Learn21's Weekly EdTech Update

September 12, 2024

Register for an Unforgettable Conference Experience!

We are thrilled to announce our stellar lineup of keynote speakers for the EdTech Leaders Alliance (ETLA) Conference, taking place October 20-22, 2024, at the Nationwide Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio.


Keynote Speakers

  • Colin Seale: Colin, a critical thinking advocate, will dive into the importance of AI and educational equity in "Don’t Worry, Be a Critical Thinker: The Urgent Case for Prioritizing AI (Actual Intellect)."
  • Jen Mott: Jen will discuss how educators can maximize their potential and impact on students in her keynote, "Leveling Up Our Big Potential: How Educators Can Tap Into the Best of Themselves in Order to Bring Out the Best in their Students."
  • Keith Krueger: Keith, the CEO of CoSN, will share insights on the latest EdTech trends in his keynote "The State of EdTech: Trends & Leadership."
  • Ken Shelton: Ken will challenge us to rethink leadership and design in education in his keynote "Design Matters: Rethinking How We Lead and the Impact It Has on Learning Environments."

Social Events

Did you know that your conference registration includes TopGolf on Sunday afternoon? What about a Musical Bingo with social event with food on Sunday night? Pretty cool, right? But that's not all, after our main stage event on Monday afternoon, there's another social with a live D.J. and more food. This conference has it all and you won't want to miss it.


Amenities

Tucked in a 15-acre park-like setting adjacent to beautiful Highbanks Metro Park, Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio offers a complete collection of services and amenities for an all-inclusive experience. The onsite hotel has 193 stylishly appointed guest rooms and suites delight leisure travelers that are selling out quickly!


Conference attendees will enjoy a world of first-class amenities, including a well-equipped fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and easy access to Lewis Center and Columbus’s finest shopping, dining and entertainment. Breakfast and lunch are also included for conference attendees on Monday and Tuesday.


Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly or with this link. If you call the hotel, be sure to mention the ETLA conference to get the group discount rate of $165 per night, Reservations must be made by September 30, 2024 to guarantee the group rate.


Why Attend?

  • Networking: Connect with like-minded professionals.
  • Professional Growth: Learn from and contribute as a leading voice in EdTech.
  • Inspiration: Engage with the conversations that shape the future of education technology.

Event Details

  • When: October 20-22, 2024
  • Where: Nationwide Conference Center, Columbus, Ohio
  • Who: CTOs, Superintendents, Principals, Tech Directors, Administrators, and EdTech leaders

Don't miss out! Register now to secure your spot at the ETLA Conference for an unforgettable experience full of inspiration and collaboration. You can learn more about the conference in the short video below!

New Google Classroom Groups: A Game Changer for Collaboration and Differentiation

Google Classroom has introduced a new feature called Student Groups, designed to streamline the process of assigning work while differentiating instruction. This feature allows teachers to create and manage sub-groups within their classes, making it easier to assign tasks, projects, or content to specific groups of students. This feature is available only for users with a Google Workspace for Education Plus or the Teaching and Learning Upgrade license.


Using Student Groups in Google Classroom opens up a world of possibilities for classroom management and personalized learning. With Student Groups, teachers are able to create reading groups based on students’ reading levels or interests and assigning differentiated content accordingly. These groups are also perfect for facilitating focused discussions on specific topics, ensuring that each student’s voice is heard within their smaller, more intimate group setting. Additionally, this feature simplifies the process of assigning various learning paths for students, enabling you to tailor activities and resources to meet each group’s unique needs.


Google Classroom’s new Student Groups feature is a significant enhancement for teachers aiming to provide a more organized, personalized, and collaborative learning experience. By allowing the creation of up to 50 groups per class, and keeping group membership visible only to teachers and co-teachers, this feature enhances privacy and flexibility in classroom management. Whether you’re looking to streamline project-based learning, differentiate instruction, or foster more focused group discussions, the new Student Groups in Google Classroom provide the tools to help you achieve these goals. With a little creativity, you can leverage this feature to better support each student and their individual needs.

Tips and Tricks

How to Set Up Student Groups in Google Classroom


Open Google Classroom:

Go to classroom.google.com and log in with your Google Workspace for Education account.


Select Your Class:

From the dashboard, click on the class where you want to create groups.


Navigate to the "People" Tab:

At the top of the class page, click on the “People” tab. This tab lists all the students enrolled in your class.


Create a New Group:

In the top right corner of the "People" tab, click the "Create Group" button. This will open a new window where you can start creating your group.


Name Your Group:

Enter a descriptive name for your group. For example, "Math Group A" or "Science Project Team 1." This helps in easily identifying the group later on.


Select Group Members:

Check the boxes next to the names of the students you want to include in this group. You can select as many students as needed for your group.


Save the Group:

Once you’ve selected the students, click the “Create” button to save your new group.


Repeat for Additional Groups:

If you need multiple groups, repeat the process for each group. You can create up to 50 groups per class.


Assign Work to a Group:

When creating an assignment, quiz, or discussion post, look for the “Assign to” option on the right side of the assignment screen. Select the specific group you want to assign the work to from the dropdown menu.


Manage Groups:

You can edit or delete groups at any time by returning to the "People" tab, selecting the group, and making the necessary adjustments.


By managing student groups in Google Classroom, you can differentiate instruction, organize group projects, and enhance collaboration within your classroom.


Everything in Google Classroom Has a Link

In Google Classroom, copying links to various elements like the class stream, assignments, and resources is straightforward. For assignments or materials, open the specific item and click the three dots in the top right corner, then select "Copy link."

This link can be shared with students or colleagues directly. To copy a link to the class stream, simply highlight the URL in your browser’s address bar while on the stream page and copy it. These links are incredibly useful for quickly directing students to specific content or sharing resources with others outside the Google Classroom.


Disable Ads in YouTube

Did you know you can skip the ads on a YouTube video and move straight to the video? We didn't either!


If you add the word “_popup” between the “watch” and “?” in a Youtube link it disables the ads in a Youtube video and goes straight to the video.


Example:

Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Wb3VsE1yI

Edited link: https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=o1Wb3VsE1yI

Give it a try and let us know how it worked for you!

Extra Credit

How does screen time impact creativity? Experts and artists agree that while distraction can sap energy and focus, it also plays a pivotal role in the creative process. By balancing focused work with periods of "unfocused" activities like digital pinboarding or daydreaming, individuals can harness both the stimulating and draining aspects of screen time. Setting boundaries, utilizing technology intentionally, and taking mental breaks are essential strategies for maintaining productivity and creativity in the digital age. (NSFW: There is mention of a book title that has inappropriate words for school.)


In math instruction, emphasizing conceptual understanding over procedural fluency is crucial for students. While rote memorization of steps can provide correct answers, it often leaves students struggling to apply math reasoning in real-world scenarios and higher-level math. Conceptual understanding allows students to see the "why" behind the math, fostering deeper connections and robust mental frameworks.


New methods to get around AI detection, like "Bypass AI" have been created. Bypass AI "humanizes" AI-generated text, allowing the AI generated text to evade detection tools. I don’t know how much this is really needed since the current slate of AI detection tools are really bad though.

🙋‍♂️ Bytes and Insights is co-authored by Eduk8me’s Ryan Collins who writes about education and educational technology. He is also the Director of Technology for Kenton City Schools in Ohio. Sign up for his Of Bits and Bytes newsletter at https://eduk8.me!


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