April 3, 2020 Distance Learning: How to Support STEM and Physical Activity at Home Are you interested in learning how to implement STEM activities to keep students learning and engaged at home? Join Kristin Harrington, EdTech Coach from Flager County Schools, on April 9 for the webinar, “Distance Learning: How to Support STEM and Physical Activity at Home.” About By attending this webinar, participants will learn: how to balance education with student engagement at home; how to mix STEM and active movement at home; about free tools for mindfulness and SEL for students; and advice on how to support other teachers and staff. This webinar will be of interest to kindergarten through middle school teachers, librarians, library media specialists, technology integration specialists and coaches, principals, and school and district leaders. There will be time to have your questions answered at the end of the presentation. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
March 20, 2020 Literacy in a Time of Rapid Change: Strategies & Resources for Virtual Learning Join literacy experts, authors, and experienced virtual educators, Dr. Troy Hicks and Shaelynn Farnsworth, for the webinar, “Literacy in a Time of Rapid Change: Strategies and Resources for Virtual Learning,” as they discuss resources and strategies to best support remote teaching and learning. About In this webinar, presenters will explore ways to virtually teach and engage students in literacy learning by sharing curricular content, edtech tools, resources, communities, and tips to get participants thinking critically and creatively in this time of crisis. As educators are working to meet the needs of all students virtually, it is important to also be mindful of issues related to equity, accessibility, and student populations with special needs. This webinar will be of interest to kindergarten through higher education teachers, librarians, school and district leaders, curriculum and instruction, TOSAs and coaches, assistant superintendents, and tech directors. There will be time to have your questions answered at the end of the presentation. Registration To register and learn more, visit the event webpage.
December 6, 2019 $20M in PAsmart Grants Available to Advance STEM and CS Education On November 25, 2019, Governor Tom Wolf announced that “up to $20 million in PAsmart grants are available to prepare students for the fast-growing fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and computer science (CS).” About Governor Tom Wolf has secured $40 million dollars to reinforce his PAsmart initiative, an increase of $10 million from 2018 investments. With this, “the Department of Education will award $20 million for STEM and computer science education through PAsmart Targeted pre-k–12 grants and Advancing grants. The Department of Labor and Industry will soon announce applications for $10 million for apprenticeships and industry partnerships. Funding for career and technical education also increased by $10 million.” Discussing this initiative, Governor Wolf said that “PAsmart is strategically investing in science and technology education so students get the skills they need for emerging jobs in high demand. The grants encourage businesses and schools to develop partnerships that focus education on the knowledge students will need to succeed in growing industries. Through PAsmart, we are developing the most prepared and talented workforce in the country, which will help students excel, grow the middle class, and strengthen the economy for everyone.” Grant Details PAsmart Targeted Pre-k–12 Grants The initiative will be issuing PAsmart Targeted pre-k–12 grants of up to $35,000 each with the intention to “meet the needs of local education agencies and their schools that have limited to no computer science offerings and did not receive targeted grants in 2018-19.” By receiving these grants, schools have the opportunity to “introduce and expand computer science programming and to provide educators from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 with training and professional development to teach CS.” With this, the grants will provide “greater opportunities for students of color, low-income students, and girls to learn critical skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce.” PAsmart Advancing Grants A larger PAsmart Advancing grant of up to $500,000 each will also be available, with the intention to “support cross-sector partnerships that provide quality STEM and CS experiences to learners of all ages – early childhood, pre-k–12, post-secondary, and adult learners – as part of high-level strategic approaches to workforce readiness.” Application Deadlines PAsmart Targeted Pre-k–12 Grant: Friday, December 20, 2019 PAsmart Advancing Grant: Friday, January 10, 2020 Grant applications and additional information can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) website. More Information For more information, read the full press release. *Information provided by the Office of Governor Tom Wolf
November 18, 2019 Communication Basics Using Online Technology This course is designed to provide early educators with the basic tools of communication, using online technology. Electronic communication and organizational applications such as email, social media, internet research, and basic computation skills will be discussed and contextualized to the early learning environment. Sample templates and resources will be distributed throughout the session to allow participants to continue practicing and strengthening their electronic communication skills upon completion of the course. Two PQAS and ACT 48 credit hours offered. Materials Required Preferred Electronic Device (laptop, iPad, tablet, phone, etc.) Registration To register, complete the form below. More Information For questions, contact Jasmine Davis at 412.567.3933 or jasmine@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
October 1, 2019 Fred Rogers Center Teacher Technology Convening Join the Fred Rogers Center and fellow teachers on November 16 for a day of deep conversation about integrating technology into the classroom. About With the support of the Grable Foundation, the Fred Rogers Center is hosting a convening of elementary school teachers from Western Pennsylvania to dig into a conversation about integrating technology in the classroom. This is a follow up from a project aimed at understanding what technology looks like in everyday practice, how teachers are balancing new technologies with existing practice, and how to strive for equitable access to technology. Participants will receive a $75 stipend and Act 48 credit as well as breakfast and lunch. Registration To register and learn more, visit the Eventbrite page. Questions For questions, contact Annie White at annie.white@stvincent.edu. *Information provided by Remake Learning
September 26, 2019 How to Balance Children’s Digital Media Consumption In their 2017 “Common Sense Census” report, Common Sense Media found that “children age eight and under spend an average of about two-and-a-quarter hours a day with screen media.” While digital media can be fun and informative, caregivers must be intentional in regulating their own and their child’s media consumption. The Common Sense Census To better understand the types of technology available to young children and how children utilize those technologies, Common Sense Media surveyed a representative sample of over 1,400 parents from regions across the United States. The survey included low- and high-income families, parents who received varying levels of education, and families from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Through the survey, Common Sense Media found that 98 percent of children age eight and younger have access to some type of mobile device in their home, with 98 percent having access to a television, 95 percent having access to a smartphone, and 78 percent having access to a tablet. In fact, 42 percent of the families surveyed reported that their child now has their own tablet device, a drastic increase from the reported seven percent four years ago. Through these developments, children now spend more time consuming digital media per day than they do reading or being read to, with the survey average daily reading time reported as 30 minutes. Read the full report. Risks of Excess Exposure All media types, from movies and television shows to social platforms and gaming apps, expose consumers of all ages to a variety of content and messaging. While digital devices can be fun and incorporated as learning tools, they also pose threats to the early experiences of young children by: increasing the likelihood that a child accidentally views violent or inappropriate content, reducing the daily total time spent outside and being active, and limiting children’s early opportunities to develop relationships and social, emotional, and communication skills. With these risks, parents and caregivers must be intentional in monitoring the media content their children consume and the daily total time spent inside on digital devices. However, families must go one step further. Caregivers must also model healthy media balance behaviors themselves, integrating the same practices into their daily lives that they’re teaching their children. It’s critical that families establish a healthy balance between their offline and online activities. Resources and Tools To increase awareness and provide strategies on tackling this issue, Common Sense Media launched a series of resources for families and professionals, including: a free weekly text with healthy media habit tips (text KIDS to 21555)*, a printable coloring book for kids, a song and video about media balance, a digital citizenship curriculum, a family engagement toolkit, and television, book, app, and other digital media recommendations filtered by child age. *By texting the word KIDS to 21555, families can receive weekly text message tips on how to practice healthy media habits with their family and young children. Tips provided through this service are suitable for caregivers of children ages three to eight years old. Texts are available in English and Spanish. Standard messaging rates apply. Learn More To learn more about digital balance, visit the Common Sense Media website.
September 20, 2019 EdTech for Students with Autism: Curriculum, IEPs, and Data Join Lauren Stafford and Jessie Brown on September 27 for their webinar exploring education technology for students on the autism spectrum. About This webinar will feature information on how to meet both curriculum needs and IEP goals and objectives for students with autism. Information will include accommodations that support personalized learning and maximizing large group, small group, 1:1, and independent work to ensure all students experience learning growth. Participants will also learn how to automatically collect data to advance student learning quickly and easily while sharing progress across the entire IEP team. This webinar will be of interest to teachers and school and district leaders of all grade levels. Time will be provided for questions. Registration To sign-up, register via the event webpage. More Information To learn more, visit the edWeb website. *Information provided via EdWeb
August 20, 2019 Webinar: An Interview with Dr. Sherry Turkle Join Brazelton Touchpoints Center on Wednesday, September 25 for an interview with professor and author, Dr. Sherry Turkle, Ph.D. About In this webinar, Sherry Turkle will discuss digital media’s role in society and culture, including its impact on child development, empathy, and communication. Dr. Sherry Turkle is the Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology in the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the founding director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self. Sherry Turkle is also the author of “Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age,” a book investigating the impact of technology on and the importance of face-to-face communication. Registration To register for this webinar and learn more, visit the event webpage. More Information For questions, contact Kayla Savelli at kayla.savelli@childrens.harvard.edu.
July 16, 2019 Parent-Child Interaction Are you looking to engage in an educational experience with your young child? Join other caregivers and their young children for creative STEM-based activities. Together, parent and child will interact with each other and socialize with other families to grow, learn, and play! Learn More To learn more, contact Neil Walker at 412.728.2892 or neil@tryingtogether.org. Share this flyer with your network.
July 15, 2019 Learning Power: Examining the Future of Education Join New America, the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, and the CREATE Lab on July 24 for a stimulating afternoon of sharing and conversation about the future of education. About Community members and organizations are invited to share their unique questions and concerns regarding artificial intelligence, personalized learning, and other automation in their teaching and learning context. All people and perspectives are welcome. The event will feature Professor Nicole Mirra and others, including special guests from YMCA Lighthouse, TeenBloc A+ Schools, and Steeltown Entertainment, to exchange learnings from the many projects across the Pittsburgh area that combine technology and humanities approaches to learning. Featured Participants Kristina Ishmael Senior Project Manager, Teaching, Learning, and Tech Program, New America Nicole Mirra Assistant Professor of Urban Teacher Educattion, Rutgers University Author, Educating for Empathy: Literacy Learning and Civic Engagement Laura Roop Director, Western Pennsylvania Writing Project Registration To register for this event, visit the RSVP page. Learn More This event is part of a larger Connected Conversations series produced by New America with communities in and around Pittsburgh, Southwestern Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, in partnership with Remake Learning and other local organizations. See New America’s event page to learn more.