EdSurge Guide

Going Back to School With the 2016 EdSurge Fifty States Project

Virginia

How You Can Take the Pain Out Of Data-Driven Classrooms
How You Can Take the Pain Out Of Data-Driven Classrooms
Assessments

How You Can Take the Pain Out Of Data-Driven Classrooms

By Natalie Davis

New Mexico

Digital Natives Still Need Help Navigating Online Assessments
Digital Natives Still Need Help Navigating Online Assessments
Assessments

Digital Natives Still Need Help Navigating Online Assessments

By Erika Valdez-Betsch

Wyoming

Three Ways That Rural States Can Become the Hotbeds for School Edtech Innovation
Three Ways That Rural States Can Become the Hotbeds for School Edtech Innovation
Personal Learning Networks

Three Ways That Rural States Can Become the Hotbeds for School Edtech Innovation

By Lachelle Brant

Arizona

Let It Go:  A New Set of Classroom Management Strategies for the 21st Century
Let It Go:  A New Set of Classroom Management Strategies for the 21st Century
Blended Learning

Let It Go: A New Set of Classroom Management Strategies for the 21st Century

By Jamie Schnepp

Utah

“Get Out From Behind That Computer!” Why the Brain Benefits When Students Talk and Move Around
“Get Out From Behind That Computer!” Why the Brain Benefits When Students Talk and Move Around
Learning Research

“Get Out From Behind That Computer!” Why the Brain Benefits When Students Talk and Move Around

By Heather Campbell

Iowa

Inside ‘Room 21C’: This Iowa Classroom’s Redesign Inspired Seven Other Districts
Inside ‘Room 21C’: This Iowa Classroom’s Redesign Inspired Seven Other Districts
PK-12 School Models

Inside ‘Room 21C’: This Iowa Classroom’s Redesign Inspired Seven Other Districts

By Dr. Sally Lindgren

Idaho

Looking to Eliminate Dropouts? How Idaho Reached English Language Learners with a ‘Hybrid’ Course Experiment
Looking to Eliminate Dropouts? How Idaho Reached English Language Learners with a ‘Hybrid’ Course Experiment
Language Arts

Looking to Eliminate Dropouts? How Idaho Reached English Language Learners with a ‘Hybrid’ Course Experiment

By Jeff Simmons

Minnesota

How You Can Bring Creativity Back Into Your Classroom With Project-Based Learning
How You Can Bring Creativity Back Into Your Classroom With Project-Based Learning
Project-Based Learning

How You Can Bring Creativity Back Into Your Classroom With Project-Based Learning

By Rachel Pierson

Vermont

Why Making and the Arts Need Each Other to Survive and Thrive in Schools
Why Making and the Arts Need Each Other to Survive and Thrive in Schools
Maker and DIY Movement

Why Making and the Arts Need Each Other to Survive and Thrive in Schools

By Cynthia Day

Hawaii

A Guide to Producing Better Student Writers and Editors With Dictation Tools
A Guide to Producing Better Student Writers and Editors With Dictation Tools
Language Arts

A Guide to Producing Better Student Writers and Editors With Dictation Tools

By Jon Pennington

North Dakota

Why We Need to Move Away from SMART Goals and Towards New Forms of Classroom Assessment
Why We Need to Move Away from SMART Goals and Towards New Forms of Classroom Assessment
Assessments

Why We Need to Move Away from SMART Goals and Towards New Forms of Classroom Assessment

By Jeremy Murphy

Delaware

From Literature to Science: Should the Subject Affect How a Teacher Incorporates Growth Mindset?
From Literature to Science: Should the Subject Affect How a Teacher Incorporates Growth Mindset?
Learning Research

From Literature to Science: Should the Subject Affect How a Teacher Incorporates Growth Mindset?

By Jennifer Guido

Nevada

Empowered Readers: Technology That Can Re-Inspire Students’ Love of Reading
Empowered Readers: Technology That Can Re-Inspire Students’ Love of Reading
Language Arts

Empowered Readers: Technology That Can Re-Inspire Students’ Love of Reading

By Casey Korder

Montana

Diary of a Techy Teacher: Why I’m Taking a One-Year Sabbatical with BetterLesson
Diary of a Techy Teacher: Why I’m Taking a One-Year Sabbatical with BetterLesson
Movers and Shakers

Diary of a Techy Teacher: Why I’m Taking a One-Year Sabbatical with BetterLesson

By Jessica Anderson

New Hampshire

What 10 Years of K-12 Online Professional Development Taught New Hampshire
What 10 Years of K-12 Online Professional Development Taught New Hampshire
Professional Development

What 10 Years of K-12 Online Professional Development Taught New Hampshire

By Stan Freeda

Kansas

What Would Abe Lincoln’s Social Media Campaign Look Like? A New Classroom Use For Twitter and Facebook
What Would Abe Lincoln’s Social Media Campaign Look Like? A New Classroom Use For Twitter and Facebook
Arts and Humanities

What Would Abe Lincoln’s Social Media Campaign Look Like? A New Classroom Use For Twitter and Facebook

By Glenn Wiebe

Illinois

Visual Instructional Tools Are Essential When Teaching Common Core Standards
Visual Instructional Tools Are Essential When Teaching Common Core Standards
Common Core

Visual Instructional Tools Are Essential When Teaching Common Core Standards

By Sargy Letuchy

Wisconsin

Beyond the Genius Bar: Cultivating Leadership With a Student-Led Tech Team
Beyond the Genius Bar: Cultivating Leadership With a Student-Led Tech Team
Technology Tips

Beyond the Genius Bar: Cultivating Leadership With a Student-Led Tech Team

By Laura Busch

Colorado

Encouraging Diverse Learners in Computer Science and Engineering
Encouraging Diverse Learners in Computer Science and Engineering
Diversity and Equity

Encouraging Diverse Learners in Computer Science and Engineering

By Dawn Dupriest

Louisiana

In the Age of 'No-Excuses' Schools: A Case for Compassion and Better Social-Emotional Learning
In the Age of 'No-Excuses' Schools: A Case for Compassion and Better Social-Emotional Learning
21st Century Skills

In the Age of 'No-Excuses' Schools: A Case for Compassion and Better Social-Emotional Learning

By Dr. Vera Triplett

Nebraska

Voxer, Twitter, and EdCamps: How to Tackle the Harsh Realities of Finding Good Statewide PD
Voxer, Twitter, and EdCamps: How to Tackle the Harsh Realities of Finding Good Statewide PD
Personal Learning Networks

Voxer, Twitter, and EdCamps: How to Tackle the Harsh Realities of Finding Good Statewide PD

By Barb Gilman

Ohio

Goodbye, Linear Factory Model of Schooling: Why Learning is Irregular
Goodbye, Linear Factory Model of Schooling: Why Learning is Irregular
Diversity and Equity

Goodbye, Linear Factory Model of Schooling: Why Learning is Irregular

By Dwight Carter

South Carolina

How to Manage the 4 Types of Teachers You Meet in Professional Development
How to Manage the 4 Types of Teachers You Meet in Professional Development
Professional Development

How to Manage the 4 Types of Teachers You Meet in Professional Development

By Carla Jefferson

Tennessee

Before We Were Connected: How To Achieve a Statewide Professional Learning Network
Before We Were Connected: How To Achieve a Statewide Professional Learning Network
Professional Development

Before We Were Connected: How To Achieve a Statewide Professional Learning Network

By Katrina Keene

Puerto Rico

Why Good Professional Development Is Crucially Linked to an Educator’s Attitude
Why Good Professional Development Is Crucially Linked to an Educator’s Attitude
Professional Development

Why Good Professional Development Is Crucially Linked to an Educator’s Attitude

By Glenda I. Lozada Negrón

Oregon

How Programming Supports Math Class, Not the Other Way Around
How Programming Supports Math Class, Not the Other Way Around
Coding

How Programming Supports Math Class, Not the Other Way Around

By Chris Bartlo

Indiana

How to Shift to a Student-Centered Approach in Parent-Teacher Conferences
How to Shift to a Student-Centered Approach in Parent-Teacher Conferences
Student Voice

How to Shift to a Student-Centered Approach in Parent-Teacher Conferences

By Mitch Mosbey

West Virginia

Five Myths About Classroom Technology (And What To Do, Instead)
Five Myths About Classroom Technology (And What To Do, Instead)
Technology Tips

Five Myths About Classroom Technology (And What To Do, Instead)

By Rebecca Recco

Arkansas

K-12 Computer Science Initiatives Are Exciting, But Are They Enough?
K-12 Computer Science Initiatives Are Exciting, But Are They Enough?
21st Century Skills

K-12 Computer Science Initiatives Are Exciting, But Are They Enough?

By Daisy Dyer Duerr

South Dakota

Get Rid of Grade Levels: A Personalized Learning Recipe for Public School Districts
Get Rid of Grade Levels: A Personalized Learning Recipe for Public School Districts
Personalized Learning

Get Rid of Grade Levels: A Personalized Learning Recipe for Public School Districts

By Travis Lape

Pennsylvania

It Takes Two: The Practical Benefits of K-12 Public Education and Higher Ed Partnerships
It Takes Two: The Practical Benefits of K-12 Public Education and Higher Ed Partnerships
Learning Research

It Takes Two: The Practical Benefits of K-12 Public Education and Higher Ed Partnerships

By Justin Aglio

Oklahoma

How Teachers Can Provide Equal Learning in a World of Unequal Access
How Teachers Can Provide Equal Learning in a World of Unequal Access
Diversity and Equity

How Teachers Can Provide Equal Learning in a World of Unequal Access

By Sean Wolohan

Florida

Using Project-Based Learning To Turn Students into Responsible Data Consumers
Using Project-Based Learning To Turn Students into Responsible Data Consumers
STEM

Using Project-Based Learning To Turn Students into Responsible Data Consumers

By Suzanne Banas

Rhode Island

Looking for Better Edtech Products? Why Developing Teacher-Company Relationships is Essential
Looking for Better Edtech Products? Why Developing Teacher-Company Relationships is Essential
Movers and Shakers

Looking for Better Edtech Products? Why Developing Teacher-Company Relationships is Essential

By Jason Appel

New York

The Value of Modern Social Studies in Cultivating Real World Literacy
The Value of Modern Social Studies in Cultivating Real World Literacy
21st Century Skills

The Value of Modern Social Studies in Cultivating Real World Literacy

By Christine Sciascia

Connecticut

The Secret Weapon for Any English or Language Teacher’s Data Arsenal
The Secret Weapon for Any English or Language Teacher’s Data Arsenal
Language Arts

The Secret Weapon for Any English or Language Teacher’s Data Arsenal

By Camelia Perez

Michigan

10+ Tips for Using Brain-Based Methods to Redesign Your Classroom
10+ Tips for Using Brain-Based Methods to Redesign Your Classroom
Learning Research

10+ Tips for Using Brain-Based Methods to Redesign Your Classroom

By Erin Klein

District of Columbia

How One Teacher Champions Student Reflection with Technology and Public Speaking
How One Teacher Champions Student Reflection with Technology and Public Speaking
21st Century Skills

How One Teacher Champions Student Reflection with Technology and Public Speaking

By Stacey Roshan

Alaska

How an Alaska Teacher Improved Student Attendance with Minecraft
How an Alaska Teacher Improved Student Attendance with Minecraft
STEM

How an Alaska Teacher Improved Student Attendance with Minecraft

By Cindy Duncan

Kentucky

I’m a Teacher Who Hates Technology—So Let Me Design the Products
I’m a Teacher Who Hates Technology—So Let Me Design the Products
Movers and Shakers

I’m a Teacher Who Hates Technology—So Let Me Design the Products

By Ashley Lamb-Sinclair

Alabama

The Three Big Edtech Problems in Alabama—And How Schools Are Fixing Them
The Three Big Edtech Problems in Alabama—And How Schools Are Fixing Them
School Infrastructure

The Three Big Edtech Problems in Alabama—And How Schools Are Fixing Them

By Donna Williamson

Mississippi

How to Cultivate Teacher Agency and Buy-In When Going 1:1
How to Cultivate Teacher Agency and Buy-In When Going 1:1
Blended Learning

How to Cultivate Teacher Agency and Buy-In When Going 1:1

By Will Deyamport

Maine

What’s the Perfect Data Tool for Tracking and Developing Reading Comprehension?
What’s the Perfect Data Tool for Tracking and Developing Reading Comprehension?
Assessments

What’s the Perfect Data Tool for Tracking and Developing Reading Comprehension?

By Melanie Stevens

Maryland

How Maryland is Putting the 'PLAY' Back into Professional Development
How Maryland is Putting the 'PLAY' Back into Professional Development
Professional Development

How Maryland is Putting the 'PLAY' Back into Professional Development

By Emmanuel Andre

Missouri

How to Champion the Four C’s in the Classroom
How to Champion the Four C’s in the Classroom
21st Century Skills

How to Champion the Four C’s in the Classroom

By Kyle Pace

Washington

How Administrators Can Design the Best Learning Experiences for Teachers
How Administrators Can Design the Best Learning Experiences for Teachers
Professional Development

How Administrators Can Design the Best Learning Experiences for Teachers

By Ellen Dorr

Georgia

Why Most Professional Development Stinks—and How You Can Make It Better
Why Most Professional Development Stinks—and How You Can Make It Better
Professional Development

Why Most Professional Development Stinks—and How You Can Make It Better

By Valerie Lewis

North Carolina

Why a District 1:1 Rollout Is About More Than Devices and Software
Why a District 1:1 Rollout Is About More Than Devices and Software
Technology Tips

Why a District 1:1 Rollout Is About More Than Devices and Software

By Ross Friebel

Texas

How Houston ISD Is Winning By Insisting That Its Data Systems Truly Work Together
How Houston ISD Is Winning By Insisting That Its Data Systems Truly Work Together
School Infrastructure

How Houston ISD Is Winning By Insisting That Its Data Systems Truly Work Together

By L. Beatriz Arnillas

Massachusetts

How to Improve Your School Staff’s Communication: Tips and Tricks from the Classroom
How to Improve Your School Staff’s Communication: Tips and Tricks from the Classroom
Personal Learning Networks

How to Improve Your School Staff’s Communication: Tips and Tricks from the Classroom

By Michael "MJ" Linane

California

A Guide to Producing Student Digital Storytellers
A Guide to Producing Student Digital Storytellers
21st Century Skills

A Guide to Producing Student Digital Storytellers

By Michael Hernandez

New Jersey

Instead of Paying Thousands for Student Data Systems, Try This Free Option Instead
Instead of Paying Thousands for Student Data Systems, Try This Free Option Instead
Big Data

Instead of Paying Thousands for Student Data Systems, Try This Free Option Instead

By Chris Aviles
Hover over a state to see an article written by an author from that state
Going Back to School With the 2016 EdSurge Fifty States Project

Educators, we know you're getting ready to go back to school—or potentially have already started. But what if you need support? Have a question about technology, or how to integrate it?

To help you out with tips and tricks from educators who've been there, we give you the Fifty States Project: Back-to-School Edition—an EdSurge initiative to publish articles by educators in each of the 50 states and U.S. territories over the course of a year, showcasing educators and their stories of supporting learning by using technology. During 2016, we collected stories written by educators--teachers, edtech coordinators, librarians, superintendents and others--from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In this guide, you'll see articles throughout the year organized into four categories:

  • How-To’s from Inside the Classroom: Step-by-step guides on everything from social-emotional learning to classroom management strategies in a tech-rich environment.
  • Making Data Work: Data, privacy, assessments--you’ve heard all about it. How are educators collecting and using data to tailor and improve instruction and practices?
  • Educators Know Professional Development: Strategies for revamping PD, from addressing individual needs to addressing statewide professional development programs.
  • What Educators Want from Digital Tools: Educators give their honest opinions--what are they looking for from digital tools? Have they or their schools somehow added their own flare to existing tools?

This guide includes includes a powerful list: 2016 Popular Edtech Tools From Coast to Coast—the 15 standout tools repeatedly mentioned by Fifty States writers.

If you'd rather meet these writers and ask for advice more directly, join us on Tuesday, September 6 at 5 pm PST, when many of these education thought leaders will be available to chat via Twitter for a very special #Edsurgechat, the Fifty States edition. We’ll all share more hopes and strategies for the new year, and widen our personal learning networks.

Keep on fighting the good fight!

How-To’s from Inside the Classroom

Educators Know Professional Development

What Educators Want From Digital Tools

Yes, we saw tool diversity! When we tallied up the number of edtech tools mentioned throughout these 52 pieces, we uncovered a total of 85 distinct tools. A few stood out. Here are the most frequently mentioned tools--along with the stories that describe their use.

The following tools got mentioned three or more times.

Product Description Price Who wrote about this tool?
Google Apps for EDU
A collection of free Google tools, apps and collaboration services for K-12 and higher-ed
Free Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey
Padlet Collaborative virtual sticky note app where users can post video, images, links and more Free Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Missouri
Twitter
Popular networking and microblogging platform Free Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Tennessee
Seesaw
Portfolio for documenting student work & sharing with parents and teachers
Free / License Delaware, Indiana, Nevada
EDpuzzle
Video customization for classroom lessons
Free District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
iMovie for Mac
Video creation Free California, Maryland, Nebraska

The following tools got mentioned twice.

Product Description Price Who wrote about this tool?
Minecraft
Popular indie sandbox video game focused on creativity and building in a 3D world
License Alaska, West Virginia
Voxer App where users can send text, photos, and instant voice messages to individuals and groups Free Georgia, Nebraska
Today's Meet
Private classroom chat rooms, controlled by teachers
Free Massachusetts, Missouri
Schoology
Cloud-based LMS for K-12 schools integrates global teacher collaboration tools and more License Mississippi, Texas
Blackboard
Learning management system License Idaho, Texas
Kidblog
Students write and teachers can moderate posts and comments in a secure community Free Indiana, Missouri
Canvas
Open source learning management system designed to be compatible with any classroom environment License Alabama, Texas
Remind
Service for teachers to send text messages to mobile phones of students and parents Free Missouri, South Dakota
Time For Kids iPad app connecting assessments and activities with TfK's real world news coverage License New Mexico, New York

This project was funded in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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