Colleauges,
Each month, we try to post a summary highlighting the recent activities, but now that we have begun a new year, I wanted to highlight 10 of the most comment on or most viewed topics of the last year. These are only a few of the hundreds of conversations and resources shared in 2019.
- Support Services for Online Learners to Build Retention and Student Success: As distance learning (DL) becomes a more popular and accessible mode of educating students, adult education programs are seeking innovative ways to support and engage their DL students and create modes of accessibility for students in rural or outlying adult education programs.
- Interview with Dr. Jen Vanek: Effective Practices in Distance and Blended Learning We unpacked the IDEAL Distance Education and Blended Learning Handbook. And explored evidence-based and best-practices in the delivery of distance education and blended learning.
- Are we wrong about Multiple Intellignece? The brain's interconnectivity makes many question this theory. How do you feel about this?
- The crossroads between mindfulness and trauma-informed I invite you to read the article Why Mindfulness and Trauma-informed Teaching Don't Always Go Together. Mindfulness is a trend taking hold in education. Teachers are using strategies to help create a calm environment where students are capable of learning. What happens when silence (used to create a calming environment) is actually a trigger for trauma?
- The Social Constructs of the Baby Boomer, The Millennial, the Gen-X'ers From the article New Guidelines Redefine Birth Years for Millennials, Gen-X, and'Post-Millennials', Do milllennials truly learn differently than baby boomers? If the idea of Gen X'ers, Post Millenials, and Millennials is defined by societal events that are shifting, and are loosely defined, should this define our teaching strategies? Or, are these differences reflect generational diversity and we adapt instruction to be inclusive?
- Planning Effective Lessons The dilemma for many adult education programs, especially those in which teachers do not receive reimbursement for planning time, is that teachers cannot afford to devote a lot of time to lesson planning in which they consider the diverse needs of their students. Instead, they allow the textbook to guide instruction.
- Why do we make bad decisions and what does the science say? We listened to Hidden Brain's podcast with Brandy Drew's story. Her story is something we can all relate to - how someone is overwhelmed and struggling to 'do everything' had her life spiral. Then, take some time to review How Poverty and Cognitive Biases Can Impact Decisions and Action.
- What are you reading for Professional Development This thread is devoted to sharing resources that we find useful in our own professional development growth.
- The Power of Partnerships: Adult Literacy and Libraries with Kristin LaHurd and Gwenn Weaver We discuss the benefits of partnerships between adult literacy education programs and public libraries.
- Teacher Retention How we can improve the retention of our staff. I invite you to read School Leaders: 6 Strategies for Retaining New Teachers.
Which were your favorites?
I'm looking forward to our discussions in 2020.
Sincerely,
Kathy Tracey