Ed Tech Blog
Public speaking is an essential skill for students that extends far beyond the classroom. The ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and persuasively affects academic success, professional opportunities, and personal growth. However, many students struggle with presenting their ideas in front of an audience due to nervousness, lack of preparation, or limited exposure to effective techniques. These challenges can lead to avoidance of speaking opportunities and a lack of confidence that carries over into other areas of life. Schools have a unique opportunity to address this gap by incorporating strategies from theater arts into public speaking instruction, helping students not only express their ideas but also develop self-assurance and stage presence.
Learning From Theater Professionals
Theater arts offer practical tools for enhancing communication and performance skills. Actors spend years training in voice modulation, body language, pacing, and audience engagement. When students work with theater professionals, they gain access to strategies that are designed to capture and hold attention, project confidence, and articulate ideas effectively. Workshops led by actors provide interactive experiences that differ significantly from traditional public speaking instruction, making the learning process dynamic, engaging, and memorable. These experiences can transform students’ approach to presenting information by combining creativity with structured guidance.
One of the primary benefits of using theater tools in public speaking is the emphasis on confidence building. Actors are trained to overcome stage fright and perform under pressure, and they can share these techniques with students. For example, breathing exercises help calm nerves and improve vocal control, while posture and gestures are used to convey authority and engagement. Students also practice projecting their voice to ensure that their message reaches the entire audience. These practical techniques create an immediate impact, allowing students to feel more in control and less anxious when speaking in front of peers or larger...
Read more: Theater Tools That Transform Public Speaking Skills for Students
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, educational technology plays a central role in how schools deliver high-quality learning experiences. From online platforms and classroom tools to data management systems, edtech solutions are designed to support student growth and streamline instruction. However, the effectiveness of these tools often depends not just on the technology itself, but on the procurement agreements that schools establish with vendors. Strong agreements create clarity, accountability, and shared responsibility between the school and the provider, ensuring that investments translate into tangible outcomes for students.
Moving Toward Outcomes-Based Contracts
Traditional procurement contracts in education have focused on delivering products or services without sufficiently emphasizing the results those products are meant to achieve. This has often left schools paying for tools that are underutilized or misaligned with learning goals. By contrast, outcomes-based agreements shift the emphasis to measurable improvements in student learning, teacher efficiency, or institutional effectiveness. When schools and vendors collaborate to set clear, achievable outcomes, they establish a framework for shared accountability. For example, instead of simply agreeing to purchase a digital math program, a school might require evidence that students using the tool demonstrate measurable growth in math proficiency over a defined period.
The foundation of...
Read more: Maximizing Value in Edtech: How Outcomes-Based Contracts Strengthen Procurement
Motivation has long been recognized as a critical driver of student success, yet it is often misunderstood in the context of K–12 education. Many educators assume that strong motivation stems from grades alone, with the belief that high marks inspire students to work harder. However, new research suggests that this is not the case. Instead, motivation grows when students perceive a sense of alignment between their effort and the feedback they receive. When grades and assessments reflect what students expected based on their learning experiences, they are more likely to feel engaged, capable, and willing to continue putting in effort. This shift in understanding invites teachers to reconsider how they provide evidence of learning and support their students in building intrinsic motivation.
The Role of Expectations in Shaping Motivation
At the heart of student motivation is the interplay between effort, expectations, and outcomes. Students naturally develop predictions about how well they will perform on tasks or assessments based on their preparation and prior experiences. When the results they receive align with these expectations, a powerful confirmation occurs. Students feel validated and confident that their work leads to progress. On the other hand, when there is a mismatch—for example, when students...
Read more: Unlocking Motivation: How Evidence of Learning Inspires Students
Schools across the country are increasingly reliant on digital platforms to manage student data, deliver instruction, and support day-to-day operations. From online grade books and learning management systems to district-wide administrative software, technology has become essential to every aspect of K–12 education. With this dependence comes a significant challenge: the rising number of cyber threats aimed at educational institutions. Districts, especially those with limited budgets, often find themselves struggling to keep pace with attackers who are becoming more sophisticated. Cyberattacks such as ransomware, phishing, and data breaches are no longer rare events but pressing realities for schools.
When sensitive student information is compromised or systems are shut down by malicious actors, the consequences can be severe. Classes are disrupted, parents lose trust in the district’s ability to protect data, and administrators must divert scarce resources toward recovery. This reality has made cybersecurity a top concern for school leaders who are tasked with both educating students and safeguarding their digital environment.
Introducing SOC as a Service
A security operations center, or SOC, is the hub of an organization’s cybersecurity defense. It is responsible for monitoring networks, identifying unusual activity, and responding to incidents in real time. Traditionally, building and staffing a...
Read more: Safeguarding Schools: The Role of SOC as a Service in K–12 Security
In classrooms across the world, teachers are working hard to deliver engaging lessons, meet curriculum standards, and prepare students for the future. But sometimes, the most effective way to foster deep learning is not through additional instruction from the teacher—it is by creating opportunities for students to step into leadership roles. When students are empowered to share their voices, make choices, and take responsibility for aspects of their own learning, they develop confidence, critical thinking, and a sense of ownership that extends far beyond school walls.
Allowing students to lead does not mean the teacher’s role diminishes. In fact, it often strengthens the teacher’s impact, because leadership and voice create a partnership between students and educators. This partnership can transform the classroom from a space of passive absorption into a vibrant community where learners collaborate, innovate, and grow.
Why Student Voice Matters
At the heart of student leadership is the idea of student voice—the recognition that students’ perspectives, opinions, and ideas matter. For decades, education has often centered on teacher-led instruction where the goal was for students to absorb information. However, today’s world requires more than memorization. Employers, colleges, and communities increasingly value individuals who can communicate effectively, think independently,
Read more: From Passive Learners to Active Leaders: Centering Student Voice in K–12 Classrooms
Teaching has always been a demanding profession, but in recent years the expectations placed on educators have grown heavier. Teachers are expected to differentiate instruction, integrate technology, address social and emotional needs, meet standards, communicate with families, and keep pace with professional learning. In the midst of all this, one thing often gets squeezed out of their schedule: time. Time to plan lessons thoughtfully, time to collaborate with colleagues, and time simply to pause and recharge. Without that breathing room, teachers may feel constantly rushed and stretched thin, which in turn affects the quality of their instruction and their overall well-being.
This is where school leaders can make a transformative difference. By being intentional about scheduling and creative in organizing the school day, principals and administrators can carve out meaningful time for teachers. Doing so is not just an act of kindness. It is a practical and strategic choice that helps teachers teach better, remain energized, and stay in the profession for the long run. Several principals who are committed to this idea have shared strategies they use to support their teachers. Their approaches reveal that giving educators more planning and break time is both possible and highly beneficial.
Why...
Read more: Making Time for What Matters: How School Leaders Can Support Teacher Planning and Breaks