Want to amplifiEDucation? Online courses & resources to empower teacher-student learning

AmplifiEDucation was created about one year ago, when I joined four other women  who also believe in globally connected learning and the power of collaboration: Andrea Hernandez, Chic Foote, Silvia Tolisano (also known as Langwitches ), and Katrin Barlsen.

We believe in globally connected learning, not only for students and schools, but for ourselves. We lead by example- collaborating across time zones, pushing our limits, learning through trial and error, reflecting, and always sharing. Together we are smarter, stronger, better and speak more languages! We created amplifiEDucation to share our passion and experience with educational innovation.

Our mission is to “help educators amplify their own learning and, by extension, the learning of their students”. But what do we mean by amplified education?

Amplified education means teaching and learning that is far-reaching, extending its influence, offering breadth as well as depth. We know we have amplified education when learning breaks physical and imaginary limits, reaching out for unexpected discoveries. We know we have amplified education when we make learning visible and easily available, inviting more learning in and impacting the learning of others. You can amplify education in small simple ways as well as with bigger steps.

Still wondering what amplified education means and how it can empower teacher and student learning? You can visit our amplifiEDucation blog for free resources and information, and also connect with us via Twitter, Chats, Instagram, Facebook and a curated Newsletter. I am also proud to announce that that our first two online courses are available. These courses are meant to be convenient, short and affordable (all under US$10), so you can learn more about amplifying education in small steps, at your own pace. Below you see a description for the two courses already available.

Our courses are designed for the curious educator who’s ready to connect, create and share with the world. Each amplifiEDU course contains resources, templates and materials for you to use with students, many that are only available to our course users. Courses are simple, step-by-step, convenient and come with a money-back guarantee.

 

5 Steps for Creating Power Screencasts for Learning by SilvanaScarso

AUDIENCE:

This course is for teachers who are interested in scaffolding student learning by making thinking visible and easily available. No matter your comfort level with technology, there is a learning opportunity for you:

• If you are a novice technology user, you will follow easy step by step instructions that will allow the exploration of screencasting as a powerful tool for learning.

• If you are a more experienced technology user but not yet familiar with screencasting, you will be able to quickly learn a new technology and use your creativity to explore its use.

• If you have already experimented with screencasting, you will have the opportunity to reflect on your practice and expand its applications.

DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the “5 Steps for Creating Powerful Screencasts for Learning” course by amplifiEDucation. Have you heard about screencasts but don’t have a clear idea how it can be used for student learning? Have you ever wondered, “Why screencasting” ? Do you have any idea how easy it is to make a screencast? Would you like to experiment with easy-to-use tools and explore screencast possibilities that have impact on students? This course explores possibilities for screencasts that can be developed by teachers and students, focusing on the following ideas:

• Knowledge that can be broken down in SMALL PIECES facilitates step-by-step learning.
• Making explicit what you you do implicitly as a teacher MODELS learning for students.
• Students can be CONTENT CREATORS and contribute to the learning of others.
• METACOGNITION can be easily visible through screencasting.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

In this course you will learn about:

• How you can choose a screencast tool that adjusts to your needs.
• How to feel comfortable doing a screencasting without much preparation.
• How you can identify powerful screencasting opportunities in your teaching.
• How you can explore screencasting with students to empower them as collaborative learners.
• How you can select screencast sharing options that enhance learning.

WHAT YOU WILL GET:

• Checklists: to help you choose a screencasting tool that becomes part of your practice workflow.
• Printable cards: to help you choose and remember benefits of different screencasting options.
• Printable cards: to help you follow steps for screencast creation.
• Printable cards: to help you remember options for teacher and student screencasting.

 

Upgrade your KWL Chart to the 21st Century by Silvia Tolisano

AUDIENCE: This course is for any teacher using the traditional KWL (Know- Want to know- Learned) Chart and wanting to embed 21st century skills and literacies to the practice. It is for educators looking to structure the learning process and help students make their thinking and learning visible to themselves and others.

DESCRIPTION: Welcome to the “Upgrade your KWL Chart to the 21st century” course by amplifiEDucation. Are you familiar with the traditional KWL chart as a graphic organizer to guide student learning? Have you ever wondered how you can amplify learning by upgrading the chart with a few simple steps to include 21st century skills and literacies? The upgraded chart is based on the belief that

• REFLECTION is an integral part of the learning process
• through technology tools our access to INFORMATION has exponentially expanded
• our ability to take ACTION goes beyond affecting people we are able to reach face to face
• technology tools allow us to express and communicate in OTHER FORMS of media beyond words and text

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

In this course, you will learn about the KWHLAQ graphic organizer: What it is? You will discover its history and uses as well as tools, platforms and visible thinking routines that support each phase of the organizer. You will look at ideas to use the KWHLAQ chart for your own learning and in your own classroom.

WHAT YOU WILL GET:

• Visual: Updated KWLHAQ visuals(pdf)
• Template: KWHLAQ chart template (pdf) to use with students
• Template: KWHLAQ chart template in Google Docs to use with students
• Template: KWHLAQ chart template in PowerPoint (.pptx) to use with students
• Template: KWHLAQ chart template in Keynote (.keynote) to use with students

 

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