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How colleges are spreading COVID-19
Patrick Gleeson EducationMost of the attention and controversy over school attendance in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic these past couple of months has been focused on K-12 classrooms. Less attention has been paid to college policies. That’s too bad, because it’s now becoming clear those same policies are likely to spread COVID-19 back into many of those students’ home communities.
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Pandemic pods: Band-Aid fix or wave of the future?
Brian Stack EducationI'll admit it, as a school administrator, the pandemic has given me some new vocabulary to incorporate into my daily professional life. For example, a new concept has emerged this fall: Microschooling or pandemic pods. Pods are popping up all over the country as families try to cope with fluid school models while maintaining their ability to work and/or keep their kids safe if they do not feel comfortable with the school's plan. But, are these pods a Band-Aid fix to the challenges the pandemic has presented to schools, or might they be the wave of the future?
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How are educators coping with various teaching methods this school year?
Amanda Kowalski EducationCOVID-19 has left school districts scrambling to provide education and keep kids safe since March. The worldwide pandemic shut down in-person classes for the end of the 2019-2020 school year, and districts worked all summer to come up with a plan for 2020-21. Those plans have varied from district to district and state to state, ranging from all virtual to all in-person and a combination of the two. But which is better? What are the differences? And what do the teachers think?
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Special education is a challenge during COVID-19
Bambi Majumdar EducationThere have been numerous debates on the pros and cons of e-learning during the pandemic. The school year has started, and a large portion of the nation's K-12 children are learning virtually. It is not an ideal situation, but it seems to be the best way to keep them safe from the virus. However, providing the same services to students with disabilities has been quite a challenge. Special education administrators across the nation are struggling to get their online learning programs off the ground.
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Building social justice apps builds STEM skills, self-worth for students
Sheilamary Koch EducationFrom paper waste to police brutality, 145 children and teens took a deep dive into the social issues that most concern them this summer. Sounds like a good social justice project, right? What took the work of students who took the recent STEM Kids NYC course outside the realm of what we'd expect from a project on social activism was their final product. No, there were no reports, posters, presentations nor a single PowerPoint or video — instead, each student (aka computer scientist) created a digital app to illuminate their issue.
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Infographic: How arts education benefits kids outside the studio
Neve Spicer EducationA well-rounded education is unarguably an important part of childhood development. While math, science, and reading courses get due credit for conveying important knowledge, the benefits of arts education are often overlooked — and the result is a reduction in time and funding devoted to arts education within the curriculum. It's this important knowledge that's the driving force behind National Arts in Education Week, taking place this year from Sept. 13-19.
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White oak genetics and tree improvement program: A range-wide collaboration
Laura DeWald Natural ResourcesAn eastern U.S. project focused on developing improved white oak (Quercus alba) and understanding its genetic potential has been established at the University of Kentucky. The project is working with forest, wood, and distilling industries and forestry, conservation, and wildlife agencies and organizations to answer a wide variety of questions associated with genetic variation in white oak. Any interested individual or organization is welcome to join the white oak genetics and tree improvement collaboration.
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Pandemic pod craze touches public education
Sheilamary Koch EducationThe micro-schooling, homeschool or pandemic pod craze in education has exploded. At least six New York Times articles have been written on the topic since July 22, with many focusing on families and which ones can or can’t afford to hire private teachers and tutors. While families are leading the trend, some districts and schools are forming their own version of learning pods.
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Hiring tips for modern schools — even in a pandemic
Brian Stack EducationWith the uncertainty of the pandemic, it is apparent that schools will find themselves on a perpetual hiring cycle to keep positions in classrooms and other programs filled, including both regular and substitute positions. What should a principal look for in a new hire? What should new hires expect from a school in this "new normal?" Here are some questions a school leader should consider when making hiring decisions for their school.
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Tips for ESL teachers to prepare students for tests
Douglas Magrath EducationTesting in ESL is the means of assessing the learners' progress in specific skill areas. Teachers need to make their own tests to measure the learners' progress to examine specific skill areas and to discover deficiencies. Some books come with premade tests, or the ESL department may provide tests, but most teachers will have to develop their own tests during a given course.
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