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Information for Technical Bulletins
Technical Bulletins are specific strategies for implementing reforms. Each Technical Bulletin is limited to a narrow topic that targets a concern raised by the network membership. Network school leaders whose schools are featured in a Case Study are typically presenters. In writing for the network they offer additional insight into the topics that make them a Model School. Through technical bulletins, these schools offer another opportunity to learn best practices from people who implement them on a daily basis in their school. These bulletins also offer additional tips, concerns, and questions for continuing the conversation beyond the bulletin. Members can blog about them, connect via the social networking features, and rate the bulletins as part of the SPN feedback process. Topics have included: iPhone Apps for AP Economics; A Gap Analysis of a School’s Instruction; High Expectations in an Elementary Classroom.
Benefits:
- 24/7 accessibility, sharing, networking, and learning
- A school improvement, implementation focused, resource
- Promotes a culture of learning that contributes to innovation
- Aligned to rigor/relevance resources as they are implemented by schools
We welcome submissions of ideas, tips and tools from Member schools. Please email them to Ashley@spnet.us
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Featured Technical Bulletins
13 August, 2010
Scheduling in blocks instead of shorter periods does not in itself raise achievement. Rather, block scheduling enhances instructional practices by offering a different scheduling pattern that allows for more group work and project-based learning.
13 August, 2010
This professional development activity can be adapted for use with any group that supports students ages 12-14. The focus is on “meeting them where they are” (see background information under “Additional Information”). Start by getting participants to think about the students they work with every day. Set the tone with statements about the need to understand these students.
13 August, 2010
Note: Although the following survey was taken from the forthcoming resource kit, Making Grade 12 Meaningful, students from nearly every grade level can participate.
Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability. The purpose of this activity is to encourage you to closely examine your interests both in and outside of school. Regularly taking time to reflect on your interests, aspirations, and dreams can help you learn more about yourself and what you enjoy doing.
Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability. The purpose of this activity is to encourage you to closely examine your interests both in and outside of school. Regularly taking time to reflect on your interests, aspirations, and dreams can help you learn more about yourself and what you enjoy doing.
13 August, 2010
With online tools such as YouTube and TeacherTube, K-12 teachers have access to a variety of instructional videos that can be used to engage students throughout a learning activity. Often, students are asked to sit idle and watch video clips. A better approach is to give them a purpose for viewing a video clip that engages them in analytical thinking. This activity can be used in the classroom with students and also in professional development.
13 August, 2010
Any time a student learns a skill or acquires knowledge, his or her world has changed. Because change is so much an integral part of learning, one would assume that educators would openly recognize the importance of change and embrace it as a natural part of learning. Unfortunately, habits are hard to break.
13 August, 2010
Two important realities that are often overlooked when translating school improvement plans into student success: emotion and motion.
Emotion is the gatekeeper to learning and performance. In the words of Robert Sylwester: “Emotion drives attention which drives learning, memory, problem solving, and just about everything else.” The role of the brain’s limbic system, highly interconnected with all other parts of the brain and thought to be the core of emotion, has been studied for mo...Read more
Emotion is the gatekeeper to learning and performance. In the words of Robert Sylwester: “Emotion drives attention which drives learning, memory, problem solving, and just about everything else.” The role of the brain’s limbic system, highly interconnected with all other parts of the brain and thought to be the core of emotion, has been studied for mo...Read more
13 August, 2010
One easy method of showing a video to students is from a Web browser or media player. Another more seamless option is through a PowerPoint presentation, as you describe a particular concept or idea.
The most important thing to remember is to save the PowerPoint file and movie file in the same folder. When you move one of the files, be sure to take both of them so that the video is linked appropriately.
The most important thing to remember is to save the PowerPoint file and movie file in the same folder. When you move one of the files, be sure to take both of them so that the video is linked appropriately.
13 August, 2010
The process of improving student performance goes by many different names. It has been referred to as school improvement, school reform, school reinvention, and school restructuring. No matter what it’s called, it comes down to the single goal of raising student achievement through change. In working with schools that are making concerted efforts to improve, the International Center and the Network has focused on the following characteristics:
• Change must be revolutionary in spirit a...Read more
• Change must be revolutionary in spirit a...Read more
13 August, 2010
Videos can be powerful teaching and learning tools, and educators have easy access, with millions of videos available online (see Bulletin #114 for a teaching strategy). Still, not everyone is familiar with how to download or integrate the videos for use in the classroom.
There are at least 23 downloadable software tools available on the Web to convert typical .flv video files found on YouTube and TeacherTube into files that you can download onto your computer and integrate into a PowerPo...Read more
There are at least 23 downloadable software tools available on the Web to convert typical .flv video files found on YouTube and TeacherTube into files that you can download onto your computer and integrate into a PowerPo...Read more
13 August, 2010
Business and education leaders have tended to look at each other with suspicion across a chasm of seemingly different leadership styles, purposes, regulations, etc. However, there are more similarities than differences between business and education and, without question, we need each other. What would business be without the highly educated employees, and what would public education be without the advocacy of business? It is necessary to develop better ways and means for these two forces in ...Read more
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