Twin Cities Start-up Week!
Maximize the effectiveness of your SIS & ERP Systems!
Proud to have partnered with Skyward in developing this awesome assessment tool for K12. Introducing DistrictCheck, a new technology assessment tool for school districts.
Fostering Community from the Inside-Out
A Vision for School Safety
One of the most significant steps you can take when it comes to implementing initiatives and reaching organizational goals such as School Safety, is growing and maintaining healthy, active relationships. Districts find that executing a vision can be more seamless and successful when trusting, transparent organizational and community relationships are in place. Yet, this step is often circumvented due to time constraints and planning logistics. No doubt a grass-roots community building takes time and effort. But it is critical to obtain the support and commitment needed to successfully carry out your School Safety vision over a multi-year period. The more people who understand what you are trying to do and how students will likely be impacted by it, the greater commitment and support your stakeholders will demonstrate.
Relationship building starts with regularly connecting to your constituents about the district’s School Safety vision, aligned initiatives and goals with your local partners, community members, parents, building administrators, teachers and students. Depending on how far along you are in the process, you might be interested in forming a steering committee representing multiple perspectives to create a shared vision. Wherever you are, consider regularly asking for feedback and provide open, transparent communication pathways. This feedback cycle will assist you in developing the next phase of the initiative.
Pinpoint digital and face to face opportunities that offer synchronous and asynchronous communication.
You will notice a domino effect occurs when positive relationships are in place.
- Buy-in from multiple entities maximizes visibility of School Safety
- Visibility increases accountability
- Accountability increases the likelihood of success in terms of improved student well-being and safety
- Positive student outcomes demonstrate a Return on Investment when it comes to the digital solutions and programs adopted by the organization
Districts across the country are joining the Safer Schools in America Impact Initiative, led by Global Grid for Learning (GG4L) and McREL using a framework based on the National Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Program from Title IV-Part A. School Safety is beyond background checks, visitor check-in software and intruder procedures. It offers a multi-faceted framework that looks at:
- Emergency Preparedness & Management
- Emotional & Behavioral Health
- Physical Health & Wellness
- Physical Campus Security
- Digital Safety
It is not likely that stakeholders and board members will protest about investing in School Safety and making it a top priority for your organization. But what may happen is that something gets lost in the translation of School Safety. It extends beyond physical campus security. That’s where using standard visuals, description and definitions comes into play. Regardless of who is facilitating or contributing to a School Safety conversation, developing a common language across the board ensures that everyone hears the same message. This simple but intentional act will dramatically elevate misunderstandings and confusion while talking about how the district intends to secure the safety and well-being of its students and staff.
While the activities and outcomes will vary- the vision is driving everyday Safety in Schools. Specific examples of implementing your vision effectively include the following:
- Align training and professional development activities to the vision outcomes within schools as well as district sponsored training and PD.
- Request that all building administration include the School Safety vision and goals within their school improvement plans by integrating it into existing priorities and initiatives.
- Capture students and classes in action that represent vision outcomes through video and audio recordings that are shared out via social media and website.
Consider two-three recommendations you can start integrating into your existing processes and activities. Impactful, committed community building can be so powerful and rewarding for all parties involved. Inclusiveness and trust draw people in and keep them coming back for more.
If you haven’t already, consider joining the Safer Schools in America Impact Initiative as a next step. As a part of the program, schools qualify for grants that fund between 2 and 5 pre-integrated innovative safety EdTech solutions from over 25 global providers to be deployed and measured at no cost to the schools for a minimum of three-year program term.
GreyED Accepted into Amazon EdTech Start-up Incubator!
Dr. Carter one of Edvocate’s 2017 EdTech 20
Thrilled to see our Co-Founder and CEO , Dr. Julie Carter recognized as one of the top 20 EdTech influencers for 2017!
Who are the biggest edtech influencers in the world? The Edvocate editorial team has exhaustively researched the movers and shakers of edtech and selected 20 global influencers. To frame our methodology, we decided to define edtech influencer broadly. On this list, you will find administrators, bloggers, journalists, policymakers, researchers, innovators, businessmen, activists, etc. who are transforming the edtech space as we know it.
The influencers that we chose are all active in the area of edtech, doing something influential in 2017, well-known throughout the edtech landscape, and making an impact globally. We are excited to witness how these influencers continue to change the world this year, and we are anxious to see who will stand on the shoulders of these giants, and as a result, make our list next year. Without further ado, here is The Edvocate’s 2017 EdTech 20: A Ranking of 20 Global Edtech Influencers. Read More
The Edvocate’s 2017 EdTech 20: A Ranking of 20 Global Edtech Influencers
Moving Students From Digital Citizenship To Digital Leadership
How to keep up with ed-tech policies
Source: SmartBrief on Education in partnership with GreyED
It is difficult to keep up with the ever-changing world of educational technology, especially as it relates to policy. A good resource to know is ON[the]LINE, a service that provides resources designed to help school districts and county offices of education establish education policies and practices that address the rapidly evolving impacts of technology in 21st-century education.
ON[the]LINE is supported by a coalition of education professionals, education associations (including CETPA, CSBA, ACSA, and SCCOE, among others) and the law firm of Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP.
Solving the “how to” dilema
Source: SmartBlog on Education in partnership with GreyED Solutions
At some point we have all had to provide “How to” instructions to friends and colleagues on navigating a website, sharing a document, or on the latest tech tip. You may have tried listing the directions. You may have been a little more adventurous and taken screenshots and added some arrows to help the user see where they should go and what they should click. You may have even combined the two methods. Somehow, you still face the dilemma of not being sure your friend or colleague fully understood what to do.
Take risks to accelerate change
Source: SmartBlog on Education in partnership with GreyED Solutions
Striving to build and maintain high-functioning teams of people in our schools is a layered and complex task, especially when asking our teachers to implement new and fast-changing technology. Even when we bring together the most brilliant minds in our spaces, it can be an art to create a space where those people are pushing themselves and one another to achieve elevated levels of greatness. When a leader pushes for innovation and new practices, we need our teachers to not only take risks, but share in honest reflections about these experiences and plans for continued growth.