TCAPSLoop Podcast

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Today's show includes potential pulitzer prize winning novelist, Danelle Brostrom as well as her ghost writer in this alternate reality, Stephie Luyt. We will be discussing all things Libraries including three school library associated bills currently working their way through Michigan State Congress and how they'll effect our Certified Librarians. We focus on Information Literacy, Artificial Intelligence and of course, Bluey.

Moment of Zen: “The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one on a rainy day who doesn’t know how to read.” — Benjamin Franklin The Letter:

Dear Senate Education Committee Members,

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and questions about the “Library in Every School” bills that are sponsored by Senator Camilleri (SB741, SB742) and Senator Bayer (SB743).

At yesterday’s Senate Education Committee Meeting, members of the committee asked for data about school libraries. The Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL) has a wealth of data and we will share some of it below in several forms.

Please reach out if you have questions about this data or would like to meet to have any of your questions answered.

Thank you very much,

Kathy Lester

>MASL Advocacy Co-Chair, Immediate Past-President AASL, Adjunct Faculty Wayne State University

Alexa Lalejini

>MASL Advocacy Co-Chair, School Librarian, Rockford Public Schools

Stephie Luyt

>MASL Advocacy Co-Chair, School Librarian, Traverse City Area Public Schools

Carrie Betts,

>MASL President, School Librarian, Birmingham Public School District, AASL National School Library of the Year

Christine Beachler,

>MASL President-Elect, School Librarian, Lowell Public Schools

DATA ABOUT THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS

Correlation between reading scores and school librarians in Michigan

According to the latest data, Michigan 46th in the nation in the ratio of students to school librarians (ratio of 2788 students per school librarian from 2021-2022) and 43rd in 3rd grade NAEP reading scores.

Michigan Study About the Impact of School Librarians

In Michigan, a Library of Michigan research study showed that school library media programs have a statistically significant positive impact on reading achievement in grades 4, 7, and 11. Specifically, this study showed that schools with librarians have 35 percent more fourth graders who score proficient or above than school without librarians (see page ix of the study). The Michigan reading test scores rise with the extent to which the state’s school library programs are headed by qualified school librarians. The relationship between school libraries and test scores cannot be explained away by other school or community conditions at any school level.

The Impact of Michigan School Libraries on Academic Achievement: Kids Who Have Libraries Succeed

Other research and data about the positive impact of school librarians

The Michigan Association of School Librarians has put together a document that summarizes the different ways that school librarians have a positive impact on students and includes links to research for each item.

bit.ly/slibevid

A good article that summarizes much of the research

The article below is a great article that summarizes much of the research.

Lance, K.C. & Kachel, D.E. (2018). Why school librarians matter: What years of research tell us. Phi Delta Kappan, 99 (7), 15-20.

An infographic about the impact of school librarians on students with cited research studies: bit.ly/slheights

Tech Tool of the Week

Teaching Books is the new Sora extra!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Special Guest: Stephie Luyt

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. After several rather stress inducing weeks at TCAPSLoop towers we decided to keep this episode light by focusing on some great tech tools to get you through the stretch run of the school year. So let’s start the calming process by inhaling this weeks TCAPS Loop Moment of Zen:

Moment of Zen: “Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.” —Michael Caine The Rundown:

Canva for podcasting

1. 1. How To Create a Podcast in Canva
   2. Free and customizable podcast templates

Google Classroom Practice Sets

1. 1. 1. Practice sets - Google for Education
      2. Uses AI to help find and attach supplemental study material
      3. Uses AI to deliver insights about assignment/class

AI Test Kitchen from Google

Comic Sans Criminal

Additional Inspiration:

• Dr. Nagler Named COSN EmpowerED Superintendent of the Year
• Too much screen time? U-M pioneers digital wellness program for youths | University of Michigan News
• In the legislature now: The American Privacy Rights Act of 2024

Tech Tool of the Week

Bluey. Just watch it.

• Watch - Bluey Official Website
• NPR Bluey Podcast

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. This episode dives into the world of AI prompts with guest Pete Milne, REMC Director! We explore best practices for crafting effective prompts, ensuring responsible AI use, and leveraging Pete's expertise to elevate your ed-tech game. Buckle up and get ready to unlock the appropriate use of AI in your practice!

Moment of Zen: “The power to question is the basis of all human progress.” – Indira Gandhi The Rundown:

Crafting Powerful Prompts:Pete shares key tips for creating clear, concise, and effective prompts that guide AI tools towards your desired outcome.

Reliable Sources & Verification:Learn the importance of including reputable sources in your prompts and double-checking information for accuracy.

Responsible AI Use:We discuss crucial considerations like avoiding PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and verifying sources to ensure ethical and responsible AI integration.

Practice Makes Perfect:Pete emphasizes the importance of practice when crafting prompts. Explore scenarios like those offered by Common Sense Education (https://www.commonsense.org/education/collections/ai-literacy-lessons-for-grades-6-12)) to hone your skills.

AI as Your Partner: AI is best used as an assistant or thought partner, not a replacement for our expertise.

Tech Tool of the Week

REMC 2Central

• REMC Association of Michigan
• REMC SAVE
• Control Alt Achieve: Super Prompt - An AI Prompt to Create AI Prompts
• The Prepare Framework – AI Pioneers
• Doc for Getting Started with Prompts
• Enhancing Efficiency & Effectiveness While Providing Accommodations for All - April (asynchronous)
• Sketchnoting - April 17th (noon - 3:30)
• PSTL in a Box - May (asynchronous)

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Danelle's leveled up after her successful quest through MACUL 2024 and will guide us into the exciting realm of Developmentally Appropriate AI in Education. We know our youngest learners must develop the necessary critical thinking skills to navigate a landscape where AI will be ubiquitous. So, gear-up, fellow ed-tech explorers, as we embark on a journey through bytes, and building blocks.

Moment of Zen: There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic. - Anais Nin The Rundown:

Thoughts on Access vs. Exposure in regards to AI in schools

Generative AI has potential benefits for education and risks that must be thoughtfully managed.

Early Elementary - Bite sized digital citizenship, scaffolding to big ideas

• AI is not a human
• “Peek under the hood” to see how these things work
• Critical Thinking
  • AI hallucinations
  • AI created images
• Slow down and self reflect AND Seek facts and evidence (5 core dispositions of digital citizenship)
• Not directly on AI systems - under 13

Later Elementary

• Problem solvers, if we aren’t careful, they will learn to rely on this kind of tech rather than solving their own problems
• Ask ChatGPT questions, but the teacher is always in the drivers seat.
• Spend a LOT of time thinking critically about the answers
• Not directly on AI systems - under 13

Middle School

• CAUTION! “Over 13? Let’s get them on AI!” Developmentally what do we know about middle school brains? They lack impulse control. Set guardrails and limits.
• Exercises in which students ask a generative AI chatbot to answer a question or write an essay and then critique it—looking for factual errors, etc.
• “It should be used as a tool to complement and challenge the critical-thinking skills that come online at this age,”

High School

• High school students are fast becoming sophisticated users of programs like ChatGPT.
• Teachers may feel their main duty at this stage is to police students and make sure they’re not using ChatGPT, Photomath, and similar technologies to do their assignments. But experts say that educators have a more important role to play: primarily, to teach students the limitations of the technology. The text and images created by generative AI programs, for example, can be plagued with biases, stereotypes, and inaccuracies.
• “Exercise your natural suspicions. Doubt the machine. Don’t take answers at face value”
• AI is an important component of their education, but it still needs boundaries and guidance.
• AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6–12 | Common Sense Education

Tech Tool of the Week

AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6–12 | Common Sense Education

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy.

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful, From the Desk of the Director, episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Evan O’branovic is already back up for a second helping at the Edtech Buffett. In todays episode, we'll talk trends and tips to leverage technology for enhancing student engagement, streamlining administrative tasks, and fostering a collaborative learning environment while attempting to avoid rambling incoherently for 20 minutes.

Moment of Zen:

“We shape clay into a pot, but it’s the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want - Tao Te Ching

The Rundown:

• What's the difference between an Learning Management System (LMS) and a Classroom Management System (CMS)?
• What questions are you asking when looking at these solutions?
• What outcomes are you hoping for? How are you planning to measure success?
• What’s next?

• Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

  Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

  Hosts: Evan Obranovic, Larry Burden

  Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

  Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another "Potentially Useful" episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. We are excited to be joined by Amber Wade, Wayne RESA’s Assistive Technology Consultant to follow up on our NETP conversations concerning Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Accessibility and provide some potentially useful tips for educators attempting to implement UDL in their practice.

Moment of Zen: “Let’s stop ‘tolerating’ or ‘accepting’ difference, as if we’re so much better for not being different in the first place. Instead, let’s celebrate difference, because in this world it takes a lot of guts to be different.”― Kate Bornstein The Rundown:

Key Goals of the Podcast:

1. Increase understanding of UDL
2. Increase depth of understanding around accessibility
3. Offer practical tips for educators regarding UDL/Accessibility

Audience for the Podcast:

• K-12 educators

• Administrators

General Accessibility Questions:

1. For educators unfamiliar with accessibility, what's the simplest way to explain its importance in education?
2. What are some common accessibility barriers educators might be overlooking?
3. Are there free or low-cost resources educators can use to make their classrooms more accessible?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Questions:

1. Can you explain the core principles of UDL in a way that educators can easily understand?
2. How can UDL benefit all learners, not just those with disabilities?
3. What practical strategies can educators use to implement UDL in their classrooms?
4. How can UDL be used to promote a more inclusive and equitable learning environment?

Implementation and Challenge Questions:

1. What are some of the biggest challenges educators face when implementing UDL?
2. What advice would you give educators who are just starting to explore UDL?
3. Looking towards the future, what are your predictions for the role of accessibility and UDL in education?

Tech Tool of the Week

Alt+Shift: Every Learner Has Special Needs. Learners do not need to be “ready” to be included. Programs need to be ready to support all learners.

Digital Promise Edtech Pilot Framework: The Edtech Pilot Framework provides a step-by-step process to help education leaders and technology developers run successful educational technology (edtech) pilots.

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy.

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Special Guest: Amber Wade

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful, From the Desk of the Director, episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. It’s part 3 of our NETP series so strap in as we uncover the gap between those with tech access and those without, and explore how it shapes learning. We'll dive into impacts and share possible solutions to bridge this divide.

Moment of Zen: “We are greater than, and greater for, the sum of us.” – Heather McGhee The Rundown:

Follow along by downloading theNational EdTech Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design, and Use Divides

Some Key Points:

• Digital Infrastructure and Devices (inside and outside of school)
  • Availability
  • Affordability
  • Adoption (this is where we see edtech working with families on digcit)

• Note that this section also includes info on making sure your data is accurate about the haves and have-nots.

• Accessibility
  • Accessibility
  • Assistive Technology
  • Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)

• Digital Health, Safety, and Citizenship (Focus on both in school AND OUT)
  • Digital Health - mindful tech use, setting digital boundaries, healthy sleep routines
  • Digital Safety - Privacy, Cybersecurity, Cyberbullying, Online Harassment
  • Digital Citizenship - responsible online behavior, digital footprint, copyright, algorithmic literacy (love that phrase)
• Cultural Responsiveness and Educator Support and Training are also a part of this!

All while keeping in mind a lens of equity and potential unintended consequences.

NETP Recommendations for Closing the Access Divide

1. 1. Develop a “Portrait of a Learning Environment” to set expectations around habits and abilities no matter what the space. (States, District)
   2. Establish and maintain a cabinet-level edtech director to ensure the wise and effective spending of edtech funds. (States, Districts)
   3. Conduct regular needs assessments to ensure technology properly supports learning. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
   4. Develop model processes and guidelines for device refresh policies based on local funding structures. (States, Districts)
   5. Leverage state purchasing power or regional buying consortia when purchasing edtech hardware, software, and services. (States, Districts)
   6. Develop learning technology plans in consultation with a broad group of stakeholders and according to established review cycles. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
   7. Leverage public/private partnerships and community collaboration to bring broadband internet access to previously under-connected areas and ensure student access to “everywhere, all-the-time learning.” (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
   8. Develop processes and structures that ensure the inclusion of accessibility as a component of procurement processes. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
   9. Plan for and incorporate skills and expectations across all grade levels and subject areas for Digital Health, Safety, and Citizenship, and Media Literacy. (States, Districts, BuildingLevel Administrators)

Tech Tool of the Week

Professional Learning on the go. You likely know this if you are a listener of ours… podcasts are a great place to get digestible chunks of professional development.

One of my recent favorites is:

AEM Center: The Accessible Learning Experience Podcast

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy.

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden, Evan Obranovic

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Today, we embark on an ambitious mission to bridge the Digital Design Divide. Part 2 of our NETP series aims to dismantle barriers and explore the implications and envisioning a future where every educator, regardless of circumstance, has equitable access to the tools and resources they need to embody this weeks TCAPS Loop Moment of Zen:

Moment of Zen: The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious. - Marcus Aurelius The Rundown:

Follow along by downloading theNational EdTech Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design, and Use Divides

Some Key Points:

• What is the Digital Design Divide and why is Danelle the solution?
• Importance of the Profile of an Educator as well as connecting it to the Portrait of a Graduate
• Incorporate the Design Process: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Deliver, and Test

NETP Recommendations for Closing the Design Divide

1. Develop a “Portrait of an Educator” outlining the cognitive, personal, and interpersonal competencies educators should have to design learning experiences that help students develop the skills and attributes outlined in the profile of a graduate. (States, Districts)
2. Design and sustain systems that support ongoing learning for new and veteran teachers and administrators, providing them with the time and space needed to design learning opportunities aligned with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
3. Implement feedback mechanisms that empower educators to become leaders and codesigners of professional learning experiences. (Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
4. Provide educators and administrators with professional learning that supports the development of digital literacy skills so that they can model these skills for students and the broader school community. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
5. Develop processes for evaluating the potential effectiveness of digital tools before purchase, including the use of research and evidence. (State, District, Building-Level Administrators)
6. Foster an inclusive technology ecosystem that solicits input from diverse stakeholders to collaborate on decision-making for technology purchases, learning space design, and curriculum planning. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
7. Support and facilitate a systemic culture that builds trust and empowers educators to enhance and grow their professional practice to meet the needs of each student. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators)
8. Regularly solicit educator feedback and evaluate professional learning efforts to ensure alignment with the Portrait of an Educator. (District, Building-Level Administrators)

Tech Tool of the Week

Professional Learning on the go. You likely know this if you are a listener of ours… podcasts are a great place to get digestible chunks of professional development.

One of my recent favorites is:

AEM Center: The Accessible Learning Experience Podcast

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy.

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Let us now embark on a journey through the intricate web of education, technology, and equity. Today, we're diving deep into the 2024 National Education Technology Plan. Join us as we navigate through the waves of innovation, unpacking the strategies aimed at bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to educational resources for all learners. We'll unravel the threads of this ambitious plan, shedding light on its impact and implications for our classrooms.

Moment of Zen: Organization is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it's not all mixed up. - A.A. Milne The Rundown:

Follow along by downloading theNational EdTech Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design, and Use Divides

1. What is the National EdTech Plan? How did it come to be?
2. Building on the concept of the Instructional core, this plan considers the barriers to equitable support of learning through edtech as three divides:
   1. Digital Use Divide
   2. Digital Design Divide
   3. Digital Access Divide

As a path to closing these divides, the NETP also provides actionable recommendations to advance the effective use of technology to support teaching and learning.

Many schools in the United States have greater connectivity and access to devices and digital learning resources than ever before due to the need for emergency remote learning brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this continued bridging of the access divide will only add to the failure of edtech to deliver on its promises if systems do not consider its use in conjunction with all components of the instructional core. This NETP attempts to chart a path for all schools, educators, and students to realize the potential of technology in supporting better “everywhere, all-the-time” learning.

Tech Tool of the Week

CAST - great source for learning more about UDL

https://www.cast.org/

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy.

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast, your guide to navigating the 5 pillars of Information Literacy! We'll discuss some tools for decoding fake news and sleuthing through biased sources, we're here to Spark the surfing skills needed to separate fact from fiction.

Moment of Zen: A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. ― Cordell Hull The Rundown:

Things we need to infuse in our schools:

Digital Literacy - Digital literacy aims to teach students how to use information and communications technologies effectively, responsibly, and ethically. It’s how we interact and live in a digital world

News Literacy - News literacy is focused on helping students understand the role that credible information and a free press play in their lives and in a robust democracy, and seeks to help them determine the credibility of news and other information.

Media Literacy - Media literacy generally refers to a broad discipline that seeks to teach students how to access, analyze, evaluate, create and take action using all forms of communication (including entertainment media). (Join the movement — News Literacy Project)

AI Literacy - AI Literacy, Explained.pdf

Information Literacy - Information literacy is aligned with library sciences and seeks to help students find, evaluate, and use information effectively. It’s all of the above!

It’s important to teach kids HOW to think, not what to think. It all comes down to thinking critically about what you’re consuming.

How can we do this in the classroom?

Here are some great resources discussed in the pod:

Common Sense Media

News Literacy Project

aiEDU

This month we are “Giving some love to #InfoLit”. Check out these Daily Sparks for your classrooms. We hope it sparks this style of learning.

Introduction Document: TCAPS Daily Sparks - February 2024 - Giving some Love to #InfoLit

Daily Sparks: Daily Sparks February 2024 - for Information Literacy

Tech Tool of the Week

https://www.youtube.com/@MediaWise

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy.

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.