EdSurge Tech for Schools Summit - Here we come!

We're honored and excited to be one of 30 companies chosen to present at the EdSurge Tech for Schools Summit on this Saturday (Nov. 2) in Silicon Valley.

The event is designed to bring local educators and innovative ed tech entrepreneurs together, and provide opportunities for teachers to explore new products and to ask the tough questions of the entrepreneurs.

Jill Nyhus, Insight's VP of Business Development, and Nancy Goodman, Senior Project Director, plan to unveil and get feedback on Insight's new platform that provides meaningful feedback to classroom teachers through video-based observations, coaching and evaluations.

The event was announced after the overwhelming success of the first Tech for Schools Summit that was held in Rhode Island earlier in October.  The 30 companies that will participate at the Summit were subjected to a rigorous judging period, chosen by a panel of five independent judges from over 100 applicants.

The Tech for Schools Summit is a free, invite-only event open only to educators in Silicon Valley and Bay Area. EdSurge is co-hosting the event with NewSchools Venture Fund, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Aligning Teacher Evaluation and the Common Core State Standards - Voice from the Field

The Common Core State Standards and teacher evaluation initiatives have great potential to prepare students for success in college and career and to improve teaching.

But the challenge is that in most states and districts these initiatives are not aligned. What would it look like if they were aligned, and how would teachers and students benefit?

Check out the guest article by Insight's Dr. Michael Moody and Maureen Sigler on EdNET Insight's Voice from the Field and let us know what you think!

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Follow us on Twitter! @insighteducationgroup and @drmichaelmoody

Another lesson in implementing the CCSS: Remember this is new

Here's another lesson in our "Implementing the Common Core" series from Insight Education's Dr. Michael Moody and Syracuse Superintendent Sharon Contreras.

Lesson: Remember this is new.

Dr. Moody: Give teachers the time and support they need to internalize this change, work with others to refine their practice with the standards, and break the work up into manageable chunks at the district and school levels. 

Superintendent Contreras: It’s important for us to be innovative in how we provide time, resources and administrative support for teachers. Otherwise, we will continue to hear about constraints rather than the awesome possibilities of the CCSS.   

Go directly to the source: teachers and building leaders are engaged in this work every day and have the most important insights into refining teaching and increasing student learning.

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Check out more lessons in the SmartBlog on Education post [September 16, 2013] and in our previous blog posts.

Follow us on Twitter! 
@insighteducationgroup, @drmichaelmoody, @SyracuseSchools and @SContrerasSCSD

Implementing the Common Core: Support your teachers in multiple ways

Here's another lesson in our "Implementing the Common Core" series from Insight's Dr. Michael Moody and Syracuse Superintendent Sharon Contreras.

Lesson: Provide several ways to support teachers during implementation. 

Dr. Moody: Successful implementation requires a thoughtful rollout of the new standards, and supporting teachers is a process, not an event.  

In addition to traditional professional development that explains Common Core Standards and connects it to planning, instruction and assessment, consider providing on-going, game-changing supports like coaching and online learning.

Superintendent Contreras: Absolutely. In SCSD, we’re providing our teachers and school leaders with school-based coaching, professional development and a full array of supports throughout the entire school year. Our teachers and principals also have access to several online learning tools to support their rollout of the CCSS.

How are you supporting your teachers for the Common Core rollout in your district or school? Submit a comment below. 

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Check out more lessons in the SmartBlog on Education post from September 16, 2013.

Follow us on Twitter! 
@insighteducationgroup, @drmichaelmoody, @SyracuseSchools and @SContrerasSCSD