Google and Digital Promise Team Up to Make Teachers More Tech-Savvy than Ever

Published on: 09 June 2018 Last Updated on: 24 July 2024
Digital Promise

Collaborating with innovators at Digital Promise, some brilliant minds at Google got together with some more at EdTechTeam to come up with a modern-day training program for teachers with a focus on making superb use of technology in the classroom teaching setting. This comes as much welcome news at a time when the government is launching into a cost-cutting mode for educational sectors in the USA, leaving many public schools rushing to cover their expenses for education in all fronts. The new teacher-training program announced by Google in association with Digital Promise and EdTechTeam will focus on imparting technological education for the teachers, enabling them to use that knowledge in classroom settings and to share that knowledge with educators.

The Dynamic Learning Project at a glance :

The Dynamic Learning Project (DLP) is a pilot of the teacher-training project brought to fruition by Google, Digital Promise, and EdTechTeam. The training program will focus on equipping the teachers with the necessary knowledge and resources to use technology in day-to-day classroom teaching experiences. Through the use of the technological resources at their disposal, the educators will be able to open newer vistas of knowledge for the students, thus bridging the gap between learning and technology successfully in the digital age.

50 middle schools from five states in the USA have been selected for the pilot of DLP. The states in the country that will be the first to receive the results of this unique and beneficial training program are Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, California, and Alabama. If the reports from Google and EdTechTeam are to be believed, the coaches at the teacher-training program will be looking to provide customized learning solutions for teachers so that they can make the best use of technology that is available within the infrastructural framework of the schools. The DLP not only focuses on helping teachers to learn to use the Google resources, but other hardware or software platforms that are available and they are comfortable using.

Integrating learning with the assignment help of the latest technological advancements, the teachers from the 50 middle schools have started to undergo training under the able guidance of experts from EdTechTeam and Google. The disparity between the uses of technology in a traditional classroom setting has been more pronounced in the last few years despite most of the schools equipping themselves with smart learning software and hardware platforms in the country. As Liz Anderson from Google for Education states in her blog post for The Keyword, “This second-level digital divide is fueled by major differences in how effectively that technology is being used for teaching and learning.” DLP aims to overcome precisely that. By enabling the teachers to become tech-savvy within the classroom setting, the program imparts in them the invaluable knowledge of putting technology to good use so they can share that with their fellow teaching community.

What this means for educators and classroom teaching

“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instil a love for learning.”

  • Brad Henry (American politician and lawyer)

Sometimes alluded to as the noblest profession on earth, teaching is the profession that creates all other professions. Whether we are diplomats, astronauts, dancers, chefs, or motivational speakers, all of us started from school someday, and the teachers were there for us to teach us the basics of all that we have learned so far. The significant role of the educators in our lives is thus undeniable, and the new teacher-training program launched by Google acknowledges just that. In the sphere of education, the new technical training program for teachers in the middle schools chosen for the pilot of DLP will be able to bring about a refreshing change in the way teaching was envisioned so far.

The pilot started off with Google sanctioning a $6.5 million grant to Digital Promise for conducting the research and implementing the professional skill development program for the teachers. EdTechTeam aided in creating a viable model for the training program that takes into account the resources within the school framework and the individual needs of the teachers undergoing the training program. The program has been in place since last fall, and the teachers from the schools that have selected from the programs are to be monitored and evaluated on the basis of their acceptance and performance within the existing framework. Based on the reports prepared from the pilot, Google aims to launch this program all over the country, creating a network within the teaching community for sharing knowledge on advanced technologies.

The teacher-training philosophy of the program has three fundamental benefits for the teaching community in a whole and is expected to form the foundation stone for many such innovative projects and programs in the coming years with more innovators and educators coming forward to make learning through technologies a fun and achievable reality. The primary focus of the pilot DLP thus aims at empowering teachers in the following ways.

  • Localization and empowerment within the teaching community is the first goal of this program. Through the course of the training program, teachers will be able to have in-depth knowledge on the learning resources that they have at their disposal to make classroom learning more innovative and will be able to use the resources for the completion of complex tasks as well.
    • Secondly, through the custom-made design of the program, the teachers will be able to infuse their pedagogy within the technological framework and not the other way round. This way, the challenges in the classroom will be overcome more quickly while supported by modern education technology.
  • Lastly, this program opens up a world of possibilities for further research within the educational sphere. Based on the success stories of this program, Google and its partners will be able to focus on the development of a teacher-training program in a much larger scale for the future that includes the entire country in the coming years.

Enabling the teachers to focus on equipping themselves with the resources of the modern age, this program brings the opportunity towards further networking and knowledge-sharing possibilities among the teaching community. DLP is thus a program of the future that aims to bridge the gap between traditional pedagogy and advancements in technology for education.

Read Also :

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

organizational leadership Skills

Enhance Organizational Leadership Skills with Science Degree

Are you in the military and looking to develop your organizational leadership skills? It would help if you looked into getting your Associate of Science from an accredited online degree program.  Developing your organizational leadership skills with an associates of science degree is significant. After all you can improve your skill sets in the leadership domain. Here are the detailed factors about developing organizational leadership skills with an associate of science degree.   What Is an Associate of Science in Organizational Leadership and Professional Studies? The skills taught through an Associate of Science in Organization Leadership and Professional Studies degree program will help you to become a leader in any profession you choose to explore. As military personnel, you will study the skills and approaches to help you operate or manage an organization. The skills you learn will give you a solid practice knowledge base that can be applied to developing your potential to become an effective leader. The program includes a broad range of topics that include communication, finances, sociology, management, and business strategies. Some of the coursework in the program may include: Strategic leadership Budgeting Group behavior Business ethics Human resources Data analysis and presentations Through the Associate’s of Science Degree degree program in Professional Studies and Organizational Leadership, you will learn: How to develop a leadership philosophy according to ethical principles How to use technological means to analyze practical industry and management problems. How to examine strategies for building collaboration and managing conflict How to demonstrate adequate oral and written communication abilities How to apply existing knowledge to make real-world decisions in organizations and communities. How to use quantitative logic to fix problems How to recognize diversity in artistic, historic, and literary expressions If you are looking to further your career in leadership, whether in the military or civilian life, getting your Associate of Science in Professional Studies and Organizational Leadership will give you the skills you need to succeed. What Can You do with Your Associate of Science in Professional Studies and Organizational Leadership After completing the degree program and obtaining your Associate’s of Science, you will be prepared to start entry-level management positions. In particular, positions that allow workers to influence organizational or department level changes. You have the option to oversee business operations and manage employees with this degree. Some possible job opportunities you can apply for with your degree include: Operations Manager Training and Development Specialist Administrative Services Manager Executive Administrative Assistant Production Manager Manager of a major retail company General manager of a restaurant In addition to the civilian jobs mentioned above, as military personnel, you can find job opportunities that include: Officer training Manager for military contractors Traveling Manager who visits worksites around the country The degree program in organizational leadership skills you completed will provide you with an understanding of how to apply leadership skills to practical situations. You will be prepared for management roles in any industry you choose to work. Why Should You Get Your Associate of Science in Professional Studies and Organizational Leadership Online When deciding to go back to school to obtain our associate’s degree, finding an online college or university is a great option. Trident organizational leadership degree program allows you to transfer between 12 and 24 credits from your military occupation, military rating, training or completed professional certificate or diploma with Trident.  Online degree programs allow you to develop the skills you need to begin your career while continuing to maintain a healthy balance between work, life, and school. Online courses offer other benefits that include: Flexible schedule: Attend class at your own pace. With access to course materials at any time, you can do your course work when it is convenient for you. Cost: You will only be paying for your college credits. You won’t have to worry about paying for room and board, food, activity fees, textbooks, and other fees associated with on-campus learning. Convenient: You don’t have to commute to and from class. You’re not required to be in a classroom at a particular time on a particular day. Accelerate your degree program process: Opt to take a full course load, and summer classes, and get your degree faster. Work at your own pace: You can take one class a semester or opt for a full course load Individual instruction: Since you’ll be working by yourself on school assignments, you will have direct access to your professor. This is helpful for students who are intimidated by traditional classroom settings. Communication: You have better access to communicating with your professor. Since everything is done online, you can email, live chat, or call them with questions or ask for feedback. Taking classes online will help prepare you for your future career in leadership skills. You will develop self-discipline by managing your time and tasks. You will learn how to be self-motivated so you can reach your goal of getting your Associate’s degree. All of these skills can be applied to your new professional career as a leader. Let’s Discuss About The Key Leadership Traits If you want to meet the demand and become a more decisive leader, then there are some skill sets that you must have. Below, I am going to discuss the critical leadership traits.    1) Strong Influencer Behavior    No matter what leaders are at what levels in the organization. You must know how you will influence and persuade your peers. On the other hand, if you are pitching a new idea or trying to change a significant department.    This is all about your way of thinking. Some influential leaders always communicate with empathy. They will further strive to identify and understand their colleagues. You can use that knowledge to make a change.  2) Emotional Resilience Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how influential you are in handling emotional resilience. Some significant ideas will flop, and there will also be some priority changes.    In this case, you must prepare for the possibility and determine where to respond appropriately. This happens with resilience and flexibility. Such leaders would need to bounce back from several other disappointments.    3) Extroversion Ensure being a leader, you are an extrovert. Based on the report, over 40% of executives are considered introverts. Effective leaders always need to have an extroverted tendency although. It means you cannot stay holed up in the office. Even more, you will remain focused solely on your work.    Instead of handling the responsibilities of a leader, you must communicate with collaboration and transparency. This applies to peers. If you are an introvert, you can quickly start leaning into the practice by getting to know your colleagues in such a small group.    4) Self-Control    After all, extroversion is such a beneficial and feasible trait that you must have required to practice self-control. Instead of you one wants to stop and think before hastily responding to the colleague. Some influential leaders can listen and who can focus on what they should stay but what is being said.    Spontaneous decisions are always required. If the leaders must fight their urges, it is all about reacting. If you start to feel stressed, then they will sense that. Even soon, you can carry the most burden of yourself. Above all, managing these emotions is quite significant to success.    5) Ability To Solve Problems    Influential leaders are all about thinking abstractly about them. Even more, this is also about solving diverse problems quickly. In this case, solving problems will require the flexibility of several other leadership skills. For instance, you must view the issues as some opportunities. This is not all about letting stress paralyze. In this case, taking some time will help you gather accurate evidence, which will help you reach such a significant informative decision. Final Notes Once you have developed your organizational leadership skills and obtained your Associate of Science degree, you can begin your new career path. Getting a degree in organizational leadership skills will give you the skills you need for a career where you can take on a leadership role and forge your career path. Read Also: Leadership Qualities Help In Enhancing Visionary Transform How Business Leadership Plays An Important Role In Business Success? The Knowledge Academy Reviews: A Global Leader In Professional Training

READ MOREDetails
Discover The Amazing Benefits Of Verbal Fluency Nootropics

Discover The Amazing Benefits Of Verbal Fluency Nootropics

People rely on language to communicate thoughts and ideas every day. The ability to understand another person isn't just related to knowledge of each word, though. People also need to understand context and emotion, and that requires a high level of verbal fluency. Because no matter how understated we think of it, verbal fluency is an indispensable consideration. But how to get it right?  In order to bring effective solutions for all such queries, we have crafted this comprehensive guide for you. Make sure you read it till the very end and unravel the benefits of verbal fluency nootropics. What Is Verbal Fluency? Before discussing specific verbal fluency nootropics, let's pin down a definition. Verbal fluency is defined scientifically as a cognitive function facilitating information retrieval. However, it can be viewed as the ability to easily and quickly express thoughts using familiar words and phrases in grammatically correct ways without having to stop to think about them for too long. People who struggle with verbal fluency often struggle to find the right words, repeat themselves, or mix up the order of words in sentences. These may seem like issues related to innate cognitive abilities, but thankfully, they're not. Anyone can improve their verbal fluency. There are numerous instances when we can recite a corpus of vocabulary words. But we cannot speak them fluently. For instance, when we recite the definition of “love” or “sunny,” very rarely are we able to combine all the words together in one sentence. However, this is different from using words to communicate your thoughts. What Do Nootropics Refer To?  In order to understand the benefits of nootropics, one must first know what they are all about. In order to improve our mental power, consuming a tablet does much of the work. So, whether you are an elderly individual, a university student, or a full-time employee, nootropics work for all.  Therefore, it is a bit surprising that their use is also referred to as smart medications or cognitive enhancers. The term “nootropic” comes from the Ancient Greek word- o (noos), which means mind, and trop meaning a turn. The term was originally coined to depict compounds that have strict requirements but have a positive impact on mental skills. How Nootropics Can Improve Verbal Fluency Nootropics are man-made or natural substances that enhance brain function in healthy people. Some may have a hard time conceiving of a nootropic specifically for verbal fluency, but in fact, that's a much more realistic way to look at these supplements. People think of nootropics as "smart drugs." But, in fact, they have much more targeted effects on specific aspects of cognitive function, including those associated with verbal fluency. Given below are some common nootropics that help in enhancing verbal fluency: Piracetam Among the most effective nootropics are racetams, which we will mention later. For now, piracetam remains the most popular racetam. Studies depict that it has been the most effective therapeutic when it comes to enhancing verbal fluency.  Those who were given Piracetam for 6 weeks straight could speak more fluently. Further, it is also effective for general learning and visual-spatial reasoning.  Oxiracetam & Aniracetam Aniracetam is another group of racetam that is helpful to enhance verbal fluency. It is structurally the same as Piracetam with a weak affinity for brain receptors. This explains why it does bit affect the brain strongly as compared to Piracetam. The use of Aniracetam is very common in boosting the cognitive performance of adults. Treating cognitive weaknesses like poor reasoning or cognition also becomes east with aniracetam. Adrafinil Adrafinil is another racetam that is effective for boosting verbal fluency. Various studies have found that verbal fluency is improved significantly with Adrafinil as it also has sustained and immediate benefits.  Those taking this nootropic could communicate more openly now. A similar nootropic is modafinil which can treat sleep disorders and narcolepsy. Both these racetams have the ability to enable verbal fluency. Nootropics And Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals within the brain, and some of them play a vital role in supporting verbal fluency. Nootropics that act on neurotransmitter receptors for glutamate, GABA, dopamine, and acetylcholine can all support healthy brain function in the areas required to achieve high levels of verbal fluency. Most Effective Supplements For Verbal Fluency Research into nootropics has been on the rise in recent years, leading to the discovery of many natural substances that improve cognitive function. Not all of them improve verbal fluency, but supplements that contain these substances tend to be most effective in that realm: They include: Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogenic herb that promotes healthy changes in dopamine and serotonin levels. Tyrosine is an amino acid that acts as a building block for not just dopamine but also epinephrine and norepinephrine. Aniracetam is a fat-soluble supplement that increases oxygen consumption in the brain. Curcumin is a neuroprotectant flavonoid found in the turmeric plant that improves working memory and reduces mental fatigue. L-Theanine is a naturally occurring substance that improves memory and focus. Lion's mane is a mushroom that can improve cognitive abilities that help with verbal fluency, such as memory, learning, focus, and concentration. How To Choose Supplements For Verbal Fluency Some people prefer to take supplements that contain just one of the ingredients described above, while others employ a practice called "stacking," in which they combine nootropics for maximum effect. Either of these approaches can be appropriate as long as consumers take the time to thoroughly investigate the products they buy. Not all supplement manufacturers are equally reliable, so make sure there are third-party lab test results available that show both the purity and potency of the key ingredients. Discover Quality Nootropics For Verbal Fluency There is now a wealth of evidence that natural substances such as those described above can help people improve different aspects of their verbal fluency. Because these supplements are unlikely to produce unwanted side effects, people often try multiple products before deciding which one contains the best blend of herbs and other substances to meet their needs. Read Also: Online Schools The Only Source For Personalized Education 7 Reasons Why Online Education Is Very Popular How Contents On Web Influence Students

READ MOREDetails
Children Language Learning

5 Golden Rules of Children Language Learning

God has blessed every child with an innate skill as well as a curiosity to learn new things in a speedy manner. The brain of your child observes new things very quickly; that is why he starts understanding your language at the earlier stage of life. According to the statement of an expert, young children have a high intellectual level to learn a second language. If you want to teach your child any language, the following simplest yet useful rules are going to help you a lot. Active Adult Participation in The Language Learning Process: In the initial six years of life, the brain of the child increasingly changes to absorb more and more knowledge. For that reason, it is necessary that the adults take an active part in helping their child learn a new language. To serve that purpose, talking to your child matters the most in the first place. Both the parents can contribute to this learning process by listening to the fractured yet cute stories of their kids. Furthermore, the teacher should also act patiently when dealing with young children to make them easily understand some new words. For example, in the case of the Spanish language, the teacher has to repeat the Spanish alphabet sounds again and again for the child’s clear understanding. Ensure a Child-Friendly Learning Environment: Creating a child-friendly environment of learning is essential for your child’s smooth learning of a new language. It matters because children are sensitive little heads that whole-heartedly learn only when they feel listened to, valued and cared for. In order to ensure a child-friendly environment, adults are advised to organize fun-filled activities e.g., dance, sing, and rhyme etc. You can also take help from numerous online videos as well as audios that can make the learning process more appealing. Above all, every effort you make to teach your child a language will only work when you put yourself in your child’s shoe. You have to think and act like them to ensure effective learning. Involve the Children in Listening Activities: In addition to being receptive, language is expressive too. Therefore, it is vital to engage children in listening activities. In this way, they will be able to effectively process what they hear. Such listening activities can ask the child to repeat after the speaker whatever he/she has listened. To serve this purpose, parents can turn on a radio or TV where perhaps a fairy tale is being told. Teachers can also contribute to this type of activity by telling them a story or even a short real-life interesting incident just to introduce them to new words and sentences. Adding to it, many interesting rhyming audios with attractive sounds can add to the responsiveness of children to a great extent. They can also enhance the listening power of the children. Let Them “Maked the Made” Teaching a language to children requires patience and considerable time. When it comes to children, they certainly make too many mistakes in the beginning. They may be too little to understand the reasons behind all the forms of verbs, parts of speech, degrees that a particular language has. For instance, they may say ‘made’ rather than made, ‘eated’ instead of ate, ‘sleeped’ instead of slept and this list goes. In fact, making mistakes is good and perhaps the only way of letting children learn something new. Every mistake that they make tells that they tried a new thing. Now, it is the duty of the teacher to correct it with love and kindness. Take Baby Steps: Do not rush the learning process since it might confuse your child. In contrast, it is essential to take baby steps while teaching your child a new language. In the beginning, talk to them and tell them stories in the new language so they start understanding and recognizing different sounds. It will also make them able to pronounce the words in the right way later on. Subsequently, start enhancing their vocabulary by introducing a new word every day. Repeating it all day long and asking your child to do the same is effective for better memorization. In order to make this whole process effective, ask children to recall the previous words before introducing a new word. Afterward, start off with the phrases and then to sentences. In the end, patience and effort would be worth it. Read Also: Tips To Help You Learn A New Language In A New Country English As A Second Language: Ways To Find Great Teaching Materials On A Budget

READ MOREDetails