In 2007, researchers from West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina thought up an interesting study. In asynchronous distance learning scenarios, what would happen if one group of students received audio-based feedback on their work while another group received traditional, text-based feedback? Their findings were remarkable — especially now that so many of us find ourselves […]
Catchphrases that Work: “Is this a Mosquito Wing Thing?”
After reading my recent article “People, not Passwords: Why You Need a Catchphrase or Two to Define Your Challenges This Fall,” one of our colleagues wrote in with a catchphrase she plans to lean on especially hard this school year. Julie Holderbaum is an English teacher at Minerva High School in Minerva, OH. For years, […]
A Million Words or Fewer: Deborah Bova’s Tried-and-True Method for Learning from Parents at the Start of Distance Learning
So you’re teaching from a distance and you’d like a non-invasive (dare I say pleasant?) method for gaining insight into your students, their homes, and their families. The best, most sensitive, most inviting method I know for this kind of thing is Deborah Bova’s Million Words activity. While this assignment’s utility is not limited to […]
A Middle School Science Team in New Mexico Rocks their Distance Learning Intro Video with Humor and Passion
A week ago, I gave a professional development segment on humanizing online learning spaces at the start of the year and building strong relationships from the get-go.* One simple start to such an effort is to create a teacher intro video that introduces students to who you are as their teacher. Take a look at […]
An Interview w/ Troy Hicks for the Writing Matters Podcast
In November 2019, I had the privilege of speaking with teacher-author Troy Hicks for a bit. That talk is below. I hope it encourages you.