While computers, technology, and internet access in the classroom have enhanced education in unprecedented ways, they have also made students more vulnerable to troubling and sometimes dangerous cyberbullying behavior. According to StopBullying.gov, cyberbullying is: bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior. Just as parents and other trusted adults can help mitigate these issues at home, teachers and administrators can be a source of prevention in the classroom. Don’t underesti... [Learn More]

New beginnings offer a time to start fresh, filled with optimism, energy and enthusiasm. Sounds like a good way to feel during the first weeks of back-to-school, right? Too often, however, the first few days of class become a tedious grind through rules, expectations and content-dense syllabi. No fun for anyone. And not the best way to lay a solid foundation for learning, says Jon Corippo, long-time educator and co-founder of the EduProtocols adaptive lesson frame system. “At the beginning of the school year, there’s a sense of looking forward to new things,” said Corippo. “Teachers and students are excited to be back in school, but they’re not necessarily excited about the first few days, which have become focused on a fascination with the syllabus, going over rules, maybe introducing the teacher and their background, that sort of thing, then jumping into working on content.” This, says Corippo, is not only far from engaging, it does nothing to create ... [Learn More]

Internet safety during remote learning Parenting comes with a host of challenges and responsibilities that your youthful, childless brain couldn’t have even begun to imagine. Making sure your child is safe online is one of them. What dangers await online and what can you do to educate and protect your child? Let’s get to it. Before Getting Your Child Involved How much do you really know about cybersecurity? It’s like one of those mythical monsters. You think you’ve chopped one head off, then quickly see three more emerging in its place. While we’ll try to give you a concise overview, it’s worth doing a bit of research on your own. Knowing the topic well will allow you to figure out the best way to address it in your own family. The Dangers That Lurk Online Online dangers, though they come in many different flavors, fall roughly into three distinct categories. 1. Cyberbullying. This is the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically... [Learn More]

School districts are doing everything they can to ensure students have equal opportunities for learning during the pandemic. One of the measures many are taking is to provide Chromebooks to all students who need them to access digital education. So you might find yourself with a new Chromebook in your home. A delicate piece of equipment in a home with children -- what could possibly go wrong? Jokes aside, every parent can tell you that where there are children (particularly young, energetic ones), mishaps occur. Spills, scrapes, bruises and falls come with the territory. Things get damaged. So here are some common-sense tips on how to protect the Chromebook while it’s in your home. 1. Keep It Safe During Use To avoid damaging the Chromebook, encourage your child to use it on a flat surface, like a desk or table. Just as importantly, keep food and drinks away from it. Spills happen. It’s best if they happen far away from expensive and delicate equipment tha... [Learn More]

No question about it. Literacy is critical to student success, during school and beyond. But what about digital literacy? Why is digital literacy important? And what is the role of digital literacy in K-12 classrooms? Is it something educators should be teaching? If so, at what ages and how?  Questions about digital literacy are common among educators. For many, the answer is clear. In the 21st century, digital literacy is as important as traditional literacy.  We want our kids to be digitally literate to maximize their effective use of digital tools. Like iPads, Smartphones and Chromebooks. We want them to be digitally literate so they stay safe. We want them to be digitally literate citizens that contribute positively to the online landscape.  Our world is increasingly digital. The wide range of skills required for digital literacy are necessary to succeed. As necessary as reading and writing. Students who lack digital literacy skills are likely to face signif... [Learn More]

As we enter into the heart of the summer, it can be a good time to take a break from structured summer break activities like continuing education, home projects, and family vacations. We all know that play is extremely important for our students and our children. Young kids learn important physical and mental skills through play, and activities can help older children stay strong, healthy, and stress-free. Today, child development experts encourage parents to reserve time for free play, and our schools schedule recess and other breaks throughout the academic day during the school year. But what about play for all of us as adults? As our world becomes faster paced than ever with businesses and school districts focusing on doing more with less, staying ahead of the curve, and implementing so many technologies geared toward efficiency, it’s easy to leave adult play by the wayside in favor of more “important” adult pursuits. Yet, play is just as important for adults a... [Learn More]