The EdTechEnergy Podcast

Welcome to The EdTechEnergy podcast. I, your host, Melanie Wiscount, am obsessed with getting all things techy, moving and grooving for teachers. I'll provide you with strategies, tips, and timesavers to inspire you beyond it all to create the kind of techy learning that keeps students coming back for more. I'll say it all inside of 20 minutes, the average commute for U.S. teachers.

How to Catapult Student Engagement by using Microsoft FlipGrid Videos 04/17/2023

Episode 20: PBL—Use RUBRICS to Empower Your Students 02/25/2023

Episode 20: PBL—Use RUBRICS to Empower Your Students If there is one valuable time-saving tip I would provide new teachers when they create unit and summative assessment projects, it would be to fully embrace the power of project-based learning rubrics. When I was a Student Teacher Supervisor at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, I devoted an entire class to teach the art and science of rubric creation. When project rubrics are drafted and designed with the end product or result in mind, as well as keeping your students at the forefront, the rubric becomes a helpful catalyst to produce the best project submissions from our students. This podcast episode shares the content that university class offered my twelve student teachers who were very excited to do everything right and well to impress their host teachers. I'm also providing you some of the rubric techniques as “secrets” I learned along the way that I did not learn in my college classes or textbooks. Transcript: Valuable Product to get you started: The right rubric provides your expectations right from the start when you introduce the rubric with your summative assessment project. This pack is complete with 16 rubrics, in editable Microsoft Word .docx files, so you may use them as is or customize them with your summative assessment expectations! ≋ 16 Editable and Customizable .docx Project Rubrics! ≋ 16 PDF Printable Project Rubrics! ≋ 1–3 P's Peer Review Google Rubric! - Store BESTSELLER! ≋ 1–3 P's Peer Review Easel Rubric! - Store BESTSELLER! ≋ 2 Versions of Podcast Episode Project Rubrics! ≋ Choice of Black & White or Color! ≋ All rubrics follow best practices! ➤ Grab the shownotes at ⭐Remember to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to my podcast, The EdTechEnergy Podcast!⭐ When you SUBSCRIBE to The EdTechEnergy Podcast, you’ll hear and learn how to use technology in a high engaging way in your instruction, student learning, and assessment! New episodes will come directly to your phone, automatically. And you'll get the content that solely and specially comes to subscribers! ➤ Check out my Teacher Professional Development online courses at ➤ Keep ahead of everything EdTech with weekly FREE Strategies, Tips, Timesavers, and Templates! ✤ Stay in touch for FREE EdTech Strategies, Tips, and Timesavers! Music Attribution in Intro and Outro Music License: Jamendo Licensing Standard License - Title: Inspiring Corporate Artist: CORPORATEMUSIC Album: Corporate A /episode/index/show/edtechenergypodcast/id/26044689

Episode 19: How do Students Need to FEEL in your classroom to Want to ENGAGE in your course and content? 04/20/2022

Episode 18: Top Strategies to Transform Personalized Learning in your Classroom 03/30/2022

Episode 18: Top Strategies to Transform Personalized Learning in your Classroom Go to this Episode 18's Show Notes at: OR In today’s episode (Episode 18), I talk about how to create personalized learning pathways for your instruction, student learning, and assessment. Get ready to hear MANY strategies, tips, and implementation ideas to start small and end BIG with a variety of ways to personalize 3-4 learning pathways, and then exponentially personalize inside of each pathway. Below are the links that were mentioned in the podcast episode. ❓If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. . You will need to pay to use this survey, but the low cost is worth the it gives you as well as the time it saves collecting the data, reporting it in an easy form, and providing analysis. Learn more about the VARK subscription ($37.50 at the time of this blog post) at this . When creating personalized learning pathways, start with UDL, . This type of model works seamlessly with personalized learning. At the link provided, you’ll find UDL Guidelines for Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression, to create learners who are purposeful and motivated, resourceful, and knowledgeable, and strategic and goal oriented. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~⭐Below is a possible flow you may use to create a learning pathway template for a lesson: 1. Learning Outcome(s) 2. Essential Question(s) 3. Standard(s) 4. Word Wall with Definitions 5. Hook 6. Instruction A 7. Learning Activity A 8. Mini assessment/exit ticket ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⭐Below is a possible flow to create a learning pathway template for a 3-lesson unit of study: 1. Learning Outcomes 2. Essential Questions 3. Standards 4. Word Wall with Definitions 5. Hook 6. Instruction A 7. Learning Activity A 8. Mini formative assessment/exit ticket 9. Hook 10. Instruction B 11. Learning Activity B 12. Mini formative assessment/exit ticket 13. Hook 14. Instruction C 15. Learning Activity C 16. Mini formative assessment/exit ticket 17. Group Work – reviews, applies, and prepares for independent work 18. Summative independent Work – End Result ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⭐Here are possible group breakdowns based on Pres-assessment quiz score percentages: Three-Group Pre-Assessment Score Breakdown: · Group A – 85%-100% · Group B – 70%-84% · Group C – 69% and below Four-Group Pre-Assessment Score Breakdown: · Group A – 95%-100% · Group B – 80%-94% · Group C – 70%-79% · Group D – 69% and below ⭐EdTech strategies to personalize learning are: · Use adaptive learning websites. · Create learning playlists. · Create interactive infographics. · Use mastery paths in LMS platforms. · Create your own instructional videos. · Create a challenge in a personalized learning pathway. · Use online notebooks like to personalize every part of the learning pathway. OneNote could be the way you deliver your personalized learning pathway. Check out these to learn how to create in OneNote. · Use your LMS, , or to create your personalized learning pathways. · Use media to supplement and motivate the learning. · Create backchannels where student may ask and answer questions. The backchannel then becomes a source for support. Use to create a visually appealing backchannel. · Use a social annotation tool like, , for students to socially learn together in their groups. · Create personalized learning paths in . 👉I created a Personalized Learning Path Checklist for teachers to use as you begin creating your personalized learning pathways for your students. Grab the FREE checklist at the link at this link: Want to increase student engagement in your classroom to new heights? 👉Join the EdTechEnergy Community to receive weekly EdTech strategies, tips, templates, timesavers, and FREEBIES in your Inbox: Links mentioned in the Episode 18 podcast: and OneNote or ➤ Grab the show notes at ⭐Remember to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to my podcast, The EdTechEnergy Podcast!⭐ When you SUBSCRIBE to The EdTechEnergy Podcast, you’ll hear and learn how to use technology in a high engaging way in your instruction, student learning, and assessment! New episodes will come directly to your phone, automatically. And you'll get the content that solely and specially comes to subscribers! ➤ Check out my Teacher Professional Development online courses at ➤ Keep ahead of everything EdTech with weekly FREE Strategies, Tips, Timesavers, and Templates! ✤ Stay in touch for FREE EdTech Strategies, Tips, and Timesavers! /episode/index/show/edtechenergypodcast/id/22622621

Episode 17: Engage Students to Listen & Learn with Alexa™ 02/16/2022

Episode 16: Give your Students VOICE a Clever Way! 01/19/2022

Episode 15: POUNCE OUT the Plagiarism in your Classroom 12/10/2021

Episode 14: So YES, I Need Some EdTech Training, But Where to Find It 11/16/2021

Episode 13: Why EdTech PD is a Necessary Part of Teaching after the Pandemic? 11/02/2021

Episode 12: Be on Top of Copyright, Fair Use, Creative Commons, and Public Domain in your Classroom 10/21/2021

Episode 11: The YouTube Instructional Videos Whoas and Wins 10/03/2021

Episode 10: Why is Student Engagement the Powerhouse to Student Learning? 07/04/2021

Episode 10: Why is Student Engagement the Powerhouse to Student Learning? On both my blog and podcast, I write and speak about student engagement in the classroom. The reason why I put so much emphasis into student engagement? I have found, in my eighteen years in the classroom either as a middle school or high school educator, or an educational technology instructional coach the past five years, if students are engaged in our instruction and their student learning activities, and assessments, student performance rises. It’s a given. In today’s episode I’m going to share why student engagement is a powerhouse to student learning and why it makes sense to invest time that is intentional to building and encouraging student engagement in our classroom. Links mentioned in the Episode 10 podcast: 👉Show notes: http://edtechenergy.org/listen10 OR 👉Teacher Freebie: Student Engagement Research Documents and Website: · Instructure Canvas Research - State of K-12 Education - · Student Engagement definition: - page 1 · Student Engagement definition - · Dr. Robert Marzano student engagement statement- · Student Engagement definition - · Student Engagement and Achievement in American Secondary Schools, by Newmann, Fred M., Ed. (1992) - · 2015 Brown Center Report on American Education: How Well Are American Students Learning, by Tom Loveless (2015) - Additional Student Engagement Research: Handbook of Research on Student Engagement, Sandra L. Christenson, Amy L. Reschly, & Cathy Wylie (2012) - Academic Engagement: An Overview of Its Definitions, Dimensions, and Major Conceptualisations, by Oqab Alrashidi, Huy P. Phan, & & Bing H. Ngu (2016) - Transcript— ⭐Remember to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to my podcast, The EdTechEnergy Podcast!⭐ When you SUBSCRIBE to The EdTechEnergy Podcast, you’ll hear and learn how to use technology in a high engaging way in your instruction, student learning, and assessment! New episodes will come directly to your phone, automatically. And you'll get the content that solely and specially comes to subscribers! ➤ Check out my Teacher Professional Development online courses at ➤ Keep ahead of everything EdTech with weekly FREE Strategies, Tips, Timesavers, and Templates! ✤ Stay in touch for FREE EdTech Strategies, Tips, and Timesavers! Music Attribution in Intro and Outro Music License: Jamendo Licensing Standard License - Title: Inspiring Corporate Artist: CORPORATEMUSIC Album: Corporate A /episode/index/show/edtechenergypodcast/id/19701170

Episode 9: If Student Engagement is Low, What is Missing? 06/27/2021

Episode 8: How Does Technology Empower Student Engagement? 06/17/2021

Episode 7: How Does Instructor Presence Impact Student Engagement in your Classroom? 06/10/2021

Episode 6: What is the #1 Influencer of Student Engagement? 06/02/2021

Episode 5: Learn 9 Strategies to Fill Student Gaps in the Summer 05/29/2021

Episode 5: Learn 9 Strategies to Fill Student Gaps in the Summer We read and hear a lot about concerns that due to students learning from home, being away from school, teachers, friends, and extra-curricular activities, and not having what used to be the normal and familiar routine of going to school, there may be gaps in their learning and development. In some schools, there is a reported increase in summer school enrollment for summer 2021 which may be due to virtual learning not being the prime environment for some of our students to be learning. However, the connection summer school students have with teachers may be just what they need since student-teacher ratios are traditionally lower in summer school classes. Last summer, I supported summer schoolteachers in our district across five high schools, and let me tell you, those teachers had hearts of GOLD given what they had been through since schools closed during term 3. It is probably safe to say, teachers across the globe and the roughest fourth quarter in their teaching careers. But the summer schoolteachers gave so much support to their students. It was heartwarming to watch. If we want to give the same kind of support to all our students, how can we help them close their gaps over the summer break? Links mentioned in the Episode 5 podcast: STRATEGY 1 – Interactive Lessons Computer Science interactive lessons: or Interactive lessons in different topics and grade levels: · , , or · for ELA, Social Studies, Science, Computer Science, World Language, Health, Physical Education, ESL, and more · for math and science · for Science simulations · for Science · for ELA · for many different topics and exhibits · - where you can tap into videos already created on educational channels like: o , o , o science and engineering o o · ESL - , , and STRATEGY 2 – Adaptive Learning Platforms · · . · · STRATEGY 3 – SEL Interactive Lessons , , and , and STRATEGY 4 – Create a Website · STRATEGY 5 – Digital Scavenger Hunts · by Classtools.net and STRATEGY 6 – AP, LSAT, and SAT Prep interactive lessons · s · Khan Academy or Prep courses STRATEGY 7 – eBook Lists · · · · by the · · in the Microsoft Store · or STRATEGY 8 – Virtual Location Visits & Virtual Field Trips · or or · · Virtual field trips · · · · · , · , · , · · STRATEGY 9 – Flipgrid · · games · s · · · ⭐ This Episode’s EdTechEnergy FREE Guide Transcript Music Attribution Music License: Jamendo Licensing Standard License - Title: Inspiring Corporate Artist: CORPORATEMUSIC Album: Corporate A /episode/index/show/edtechenergypodcast/id/19287971

Episode 4: Revamping your Final Exams and Putting Students First 05/21/2021

Episode 4: Revamping your Final Exams and Putting Students First Finals are right around the corner. What should your final look like to gauge your student’s learning at the school-year end that keeps in mind social-emotional wellness and fairness to our students in these unique times? I believe until we are back in the physical classroom, the way finals used to look, especially at the high school level, should be put in the drawer for now. In light of an extremely dynamic school year with virtual learning at home, a U.S. Presidential election like no other, horrific happenings throughout our nation, almost on a daily basis, the pandemic woes, vaccination updates, social unrest, and racial concerns, our students have lived through a lot this school year, and still needed to do school at home. And, add what’s going on at home, and our students have a lot on their mental and emotional plate. In this post, I will provide your five strategies to give your finals a 20-21 SY facelift to, 1) give you a final that measures students’ knowledge and understanding, 2) makes students feel the final is not a big task, and 3) to increase the probability your students will complete it, complete it with effort, and submit it for credit. Get the (text, audio, and video) of your Final Exam as talked about in Strategy 1! See the show notes at: OR ⭐Remember to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to my podcast, The EdTechEnergy Podcast!⭐ When you SUBSCRIBE to The EdTechEnergy Podcast, you’ll hear and learn how to use technology in a high engaging way in your instruction, student learning, and assessment! New episodes will come directly to your phone, automatically. And you'll get the content that solely and specially comes to subscribers! ➤ Check out my Teacher Professional Development online courses at ➤ Keep ahead of everything EdTech with weekly FREE Strategies, Tips, Timesavers, and Templates! ✤ Stay in touch for FREE EdTech Strategies, Tips, and Timesavers! Music Attribution in Intro and Outro Music License: Jamendo Licensing Standard License - Title: Inspiring Corporate Artist: CORPORATEMUSIC Album: Corporate A /episode/index/show/edtechenergypodcast/id/19197152

Episode 3: 31 Strategies to Encourage Students to Turn on Their Cameras During Live Virtual Classes 05/15/2021

Episode 3: 31 Strategies to Encourage Students to Turn on Their Cameras During Live Virtual Classes Did you know the top three struggles teachers are experiencing in virtual learning? -- The lack of student engagement in live virtual classes is the #1 struggle! -- Students not completing and turning in their work is the #2 struggle. -- So, what is challenge #3? You guessed it! Students don’t want to turn on their cameras during live virtual classes. How can you get students to turn on their cameras in your life virtual classes? Listen to today’s podcast episode and learn 6 conditions to keep in mind when you use strategies to get students to turn on their cameras in your live virtual classrooms. These 6 principles are important to keep in mind. Then, hear the five most unique of the 31 Strategies to Encourage students to turn on their cameras! NOTE: Correction in the episode. I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast that I was going to share SIX strategies but I only shared FIVE. I was looking at the time when I was recording and you know me, I want to stay inside that average U.S. teacher commute of 20 minutes, so I cut one out while recording. Click on the link below to get ALL 31 Strategies! 🤭 Links mentioned in the Episode 3 podcast: NOTE: My 31 Strategies to Encourage Students to Turn on Cameras Teacher Guide is no longer free (another reason to subscribe since I let my subscribers get the resources FREE before posting on TPT) but you can purchase it here: I've included four bonuses! Transcript Show Notes or ⭐Remember to Rate, Review, and Subscribe to my podcast, The EdTechEnergy Podcast!⭐ When you SUBSCRIBE to The EdTechEnergy Podcast, you’ll hear and learn how to use technology in a high engaging way in your instruction, student learning, and assessment! New episodes will come directly to your phone, automatically. And you'll get the content that solely and specially comes to subscribers! ➤ Check out my Teacher Professional Development online courses at ➤ Keep ahead of everything EdTech with weekly FREE Strategies, Tips, Timesavers, and Templates! ✤ Stay in touch for FREE EdTech Strategies, Tips, and Timesavers! Music Attribution in Intro and Outro Music License: Jamendo Licensing Standard License - Title: Inspiring Corporate Artist: CORPORATEMUSIC Album: Corporate A /episode/index/show/edtechenergypodcast/id/19113416

Episode 2: Provide Meaningful Feedback that Increases FUTURE Student Engagement, Participation, & Achievement 05/05/2021

Episode 1: Ride on the Wings of these Virtual Learning Student Advantages & Increase Student Engagement 05/01/2021

The EdTechEnergy Podcast

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