business to enhance teaching or learning, here’s what you need to know.

 

Our EdTech Innovation Bootcamp is a live Zoom event taking place from
June 17 – 20, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. daily. It’s designed to help you develop your EdTech idea and deepen your understanding of education technology innovation and entrepreneurship. Participation in the Bootcamp is strongly encouraged for those planning to enter the Michigan Virtual EdTech Pitch Contest, although it’s not mandatory if you’re attending solely for the Bootcamp.

 

The EdTech Pitch Contest has two rounds. For the first round, submit your pitch deck and video by July 7, 2024. Five finalists will then present their pitches live on Zoom on July 18, 2024. Save the dates to participate or watch the final presentations!

 

For all event details and registration links for the Bootcamp, visit our EdTech Catalyst page.

 

Best,

Scott Watkins
Senior Director, Business Strategy

 

Woman walking down the hall with open laptop in her hands.

Get Innovative! 🚀

Have an innovative idea that you want to explore, grow, and share? Here are some opportunities and resources if you’re ready to launch!

 

EdTech Shark Tanks

Are you an EdTech entrepreneur with a growing startup? If so, you might be ready for the 2024 EdTech Week Shark Tanks! The event is held in New York City in October, but participation applications are due June 15th.  Learn more on their website!

 

ASU + GSV Summit

The 2024 ASU + GSV Summit brought together leaders in education, technology, and business over 4 days in mid-April to discuss and promote innovation and investment in the education sector. Michigan Virtual, with generous support from GSV, hosted a group of Michigan educators, including our 2023 EdTech pitch winners, at the conference, ensuring the voice of Michigan educators plays a role in shaping the future of education.

 

If you couldn’t attend but are interested in the conference, you can see many of the main sessions online in the GSV Video Library.

 

Hands holding a lightbulb with a drawing of a brain and the letters

AI Lab Spotlight🤖

The team from the AI Lab at Michigan Virtual has stayed quite busy in the past month, as the topic of AI in education is still near the top of many discussions among educators and students.

AI Literacy Day

Michigan Virtual was honored to participate in the first National AI Literacy Day by hosting a webinar featuring a conversation with their AI Strategist, Justin Bruno, and sharing highlights of some of the work that Michigan Virtual has been doing with districts around the state. The team also continued its work with dozens of organizations to plan for professional learning and strategy implementation around the topic of AI in the 2024-25 school year. Many schools are forming task forces or committees to develop policy, deliver professional learning to staff, and engage in critical conversations with students about the role that AI will play in their lives and careers.

Khanmigo Pilot

The AI Lab is also concluding the first semester of its pilot of Khanmigo from Khan Academy. Twenty teachers and more than 650 students across 13 Michigan school districts participated in a pilot to learn how the use of this AI tutor might support educators and learners in Algebra 1 courses. Participants noted the benefits of having accurate, on-demand support and an avenue for students to have guided and guarded ways to leverage the power of generative AI.

For more resources and updates on the AI Lab, visit our website.

Woman writing on sticky notes on a glass wall.

Ready? Set? Pitch! 🎤

Whether you have a groundbreaking idea or want to witness the next big thing, the Michigan Virtual Pitch Contest is the place to be.

Register for our Edtech Innovation Bootcamp (June 17-20) to help you prepare your pitch! Visit our event website for full information on the Bootcamp and the pitch contest.

Stay Connected

Don’t miss out on the latest updates, insights, and opportunities Michigan Virtual has to offer. Follow us and stay connected with the Michigan innovation community using our socials link below.

 

Thank you for being a valued member of the Michigan Virtual community! Let’s continue to collaborate and shape the future of innovation together.

 

Did you miss our last newsletter?

Read our April 2024 Issue

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Michigan Virtual, 920 Municipal Way, Lansing, Michigan 48917

May 8, 2024

Term 2 inspiration…

An item for my Kiwi readers.

GCSN Upcoming Events and Workshops                                                     View this email in your browser
Kia ora,

Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi 
As an old net is cast aside, another is remade   

Now that we are settling into Term 2 and the school year is well underway, we are starting to look ahead at what we can do to support you, your school and ākonga.

This week is New Zealand Sign Language Week (6 – 12 May 2024), facilitated by Deaf Aotearoa. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the work they do, how to incorporate NZSL into your school or kura, and maybe even learn a few new signs. Learn more and access their resources here.

This month we want to highlight the amazing projects created and facilitated by Wilj Dekkers that GCSN is proud to support in 2024. Alongside the Library Learn Team, Wilj has been working with ākonga from three Ōtautahi schools to prepare them for a Kāhui Ako robotics challenge. He is also facilitating events for the 2024 Ōtautahi Learning Days Festival, including AI for Educators, an opportunity for kaiako to learn how to use AI tools to empower themselves at work and elevate learning opportunities.

Stay in the loop about what is happening at GCSN on TwitterFacebook or via the GCSN website.

Noho ora mai rā,
The GCSN Team 

Ōtautahi Learning Days 2024
In partnership with Wilj Dekkers, GCSN is excited to be offering a kaiako-focused learning opportunity for the 2024 Ōtautahi Learning Days festival: AI for Educators. Learn more and register for the session below!
Hosted by Wilj Dekkers this workshop provides a hands-on exploration of what can be achieved when using AI tools to support kaiako. Whether developing resources or reducing workloads, we hope to inspire and empower kaiako to use generative AI to benefit ākonga. The workshop will be hosted in person with kaiako choosing between a morning (9-10am) or afternoon session (4-5pm).
Sign up here!
Kāhui Ako Robotics Success
By Wilj Dekkers on behalf of the Greater Christchurch Schools’ Network

Throughout Term 1 2024, the VexIQ Kāhui Ako Robotics programme, witnessed enthusiastic participation from students across three schools from Waimairi-Iri: Breens Intermediate, Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate, and Christ The King. As a GCSN funded project in collaboration with the Library Learn Team, kura had access to a trained facilitator and robotics kits for the duration of the term.

Engaged Students, Inspired Minds

The VexIQ Robotics programme captured the imaginations of students. Their passion for engineering, coding, and problem-solving was palpable as they delved into weekly challenges. Whether designing intricate mechanisms or fine-tuning their programming skills, these budding engineers embraced the opportunity to learn and create.

The Kāhui Ako Challenge

As the term unfolded, anticipation grew for the grand finale—the Kāhui Ako challenge. Bringing together students from all three schools, this friendly competition showcased their collective talent and teamwork. Here’s how it unfolded:

  • Overall Combined Score: Christ The King emerged as the overall winner, demonstrating exceptional collaboration and strategic thinking. Their robot navigated the challenge course, Rise Above but more importantly, the team collaborated well with their partner teams.
  • Engineering Excellence: Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate stood out in the engineering category. Their robot design was innovative, efficient, and elegantly executed. Judges praised their attention to detail and creative problem-solving.
  • Skills Challenge: Breens Intermediate showcased their prowess in the skills challenge. Their drivers manoeuvred the robot with precision, scoring points and impressing everyone present. Their dedication to practise paid off.

Acknowledgments

A huge thank you to the GCSN, without their support, none of this would have been possible. Additionally, we appreciate the Library Learning Team for making VexIQ kits available to schools. These kits served as the building blocks of creativity, sparking curiosity and igniting a passion for robotics.

Looking Ahead

If you are part of a Canterbury Kāhui Ako and would like to have your schools involved, please do get in touch with wilj@wdekkers.nz or via the GCSN website. Each term, the programme will be offered to Kāhui Ako to inspire and support ākonga and kura on their STEM journeys.

Stay tuned for more updates as our young engineers continue to explore, create, and inspire!

COMING SOON!
The Top of the Pods podcasting competition is coming back for another year!

We are excited to be welcoming a new competition partner – Papanui Youth Development Trust (LOOP) whose podcasting expertise will be a welcome addition to the team alongside Plains FM and Christchurch City Libraries. Hear more about what’s to come and what South New Brighton School (the 2023 winners) think about their new podcasting setup here.

Keep an eye out for further details about this year’s competition and how you can get involved in early June 2024!

Stay in the loop here…
Copyright © 2023 Greater Christchurch Schools’ Network
All rights reserved.
Greater Christchurch Schools Network · PO Box 945 · West End · Christchurch, Christchurch 8140 · New Zealand

May 2, 2024

AERA Highlights: 2024 Annual Meeting Draws More than 15,100 Attendees to Philadelphia, 2025 Annual Meeting Call for Submissions to Open Week of May 13, and More

An item from the folks at the American Educational Research Association that may be of interest to my academic readers.

Click here to view this email in your browser.
April 2024
 

AERA News

2024 Annual Meeting Draws More than 15,100 Attendees to Philadelphia

The 2024 Annual Meeting held in Philadelphia on April 11–14 convened more than 15,100 scholars, policy leaders, and practitioners for four days of cutting-edge research, intellectual exchange, scholarly connection, and professional development. Read more

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2025 AERA Annual Meeting Call for Submissions to Open Week of May 13; Submissions Close July 26

The 2025 AERA Annual Meeting call for submissions will open the week of May 13. Submissions are due July 26. The Annual Meeting theme—“Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal”—“calls us to consider how we can work across disciplinary, epistemological, and methodological orientations to forge deeper connections in our field that can speak to the challenges we face in education and in our imperfect multiracial democracy.”

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AERA to Hold Virtual Event on Critical Approaches to Education Policy Research on May 23—Register Now

On May 23, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., AERA will hold a virtual public forum, “Critical Approaches to Education Policy Research—Improving Researchers’ Capacity to Address Injustice.” Read more

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AERA Annual Meeting to Return to Five-Day Format and Offer New Submission Option in 2025

On February 2, AERA Council approved returning the AERA Annual Meeting back to a five-day format to help change the pace and climate of the meeting and expand opportunities for attendees. Read more

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New Report Finds Significant Gender and Racial Inequities in the Educational Measurement Profession

Gender and racially based employment disparities, differences in perceptions of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and workplace discrimination remain significant issues in the field of educational measurement, according to a new report supported by the American Educational Research Association, the National Council on Measurement in Education, and Women in Measurement. Read more

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Nine AERA Members Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Nine AERA members, including AERA Immediate Past President Tyrone C. Howard, have been elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Read more

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The journals of the American Educational Research Association | Sage
Want to advertise in AERA Highlights? Learn more
 

2024 Annual Meeting

AERA 2023–2024 President Tyrone Howard Examines How to Dismantle Racial Injustice in Education

To a packed ballroom, AERA 2023–2024 President Tyrone Howard gave his presidential address, “Examining Our Past to Imagine a Better Future: Recognition and Redress of Racial Injustice in Education,” on Saturday, April 13, at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Read more

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Ladson-Billings and Delgado Bernal Give Major Annual Meeting Lectures Disrupting Assumptions and Sparking New Ideas

The 2024 AERA Distinguished Lecture and the 2024 Wallace Foundation Distinguished Lecture were given during the Annual Meeting in Philadelphia by two prominent scholars. Read more

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AERA Award Winners Address Major Education Issues in High-Profile Lectures

The 2024 Annual Meeting featured five thought-provoking lectures given by 2023 AERA Award recipients. Read more

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Annual Meeting Research and Science Policy Forum Features Conversations with Federal Agency Leaders and Discussion of Pressing Issues

The 2024 AERA Annual Meeting featured 13 invited sessions in the Research and Science Policy Forum that included conversations with leaders of federal education research agencies and discussion on emerging education research issues and priorities. Read more

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AERA Holds Undergraduate Student Workshop at Annual Meeting

AERA’s Undergraduate Student Education Research Training Workshop was held with 18 promising undergraduate students during the 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Read more

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Youth Teams in Education Research Program Brings High School Students to Annual Meeting

For a second consecutive year, competitively selected teams of high school students attended the AERA Annual Meeting to participate in the Youth Teams in Education Research Program. Read more

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Publications News

AERA Recognizes 2023 Outstanding Journal Reviewers

AERA recognized 60 scholars as 2023 outstanding reviewers for AERA’s suite of journals at the AERA 2024 Annual Meeting. Read more

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New Volume from AERA! Inequality in Key Skills of City Youth
AERA has recently released Inequality in Key Skills of City Youth: An International Comparison, an innovative book led by volume editors Stephen Lamb and Russell W. Rumberger. Visit our Online Store to purchase your copy now!
 

Research and Science Policy News

As Congress Begins Work on FY 2025 Appropriations, AERA Highlights Priorities for Funding for Education Research and Statistics

Following the release of President Biden’s FY 2025 budget request in March, Congress began working on appropriations in April. Read more

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Voices from the Field

Denise-Marie Ordway Shares 10 Ways Researchers Can Help Journalists Avoid Errors When Reporting on Academic Studies

Denise-Marie Ordway has worked at The Journalist’s Resource at the Harvard Kennedy School since 2015, after working as an award-winning reporter for newspapers and radio stations in the U.S. and Central America, including the Orlando Sentinel and Philadelphia InquirerRead more

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AERA Calls for Submissions

AERA-NSF Research and Dissertation Grants Program–Deadline: May 30
 

AERA Publications Calls

Call for Editors: American Educational Research Journal 2025–2027—Deadline: May 1

 

Call for Editors: AERA Open 2025–2027

 

Call for Editors: Review of Research in Education 2026, 2028

 

Beyond AERA

Visit the Beyond AERA webpage for professional advancement opportunities from other organizations, including calls for papers and submissions, meetings and conferences, and other activities.

 

Call for Submissions for the XVIII World Congress of Comparative Education Societies, “Fostering Inclusive Ecologies of Knowledge: Education for Equitable and Sustainable Futures”—Deadline: May 15

 

In Memoriam

AERA members who have recently passed away
AERA 2015-16 President Jeannie Oakes, 81, died on April 25. She was Presidential Professor Emeritus in Educational Equity at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Senior Fellow in Residence at the Learning Policy Institute. She was an AERA Fellow and a recipient of AERA’s Early Career, Palmer O. Johnson Memorial, Outstanding Book, and Social Justice in Education Research Awards. Watch her 2016 Presidential Address here. A full remembrance will be published in the June 2024 issue of Highlights.
 

AERA in the News

Recent media coverage of AERA and AERA-published research
More AERA in the News

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AERA Highlights is published by the American Educational Research Association monthly to inform members and others interested in education research about the latest news and developments in AERA and in the field.
Editor: Felice J. Levine

Managing Editors: Tony Pals and John Neikirk

Contributors: Lori Diane Hill, James Hughes, Marla Koenigsknecht, Audrey Poe, Christy Talbot, George Wimberly, and Martha Yager

 

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American Educational Research Association

1430 K Street, NW

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Washington, DC 20005

(202) 238-3200

May 1, 2024

Download the latest Speak Up Report Today! 📈

An item from the folks behind the Speak Up survey.

April 29, 2024

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