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

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.

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How to Train Your Brain with Math?

We are always using our brain for the most part of our life, but we don’t do much to keep it in good shape. Your brains need a lot of training and stimulation. There are a lot of things you can do to improve your working memory. But many people are not focused on taking the time to train their brain. There are a lot of great apps, games, and exercises that you can use to improve your brain performance and math skills at the same time. This type of memory training can lead to improvement in mathematical capacities and even help you with your college homework. For accellerated math students, K-12, most turn to math summer camps to stay sharp and avoid the summer slide. Read also: Upcoming Educational Trends In 2017 Here are seven steps to help you improve your brain’s function with math Visualise the problem and practice a lot To improve your memory, practice visualisation skills to support visual-spatial working memory. This is very important if want to be good in math. When you visualise what you hear, you boost weak verbal working memory. Create a picture in mind to represent the information you just heard or read. Then draw that picture and explain it. The idea is to describe the picture you have in mind. It will give you the chance to create a mental image of who, where, what, when, size, colour, shape, texture, and mood. Also, repeated practice can help reduce the strain that may be involved in working memory capacity. Strategies such as memorising multiplication tables help to improve your working memory and math skills. Over-learning or memorising a certain task allows individuals to work something out, which enables them to free up some memory space. During this process, make sure you take breaks to regain focus and not drift away from the main task. Repeated practice help an individual to retain information, and even stretch their memory capacities. Use playing cards There are so many games I can play that involves math to improve my brain performance and help do my homework. Games such as Crazy Eights, Concentration, Uno, and Memory require memory and use of sets, numbers and mathematical concepts. When you play these game, you get to learn to hold information when making any decision. Simple card games such as Go Fish require the players to recall what cards are likely to be in the opponent’s hands. Other complex cards such as Pinochle require good memory skills that involve counting and estimation to win. Playing complex games will help train your brain to be better. Paper writing service Mathematics is one of the most challenging subjects in school. If you don’t know the formula to a certain problem, there is no answer, and this can feel like a punishment. This is more common in Geometry, a branch of mathematics which is a quite complex and require special skills and knowledge to solve problems. Read also: 5 Tips For Getting A Cheap Essay Writing Service Online If you feel frustrated in solving the math problems at hand, you can seek Geometry homework help from a paper writing service like https://homeworkhelpdesk.org/math/geometry/. They can help you understand curves, visualize dimensions, calculate angles, determine congruence, and much more. Multiply numbers without a calculator If you’re doing simple math like addition and subtraction at the grocery, avoid using a calculator and do some quick mental math. Start by multiplying two numbers at a time, then work your way up to three, and so on. Remember, math is a skill that can be easily forgotten if not done frequently. This will improve your organizational memory, visualization, and problem-solving skills with time. If you get stuck, you can seek math homework help from writing services. Complete puzzles and play video games Mental challenging puzzles such as Sudoku, Crossword puzzles, and other word puzzles are perfect ways to train your brain. Your brain needs to be subjected to challenges to make progress. When the brain realizes that it’s good at something, it stops putting in the effort. So completing puzzles will help the brain remain active and you will not talk of homework help math again. Read also: Rock The Ball – A Challenging Brain Teaser Puzzles are available online. It’s not like a couple of years ago where you could only find Crossword puzzles in magazines or newspapers. Even more, you get to choose from hundreds and thousands of puzzles on the internet. These games will increase your ability to recognize patterns and process thoughts and ideas quickly. Also, some people say that video games can make your brain mush. But not all video games are like that. Many games are designed to engage your mind, improve your memory, boost mental speed, develop logic, and boost creativity. Look for entertaining brain games such as chess, word games, memory games, and many others and keep the mind engaged. Write often instead of typing Many people love keyboards because they’re much more efficient to get the words on the page than using hand to write something. But if you want to acquire new knowledge, you may want to ditch the laptop and practice typing what you want by hand. This is important because, the reticular activating system (RAS), which is the brain’s filtering system processes what you’re focusing on at the moment. When you write, the RAS becomes active and you alert the brain that it’s time to pay attention to the task at hand. It is an effective way to train your brain especially when solving math problems. Intelligence is not achieved overnight. But, it can be achieved by training your brain and helping it function at a more efficient level. The secret is to change your daily activities and take new challenges to help stimulate your brain. Solving math problems is a challenge that can help you do that Read also: 5 Protein Enriched Food To Improve Mental Health

Are You Ready for the GRE?

The GRE may be one of the most important tests that you take in your life. You have put in countless hours studying and taking practice tests, but the question is whether you are truly ready to take the test. As with any major exam, typically you have a strong idea of whether and when you are prepared and ready for the exam. Here are some signs that you are ready for the big day. Your Practice Scores Exceed Your Goals: Every test taker has a score in mind that is their target for the exam. Given that the best way to take the exam involves taking numerous practice exams, you should have an idea of where you are before the exam. It is a fact that the conditions of the actual exam may cause you to not perform as well as you would otherwise hope. This could be due to the pressure or the unfamiliarity of the setting. Therefore, you should have your practice scores slightly above your target. When these metrics exceed your target score, you have a good indication that you are ready for the exam. You Start Feeling Confident: When you are preparing for a clutch exam, you spend many hours in a state of panic. As you begin to get a handle on what you are doing, panic starts to be replaced with other emotions. This does not happen overnight. Instead, it takes countless long study sessions and a gradual process. It is unrealistic to expect a test taker to simply snap their fingers and change their mindset. This comes through hard work. After the extensive effort, fear gives way to confidence. When you actually believe that you can beat the exam, it comes after you have put in the necessary hard work and it means that you are prepared. Study Material Seems Rote: When studying for an exam, test takers should usually cover everything more than once. The first time that they read through the material, it seems new and there it will take some effort to gain familiarity and mastery over the material. As you begin to become more familiar with the material, it will come easier to you on each review. At a certain point, the material should be drilled into your head. At that point, when you read the material, you will have a strong sense of Deja vu. Then, you will know that the material has become second nature to you, and you are good to go to take the test. You Have Taken a Practice Course: GRE prep courses are a great way of preparing you to take the big exam, but like everything else, they cost money. When you take one of these classes, you gain the benefit of instruction and tips from experienced test takers. These classes follow and track the exams, and they will be able to tell you about recent trends with the exam. While some test-takers are certainly able to prepare themselves with a few practice exams and a study book, many people find that more is necessary. One option to accomplish this is free online GRE prep. This can save you money and give you the help you need for the exam. Read Also: 3 Amazing Online Resources For GMAT Prep 10 Tips To Memorize All Necessary Information Before Exams

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

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

The Dynamic Learning Project at a glance :

What this means for educators and classroom teaching

Perfect day: How to manage everything you have planned?

8 Tips to Help You Pick Universities Abroad

Content Rally

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.

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How to Train Your Brain with Math?

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

The Dynamic Learning Project at a glance :

What this means for educators and classroom teaching

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Perfect day: How to manage everything you have planned?

8 Tips to Help You Pick Universities Abroad

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.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

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