5 Benefits of Competency Based Education

Traditionally, schools, and the students in them, work in a fairly homogeneous way. Students in a classroom are taught, practiced, reviewed, and assessed on a given skill for the same amount of time, with the same kind of work. However, as educators, we know that students are anything but homogeneous. They are diverse in many ways, including the pace at which they learn.

Enter competency based education, which aims to recognize and accommodate this diversity in learners. Instead of the conventional model of all students working on the same skill for the same amount of time throughout a lesson or unit, competency based education allows students to progress to new skills as soon as they have demonstrated mastery of the skill at hand.

In the same vein, students take as much time as they need to learn, practice, and review a skill until they have shown complete competency with it, without moving on to new ones that they might not be ready to learn. To demonstrate mastery, competency based education asks students to show their understanding of skill through authentic assessment.

Authentic assessments typically require higher order thinking skills, and allow for more creativity and critical thinking, than a standard paper-and-pencil assessment. These types of tasks also show that students can apply the skill(s) they have learned in a “real world” context, such as with a student-led project based learning.

As with anything new and different, embedding a competency based approach into your teaching practice can be overwhelming, challenging, and time-consuming, so it is important to understand the “why” behind it.

Here are five reasons to consider incorporating competency based learning in your schools or classroom.

1. Students learn for mastery

The first benefit of competency based education may seem like a simple one: students demonstrate complete competency, or mastery, of the skill they are working on before moving on to the next one. This is, in theory, quite straightforward, but the effects of this benefit are significant.

When students master a skill, they often have a long-lasting understanding of it and are able to apply the skill in multiple contexts, situations, and other problems. On the flip side, when students don’t learn for mastery, they might be able to perform a skill in isolation (during a lesson or assignment that targets that skill) but are unable to apply it “in the real world,” or even to other problems that they encounter in class.

For many students, this can snowball, leading to “skill gaps.” Skill gaps cause students to have difficulty learning new material that requires an understanding of previous material, which they might not have in a non-competency based education setting. In traditional teaching, educators spend a set amount of time teaching, practicing, and reviewing a specific skill, and regardless of whether or not students show mastery of the skill in summative and/or formative assessment, the whole class moves on to the next one based on the timing of their curriculum.

With competency based learning experience, students continue to work on the skill until they demonstrate mastery over it through an authentic assessment, proving that they have a deep understanding of it and are able to perform the skill in a “real world” context.

2. Time and resources spent on learning and learning outcomes are more effective and efficient

As pointed out above, when teachers follow a traditional teaching “schedule,” there are often students who are unable to access the material because they lack an understanding of previous skills. On the other hand, some students may understand new concepts quickly and not need as much time as is given on a specific skill. Whether one or both of these ends of the spectrum are happening in the classroom, there is a waste of time and resources for both students and teachers.

For students, the waste is mainly their time, as the real need is for time spent learning different skills that will either enable them to progress to more skills, or that are “beyond” the skill at hand.

For teachers, the waste is of time and resources, as it takes both to plan, prepare, and deliver instruction.

Wasted time and resources can lead to complacency, frustration, and ultimately burnout for both teachers and students.

With competency based education, teachers are tailoring their instruction to respond to exactly where students are at in their learning. While this may actually require more time and resources, especially initially, the benefit is that the time and resources teachers spend on curriculum planning, prepping, and delivering will be much more effective for students’ individual learning.

Similarly, once teachers have systems in place to support many different needs, such as using naturally differentiated curriculums and learning platforms, their planning, preparation, and instructional time will be not only efficient and effective for their students, but also more efficient for them.

Plus, the effectiveness of their students truly getting what they need for their learning to ultimately progress is rewarding for teachers. In an extremely demanding profession, making time and resources spent on teaching and learning efficient and effective for both teachers and students is vital.

3. There is a more equitable learning environment

In this day and age, most of us are aware that there is a difference between equality and equity, and one huge plus of competency based education is that it allows all learners to get what they need on an individual basis. With the traditional way of teaching, students are taught equally, meaning everyone gets the same thing at the same pace, regardless of whether they “get it” or not. This clearly leads to some children being unable to access material due to needing more practice with previous skills, while some might feel bored or frustrated by not being able to move on to learning new skills once they have a solid understanding of the one being taught.

Naturally, when students get what they need as learners, the environment is a more equitable, and hopefully more harmonious one, instead of just getting what everybody gets.

With competency based learning, this can look like students working on different skills with different materials in the same classroom at the same time. A more equitable learning environment is an important benefit of competency based education, and one that could potentially support closing the opportunity gap that exists in the education system, which both contributes to and is influenced by inequities in the larger society.

When students receive equitable instruction that is tailored to their pacing as a learner, they are able to master and build upon skills, rather than having a shallow understanding of skills that they are unable to apply independently, or feeling bored, frustrated, and potentially acting out due to being “beyond” the skill at hand. When students have an equitable learning environment, everyone can thrive.

4. There is more room for authentic learning and assessment

We all know that assessing student learning is an extremely important part of teaching. Without both summative and formative assessments, teachers do not fully know their students’ understanding of the skills being taught. With competency based education, teachers facilitate authentic tasks and authentic assessments for students rather than conventional “seat work” or paper-and-pencil tests.

When students show their understanding of a skill in an authentic way rather than with a traditional test, it can demonstrate a deeper understanding of a concept, and will almost certainly result in longer-lasting learning.

For an example of authentic assessment, think about a student that has been reading a novel and focusing on understanding the themes of the novel. Their summative assessment work might look like notetaking about themes with examples from the text.

For a formative assessment, rather than a multiple-choice test on which themes showed up in the novel with examples of them, or even writing a paragraph about a theme from the book with examples to show that theme, they could write an epilogue extending one of the main themes of the novel. This is an authentic assessment because it mimics something that one might do in the “real world”-- write books!

As educators, we could assess an authentic assessment such as this one with a rubric that the student follows as they create their writing. Rubrics usually assess students on a number scale– 1 would be a low score for each rubric category, and 4 would be a high score for each category, for example. This shift to authentic assessment allows students to display more creativity and critical thinking than traditional assessments do, which are both important 21st century skills. They can also give students more feeling of ownership over their work, especially if there is a choice in the summative and/or formative assessments involved. Authentic tasks and authentic assessments are also almost always more engaging for the student and more interesting for the teacher to assess, too!

5. Students have autonomy over their learning

In a traditional classroom, learning is typically teacher-led. Teachers, or administration, decide on the curriculum, the pace at which it is taught, and the way in which students demonstrate their understanding. An important benefit of competency based learning is that it is much more student-centred, and allows students to take leadership over their own learning. When students have transparency about what they have and haven’t mastered yet in a competency based education classroom, they can become advocates for themselves and what they need to work on.

Self-advocacy is an important skill, and competency based education is an organic way to teach students about themselves and what they need to thrive as learners. Understanding themselves as a learner– their strengths, as well as their challenges– is beneficial for all children, regardless of age or grade level. Furthermore, when students have more autonomy over what they are learning and how much time they spend on learning it, as well as choice in how they show their understanding of it, they will most always care more about what they are learning, reviewing, and practicing than when it is solely teacher-directed. This usually leads to students being more focused, determined, and productive, which can allow them to show mastery and progress to new skills more quickly than with traditional curriculum pacing.

A more autonomous classroom can also encourage student independence and resilience, as children may be working on skills without as much teacher or peer support. With its differentiation and natural tendency towards authentic assessment, equity-based approach, and ability to foster student agency, competency based education is a natural way to instill innate perseverance and love for learning in students as drivers of their own education.

TikTok has pretty much taken over the world at this point. While your students have been stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve likely spent a great deal of time scrolling on their FYP (for you page), learning the newest dances, discovering trends and even creating content of their own.

Pre-pandemic, it’s possible that teachers saw mobile devices as a distraction, taking students away from classroom content and discussions. However, rather than discouraging what could be a creative outlet, what if we switched up the narrative and met students where they are? Right now, that’s on TikTok.

Some teachers have already hopped onto the trend. It’s worth a shot.

Last summer we spoke with Ty Cook and Brooke Rogers about how teachers are fostering a community and feeding into student trends to create connections through TikTok.

Since then, the trend has only grown, bringing all sorts of ideas and perspectives to light.

Here is how teachers are transforming the ever-popular mobile video platform, TikTok, from a nuisance to the ultimate learning tool.

Using TikTok for creative lessons

Think of it as a classroom extension. Only this time, rather than a few extra desks and chairs, you’ve got the whole world in your hands.

Using TikTok, many teachers have begun creating condensed versions of their classroom lessons. Whether they are teaching science, English, math or even physical education, this gives students the ability to refer back to lessons they may have missed in class or if they require a refresher.

@mrs.b.tvHow does that even fit in you!? 👀 ##learnontiktok ##tiktokpartner ##humanbody ##sciencefacts♬ original sound - Mrs. Nancy Bullard

The platform initially only allowed up to 60 seconds for each video created, forcing teachers to stick to the main ideas to get their point across. Now, TikTok has implemented a 3-minute video feature for creatives. Thus, allowing teachers to pack in even more content within their digital micro-lessons.

There are tons of ways you can go about this. Some teachers choose to recreate condensed versions of their lessons for students to refer back to. Others use the platform as an extension to the day’s lesson, encouraging students to engage in learning outside of school.

It's even possible to create a TikTok to remind students of important dates, upcoming deadlines, or to share tips concerning productivity or course content.

Whatever format you decide to create your lessons in, your students are more likely to engage with your content given that it’s being provided in one of their favorite forms of mobile entertainment.

Just wait and see the kind of classroom engagement you can encourage.

Using TikTok to increase student engagement

There’s nothing teachers love more than an engaged classroom. Luckily, TikTok is incredibly interactive, offering countless ways to grab students' attention and get them excited about classroom content.

There are multiple ways you can go about this via TikTok.

First, through the comment section. Easily encourage students to comment on any questions they have on your videos. Through the respond to comment feature, you can then create a video response to their question or concern and share it directly with your following.

@iamthatenglishteacherReply to @mandamag253 #English #ESL #spelling #vocaulary #teachersofTikTok #englishasasecondlanguage #Lost #middleschoolteacher #Loss #Lose♬ original sound - MsJames

In doing this, each student benefits from the information being provided and you're providing personalized responses to meet your learners' needs.

As we know, some students may not feel as comfortable raising their hand in class as other students, and that’s okay! This feature provides students who may feel more comfortable typing their questions a way to engage in classroom discussions. Who knows, after doing so, they may even foster the courage to begin speaking up in a classroom setting.

Another way to encourage student engagement is through the duet function. On TikTok, users are able to make video responses with the videos you post. For example, say you create a TikTok with some practice math or French questions, finishing off by asking students to “duet me to answer these questions" or "duet me to practice your French". Your students can then create videos following along with your video and showing their work. If they aren't comfortable posting on the app, they can save it to their device and send it to you directly or show it to you in class the next day.

Using TikTok as a creative assignment

It’s no secret that TikTok fosters creativity amongst today’s youth - and they are excited about it.

Why not hone in on this excitement and allow students to blend their love of TikTok with their classroom assignments? For example, perhaps you're teaching literacy and you're having students write a summary of a week’s chapter in the novel they're reading in order to highlight the main points. Some students are excellent writers, but others prefer oral communication. As a means of differentiating, you could offer TikTok as a potential format for the assignment. In this form, students who may excel in oral communication, or those who are excited about multimedia, can create their summary via the app. It encourages students to flex their creative skills while being concise and to the point.

This idea will work for practically any classroom subject. Why not have your students take the role of teacher and create a short-form lesson? Or perhaps have them take inspiration from current trends and songs and adapt them to their classroom learning? You’ll be enlightened by what your students can come up with when they can blend education with applications they are excited about.

Combatting potential issues on TikTok

With any form of digital communication, such as TikTok, users run the risk of various issues. Before deciding to use the platform for all of the great features it has to offer, it is important to take note of these issues to decide if using the platform is a good fit for your classroom.

Harmful behavior and cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a persistent issue on social media that we’ve been seeing for years. Being that TikTok is an open forum, we need to ensure we are doing everything in our power to prevent these harmful behaviors.

Luckily, Tiktok has implemented features to prevent cyberbullying like the ability to filter your comment section and hide any comments that include harmful language or behaviors and a notification that urges commenters to reconsider what they are posting if they attempt to post anything that isn't appropriate.

While these are great steps forward, it remains important to have a conversation with your students about the weight and significance that language can hold and the consequences that come with misbehavior. We want to ensure that using TikTok in the classroom only encourages students to engage, and doesn't steer them away.

Ensuring student safety on TikTok

User Privacy

User privacy is important to consider. Every student and every parent has personal comfort levels that need to be taken into consideration when using any form of social media, like TikTok.

Before deciding to use TikTok in your classroom in any capacity, you must have a conversation with your school administration to discuss any rules your institution may have and to get their permission to use the application.

It’s also a great idea to give notice to your student’s caregivers, asking them to get permission from their parent or guardian to ensure that consent is provided in all capacities.

TikTok has also addressed user privacy with a variety of features outlined below.

Private accounts and friend lists

On TikTok, you can make your account private. In this way, any account that attempts to follow you or your students on TikTok must put in a request and be accepted by the account owner. This is highly recommended.

In doing this,  you can ensure that only your students can interact and view each other's content.

By making your account private, it does mean you're unable to create TikTok content catered towards a wider audience. If that is your overarching goal, we recommend you read #teachersoftiktok: How to effectively use TikTok in your classroom.

Comment restrictions

In TikTok, you are able to tighten restrictions on comments for youth users. Accounts are able to restrict comments to just friends, or even prevent all any comments from being added.

Duet and stitch settings

This same feature goes for dueting and stitching videos. You can change your settings so that only older students, above the age of 16, can duet and stitch videos. Alternatively, you can restrict duet and stitch to just friends - keeping it within your classroom.

Not posting, just saving

If students are not comfortable posting at all, that’s perfectly okay. Any TikTok viewed or created within TikTok is available for download, even before posting.

If a student plans to make a TikTok, they can download the video after editing and save it to their device without posting. From there, students can share it with you in person, by email, or by uploading it to your online class environment, such as a digital portfolio.

For students who are not comfortable downloading the application at all, that’s no problem. You can download each one of your TikTok lessons and then share them directly with your classroom by providing links or video files.

TikTok as an edtech tool: Yay or nay?

In implementing any new edtech tool, there are different points to consider.

While many teachers across the world are using TikTok as a way to engage with other educators and turn what could be a distraction into a powerful learning tool, you may have a different opinion, and that’s okay.

So teachers, what are your thoughts?

Are you eager to meet students where they are and turn TikTok into a classroom engagement super-app, or is it still not for you?

In whatever capacity you decide to use it, remember to have fun, be creative and stay safe.

It’s time we meet students where they are and use their interests and excitement to the classroom’s advantage.

What 21st-Century Life Skills should Students have Before Leaving High School?

During the second season of the Competentencies without a Classroom podcast, SpacesEDU interviewed 21 leading educators, teachers and education consultants on what life skills they wished they had been taught, or taught more of, before leaving high school. The answers we received were pretty interesting!

When asked about what 21st-century life skills they would ensure students in high schools today would be taught before leaving school, here were some of the answers.

• Financial Literacy
• Empathy or Social-Emotional Learning
• Time Management
• Mindfulness and Self-Awareness
• Self-Advocacy
• Losing Gracefully
• Collaboration and Team Work
• Self-Assessment and Reflection
• Cooking
• Digital Citizenship

Financial Literacy as a 21st-Century Skill for Students

How do I do my taxes? What about a 401K or Roth IRA account? How do I invest? What do I need to know to save up for or buy a home? How does cryptocurrency work? What are stocks? Bonds? Options?

Students leaving high school do not often have the answers to these questions. However, among the 21 educators who we interviewed for the podcast, a significant number of them suggested that financial literacy is required to succeed in the 21st-century.

It's been theorized that students' interest in learning about money is limited because they themselves do not have or are not earning significant amounts of money on their own. However many students often express frustration or bewilderment after graduation when they are then tasked with learning about taxes or savings after high school.

Time Management as a 21st-Century Skill for Students

Oftentimes, a student's time management skills are dictated by the schedules of their classes, parents and extracurricular activities. Some students may find that their time management skills might not be where they need to be once they hit college or start their careers after school. The newfound freedom associated with college life or their first full-time job may have young people now tasked with managing a lot more responsibility, and more choice in their schedules. Learning to prioritize responsibilities, break down significant tasks into smaller tasks and managing competing interests will help to prevent burnout and ensure the most important duties are taken care of.

Collaboration and Teamwork as a 21st-Century Skill for Students

Upon graduating from high school and entering college or the workplace, students will find out very quickly that their ability to collaborate with others in order to complete major projects and achieve significant goals is critical.

Collaboration and teamwork is a skill set that requires students to learn how to work with personalities that may be very dissimilar to their own. Coworkers' personalities may not synchronize perfectly with their own. The ability to learn to maximize a team's strengths, learn to be a team player and also be a team leader are critical for success in the 21st-century, and so many educators agree that teamwork and collaboration is a critical 21st-century life skill for students to learn.

 

Self-Assessment and Reflection as a 21st-Century Skill for Students

Another reoccurring theme among the 21 educators that we interviewed was self-reflection and self-assessment. Student portfolios are oftentimes a tool that students and teachers alike will utilize in the classroom in order to document their self-reflection, their work and their learning. Self-reflection allows students to record the process, progress and product or results of everything they've learned.

Ultimately, self-reflection allows for students to showcase the thought-processes behind their problem solving or classwork, enables reflection of the student's emotional processes and helps students to reflect on what they would do differently so that they can improve upon their work and skill set the next time they tackle a similar challenge.

 

What 21st-century life skill do you think is most important to learn for high school students?

Do you agree with the answers of the teachers we interviewed? What 21st-century life skill do you think is most important for students to learn today as they leave high school? Why?

And how would you change the curriculum to teach these life skills?

Tweet at @Spaces_edu and share your thoughts!

This is a guest post by Sara Segar, founder of Experiential Learning Depot and a former high school biology teacher at a project-based middle and high school in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Project-Based Vs. Problem-Based Learning

This post is about how I personally view and utilize project-based learning (PBL) and problem-based learning (PrBL).

My approach is based on my training. There are slight variations in how educators perceive the two, but there is agreement across the board when it comes to a few main features.

What do Project-based Learning and Problem-Based Learning Have in Common?

There is often confusion between project-based learning (PBL) and problem-based learning (PrBL). When I was asked to write this post, my first thought was that I am not entirely certain of the distinction myself. Both PBL and PrBL have been central to my curriculum. I have treated them as discrete learning experiences, but there is quite a bit of overlap between the two.

PBL and PrBL both begin with and are framed around real-world problems. Both are also cross-disciplinary, incorporating a variety of concepts from across the board into one learning experience. PBL and PrBL are also both powerful tools for developing essential skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and information literacy, among others.

The process of exploring the problem and solutions is where the two strategies diverge.

My students have learned about ecological principles in my biology and environmental science classes by studying wolf conservation in Minnesota, through both PBL and PrBL.

Selecting this topic to study was very deliberate, as this problem directly impacts my students who are Minnesota residents. I’m going to use this example to highlight the differences between PBL and PrBL.

Problem-Based Learning

Problem-based learning involves picking apart and finding solutions to real-world problems. Students research the issue, investigate differing perspectives and experiences around the issue, explore solutions from a variety of angles, and put together a comprehensive plan to solve the problem.

My environmental science students explored the problem of at-risk wolf numbers in Minnesota through problem-based learning (PrBL). The wolf population size in Minnesota has been dangerously low at times.

Looking at this problem through a problem-based learning approach would require students to first look at the source of the problem (wolves have a reputation of being dangerous, they prey on livestock, loss of critical habitat, genetic depletion, etc.)

The source of the problem is multi-dimensional, as are most real-world problems. Herein lies the foundation of PrBL.

Once my students had a portfolio of information about the problem at hand, they explored solutions.

They looked at a variety of options:

• Changing or creating policies to protect both wolves and farmers
• Forming a mutually beneficial partnership between farmers and conservationists
• Changing public perception about wolves
• Community education and partnerships
• Funding ongoing wolf research to understand their habits, territories, food availability disease, the impact of warming on behaviors
• Promoting technology that directly prevents livestock depredation by wolves
• And so much more!

The purpose is to get students critically thinking, seeing a problem from many lenses, and gaining content knowledge across a wide spectrum of disciplines.

In the case of the wolves, many concepts were included such as conservation, politics, economics, ecology, math, geography and so much more.

The end product is a comprehensive plan to solve a complex and multifaceted problem.

The plan is theoretical, meaning I do not expect my students to share their plans or act on their plans.

This is one of the main differences between project-based learning and problem-based learning.

Project-Based Learning

In my opinion, project-based learning (PBL) is a form of problem-based learning, with a few distinct features that set it apart from other types of PrBL experiences.

PBL starts with a real-world problem, as does PrBL, but the process and outcomes differ slightly.

Authenticity is more pronounced in project-based learning. PBL emphasizes solving real-world problems by being a part of the solution.

Rather than study a problem, find solutions, and move on, project-based learning encourages:

• Collaboration with community members
• Final products that impact or solve the problem for a specific audience
• Sharing that final product with a relevant audience

Let’s go back to the wolves as an example where my biology students participated in a group project-based learning experience about wolf conservation.

We connected with the Wildlife Science Center (WSC) in Minnesota to partner with them on several aspects of wolf conservation.

This provided so many wonderful opportunities - from working with a Ph.D. student from the U of M who was testing sound and light alarm systems to deter wolves from preying on livestock to participating in an IVF study taking place at the center, which had huge implications for captive breeding and release programs.

My students were even able to observe, in-person, an ultrasound conducted on a female wolf!

Some students demonstrated learning by creating an awareness campaign to change the negative and fearful reputation of wolves. Others created and tested their own sound and light technology using the wolf residents at the WSC as their subjects.

This is project-based learning at it’s finest. Students look at a problem and explore solutions, but rather than stop there, as I would with the type of problem-based learning approach that I’ve already discussed, project-based learning gets students directly involved and actively working toward solutions.

The Breakdown

So let’s break this down.

Problem-based learning looks at a real-world problem and students explore solutions through an inquiry-based approach.

Project-based learning does the same but adds an element of direct involvement on the part of the students.

Project-based learning is a form of problem-based learning that may take more time, but adds significant skill-building opportunities that other types of problem-based learning may not, such as building a professional network, communication, and collaboration.

I often have my students start a project-based learning experience with the problem-based approach I mentioned earlier. They deeply explore the issue from every angle and brainstorm solutions. They then move onto the project-based learning piece of the experience where they focus on one specific aspect of the problem and a solution or two, and get even deeper into the issue by incorporating authentic learning experiences, community collaborators, innovative final products, and authentic presentations.

Together, these two styles of learning are quite powerful. Both are transformational in their own way, inciting creativity, curiosity, empathy, critical thinking, and so much more.

 

How to Use Digital Portfolios to Support PrBL and PBL

When implementing a problem-based or project-based learning approach, digital portfolios are a natural fit.

Documenting Experiences

Digital portfolios allow students to add their research and potential solutions as they progress throughout the learning experience. Students are then able to reflect on the solutions and identify next steps to do a deeper dive.

If students are collaborating with community members, or interviewing a subject-matter expert, these authentic experiences can be documented in a portfolio by adding different types of media.

Read: How to implement project-based learning with digital portfolios

Skill Development

21st-century skill development is very easily promoted with the use of digital portfolios. Not only are students able to develop their communication skills by presenting their learning in a variety of formats, but they are also able to improve their critical thinking skills through reflecting on their learning and the processes.

Read: How to use digital portfolios to promote metacognition in your classroom

Digital portfolios also give students the ability to collaborate with their peers. By having students share their learning in a safe environment of just 2-3 students, it gives them the ability to brainstorm and learn from each other while that learning and growth remain visible to you as an educator.

The Bigger Picture

Since digital portfolios promote documenting and reflecting on learning as it happens, once students have completed their PBL or PrBL assignment, they will have a glimpse into how their research and collaboration play a part in their proposed solution(s).

Students are able to gain a better understanding of the impact they can have on real-world problems. Digital portfolios help students get a more complete picture of how each stage of the learning process contributes to the overall solution(s) they have proposed/implemented.

Connect with Sara Segar

 A former middle and high school biology teacher, Sara is the founder of Experiential Learning Depot. As such, she helps educators go beyond worksheets and lectures, and transition to student-centered and directed learning experiences.  

• www.ExperientialLearningDepot.com
• Follow Sara on Instagram
• Follow Sara on Pinterest

In a COVID world, it feels as if using tech is the only way to really communicate with your students. But, let’s be real, it didn't take a national pandemic for students to be lost in their phone screens… not much has changed.

@thatnewteacherWhat are you guys using for distance learning? ##wishmeluck ##onlineclass ##onlineclasses ##teacherlife ##middleschool ##remotework ##socialdistancing♬ original sound - gabesco

You’ve probably seen some pretty sweet dance moves in your classroom over the past year. From “Say So” to “the Renegade”, the list goes on.

Why, you ask?

This is due to none other than social media’s current fad, TikTok. A short-form video sharing application allowing users to post 15, or 60-second videos in any style they desire.

While many users of the platform are Gen Z students, creating dubs of funny audio, showing off their best moves, or telling relatable stories, COVID-19 has switched up the mix.

With the transition to remote learning, it has become more difficult to foster an authentic relationship with students. Have no fear, #teachersoftiktok is here to save the day.

Throughout the pandemic, teachers around the globe have been using the platform to create comedy, show off their bubbly personalities, and liven up their lessons.

We spoke with Ty Cook (@cooking_in_the_classroom) and Brooke Rogers (@thatnewteacher), two amazing TikTok teachers changing the teaching game.

They shared how they got started, how to effectively use TikTok in your classroom, and some pieces of advice for teachers who may be on the fence about creating a profile.

Let's get Tok’ing!

We’ll be diving into the top two reasons why you should become a TikTok teacher and 3 ways to get started.

Why TikTok?

Use TikTok to connect with your students

Depending on the grade you teach, creating a personal connection with your students can be a daunting task. Remember when you were little and you thought teachers literally lived at school? That belief still exists but to a lesser extent.

Students often forget that teachers are real people too.

When Ty Cook, Grade 7 science teacher in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was bet by a student that he couldn't get more followers than her on TikTok, he accepted the challenge. Although he may not have won the bet, his eyes were opened up to an incredible opportunity.

“Middle schoolers are fun and weird,” he said, “and we should celebrate that.”

He began to experiment with the platform and found that TikTok was a great place to be funny and exercise his creativity. Now, at 34.1K followers and counting and a rising 674.9K TikTok views, Cook’s @cook_in_the_classroom is inspiring teachers all over the world.

“Our students get extra layers and dimensions of us when they see us on TikTok. My students get to see that I have a life outside of school,” said Cook.

Cook had always shared various teaching tips and tricks via Instagram (@cook_in_the_classroom), but he felt his followers lacked that sense of self that he wasn't able to show.

“The reality is, teachers need to laugh. I think that’s where the teachers of TikTok trend comes from. It’s important to laugh about your profession, and the things you deal with. That’s what teachers need at the end of the year,” said Cook.

@cook_in_the_classroomCan I get an amen?! ##onlineclass ##homeschool ##teachers ##teacherapprection ##OwnTheCurve♬ use this sound...if you want...or not idc - frankietaco

Not only is it important to relate to others in your profession, but your students will benefit too.

“TikTok is really humanizing teachers for students. We have to be a certain way in the classroom, but that isn't necessarily who we are all the time. Teachers have a life, kids and of course, teachers can be funny,” said Grade 6-8 English teacher Brooke Rogers, creator of @thatnewteacher.

Rogers had originally been making TikToks with her family in Northern California, purely for fun. But when she began her teaching career, teaching was all she could think about. She converted her TikTok to a teacher TikTok and never looked back.

Now with 512.5K followers and 9.8 million TikTok likes and counting, she is actively creating school-related videos, and showcasing the life of a teacher through comedy.

“The first thing that stood out to me was when I made jokes, or the students made jokes from current trends, it was trending, and it became something we could connect on, “ said Rogers.

Whether you've nailed the dance that your students taught you at recess or you've made a reference to the classic “I like the view” TikTok sound, your students will appreciate your ability to relate to them. TikTok becomes something you can connect on and creates an environment that is comfortable and enjoyable for learning.

@thatnewteacherAnd that concludes my first year of teaching. ???? ##firstyearteacher ##tiktokteacher ##teacherlife ##teachersoftiktok♬ original sound - ada.d15

“Whether you’re connecting with them, or you’re teaching them. You’re still making a difference. It adds to that relationship with them,” added Cook.

TikTok teachers can foster connections with other educational professionals

Not only is Tiktok a great place to learn your students’ favorite trends, but it's also a great place to connect with other industry professionals.

“I’ve met a lot of new teachers. And I’ll follow them on Instagram. It’s very good for networking. I’ve met teachers from all around the globe,” said Cook.

In any career path, having trusted connections you can reach out to for advice, inspiration, and words of encouragement is extremely important. Bill Withers was right, we all need somebody to lean on.

Within TikTok's chat feature, groups like “SchoolhouseTok” are facilitated; a group of teachers who meet and discuss virtually, talking about professional development, sharing resources, and of course, talking about TikTok!

“It's not ‘the most popular creators’ or anything of that sort. Do you have clean and positive content? Are you a teacher? Come join us, it’s pretty cool,” said Rogers.

They call themselves a “Teacher Hype House”.

Although TikTok’s chat feature does not allow group text messages within the app as of yet, teacher Discord groups are collectively hosting group chats outside of the app.

If someone reaches out to one of the teacher group members and asks to be added, the group then expands and more teachers can communicate with educators alike about their wins, struggles, and pieces of advice.

TikTok teachers can also respond to comments on their posts with an associated video. If a student or teacher has a question about a TikToker’s content, that creator can then respond to this comment with a TikTok post, sharing it publicly for all that may have been asking a similar question.

This is a great way to facilitate conversation publicly with students, faculty, and educators.

Here, Brooke Rogers answers a teacher's question about learning the names of her students.

@thatnewteacherAdd your strategies for learning student names in the comments! Reply to @create_username020 ##teachertips ##firstyearteacher ##tiktokteacher ##teacher♬ original sound - thatnewteacher

“Along with sharing resources and talking about professional development, we create TikToks long-distance. We’ll splice things together, think of an idea, and post it collectively,” Brooke shared.

@thatnewteacherTeacher Hype House Vlog is posted! Editing: @thatnewteacherhusband ##teacherhypehouse ##summer2020 ##tiktokteacher ##teachersoftiktok♬ Moon (And It Went Like) - Kid Francescoli

With the introduction of online learning, being able to connect with teachers throughout distance learning, from any location allows TikTok teachers like Cook and Rogers to feel a sense of belonging and community.

“It was so relatable. We were all in this new frontier together,” said Cook.

If the teacher hype house isn't your cup of tea, there are still lots of #teachertips being shared by TikTok teachers that you can then view and bring back to your day-to-day classroom routine.

@cook_in_the_classroomAny teacher friends moving to a new school or new classroom this year? Share with me a tip that helps you setting up. ##learnontiktok ##tiktokpartner♬ original sound - cook_in_the_classroom

Getting started

Lacking Inspiration? Make creative lesson plans with TikTok

TikTok is all about finding your niche. If you’re not the comedy type, that’s totally okay! There is a space for you. Consider using the platform as a form of teaching.

“If I make a joke about not putting your name on your paper, I can use that as a key in the classroom and use that sound as a joke to remind students to do what I’ve asked,” said Rogers.

You can teach your students procedures, routines, share lesson refreshers, or even roleplay your English novel study.

“I used it to teach POV for a while, pretending you're talking to the person on the other side of the screen and interacting with them,” Rogers added.

Here, Rogers uses a popular song from the radio to briefly introduce characters from her class’ novel study, The Outsiders.

@thatnewteacherDo it for Johnny!! Challenge accepted @ms_cappuccino! ##theoutsiders ##middleschool ##greasers ##teachersontiktok ##ponyboy ##dally ##sodapop ##darry ##ela♬ original sound - asl_amanda

There is an extensive list of ways to creatively implement TikTok into your classroom aside from being the next big comedian.

Still struggling? Your students are likely experts at this point.

“Your students can show you how to make TikToks,” said Cook.

Can't create? Check out what other TikTok teachers are doing and get inspired!

“One of the most important things is you don’t have to create. You can go on and observe. You are going to learn so much about Gen Z culture. That’s the most important thing,” said Cook.

Learning about what excites your students and catches their interest will allow you to design lessons that grasp their attention and make them excited to learn.

“I know more about the culture now. When something happens in class, I know what they are referring to,” added Cook.

Struggling to teach a certain unit or lesson? There are thousands of teachers on the platform, sharing tips and tricks to get you motivated and inspired.

Here, Cook shares how he took his human body systems unit to the next level.

@cook_in_the_classroom##dayattheoffice ##notapro ##teacherlife ##escaperoom ##breakout ##breakouts ##edtech ##mydigitalescape ##teachers ##science ##scienceteacher ##middleschool♬ original sound - cook_in_the_classroom

Finding teachers to ask for and share advice with is as easy as searching for a hashtag. Tags like #teachertok, #teachersoftiktok, and #teachertips are easily accessible and are filled with millions of teachers who share content catered just for you.

Take advantage of it!

@cook_in_the_classroomOut of order because ##teachertired ???? ##teachertip ##teacherhack ##fyp ##teacherlife ##middleschool ##warmups♬ original sound - cook_in_the_classroom

Worried about safety on TikTok? Always ensure you maintain privacy and professionalism

The safety and privacy of your students is top priority. TikTok is a public platform, unlike some of the other edtech you’re using in your classroom.

By following a few simple guidelines, you can keep yourself and your students safe while creating freely.

“What [content] I put out there, I intend that my superintendent, principal, teachers, students, and their parents may see it. Yes, we have lives outside of school. We should be role models,” said Cook.

Becoming a TikTok teacher is exciting!

But you need to set boundaries. It is important to consult with your principal or administration, letting them know about your account while discussing any limitations or parameters they may deem necessary when creating on school property.

“Consider the staff you work for, you know your admin, your principal, and your parent group. You must consider these individuals in what you are doing,” suggested Rogers.

To maintain privacy, Rogers never says her school name, this prioritizes both herself and her school’s safety.

Some students may identify as your students in comments sections, but by not disclosing your location or school, this will allow them to maintain a level of confidentiality and safety.

FERPA and COPPA are two major federal student privacy laws implemented to protect students. In line with these regulations, your students should not appear in your videos.

Although you can use stickers in the platform to cover student faces, starting with transparency is best. Make sure they understand what you’re doing and why.

“Use clean audios or wait for clean versions, make clean jokes about situations and ensure your students are never the brunt of the joke,” recommended Rogers.

Left wanting more? It’s time to download TikTok

TikTok is a fun and creative way to vamp up your teaching career.

If you’re thinking of hopping onto tech’s latest trend remember to keep these few things in mind:

Remain authentic, stay true to who you are, and use the platform safely, for both you and your students.

You can follow Brooke Rogers and Ty Cook on TikTok and Instagram:

• https://www.tiktok.com/@cook_in_the_classroom
• https://www.tiktok.com/@thatnewteacher
• https://www.instagram.com/thatrogersfamily
• https://www.instagram.com/cook_in_the_classroom

@thatnewteacherLook for the joy in every day! ##showerthoughts ##teachersoftiktok ##teacherlife ##teachersontiktok ##middleschoolteacher♬ original sound - bigboyjuicejuice

@cook_in_the_classroom##teachers ##hardwork ##teacherlife ##youmatter ##teachersrule♬ Nick's B. Danube - Spongebob Squarepants

Digital portfolios are becoming an increasingly popular way for teachers to encourage capturing and documentation of learning, prompting meaningful reflection, and providing ongoing, formative feedback.

But for many of us, this is a new concept from when we were in school.

Back in my day, I recall putting together a physical portfolio for an eighth-grade capstone project. I purchased a black three-ring binder, created chapters on each of my elementary school accomplishments in a word processor, and scrapbooked together artifacts of learning.

Today, thanks to many improvements in technology, digital portfolios can be a powerful classroom tool that students use and every day.

However, where students may no longer need to be crafty, they now need to be savvier with digital tools.

For parents, guardians, and family members of students who are inundated with digital tools and social media, it can be overwhelming to advise and guide on products you’ve never even heard of.  So, let's go through some tips for family members.

What is a digital portfolio in K-12 education?

A digital portfolio is a body of student work that can take on a variety of formats and showcase growth, reflection, and accomplishment. (Read: “What is a digital portfolio for the classroom?”)

The use cases can vary greatly depending on the class, the student’s age, and the teacher. A capstone or graduation projects that showcase highlights from elementary school will be different than a digital portfolio used to capture and reflect on daily learning throughout the year. The contents of a digital portfolio serve as data to inform formative assessment. Unlike traditional evaluations, formative assessment is ongoing, allowing teachers to identify areas where your student may be struggling or excelling. For example, if a student does not meet the curricular objectives in math throughout the term, this may indicate a need for extra support or enrichment on specific concepts or skills.

Furthermore, digital portfolios are dynamic and collaborative. Teachers and families alike are able to leverage this powerful student-centric tool to analyze patterns or trends beyond academics. Both parties can report on students' behaviour, such as incidents of disruptive behaviour or instances of positive behaviour. This data can help identify areas where students may need social-emotional support or behavioural intervention.

Additionally, teachers and families can track students' participation in class discussions, group work, and other activities. Low participation may indicate a need for extra support or encouragement to engage in class.

Teachers and families can also track students' progress towards their personal and academic goals. This data can help identify areas where students may need extra support or encouragement to achieve their goals. Ultimately, digital portfolios prioritize student success by providing opportunities to celebrate areas of growth and achievement to motivate your student to continue improving.

How will my student's portfolio be evaluated?

There are three main ways student portfolios can be evaluated.

1. Show the Process: Students collect and store evidence of learning and reflect on the process in a continuous cycle. In this case, the reflection on the learning may be evaluated as well as the work.
2. Show the Progress: Students document growth and changes in their work over time to show progress. In this case, the progress over different versions and assignments may be considered in the evaluation.
3. Show the Product: Students curate projects, learnings, and evidence into a final “polished” product. In this case, the final artifacts and the overall story of the different pieces of the portfolio will be evaluated. (Read: "The three ways teachers use portfolios in the classroom.")

Be sure to check in with assignment details or contact your student's teacher if you’re unsure of the learning outcomes and purpose of a student portfolio.

What should my student’s portfolio include?

To create a comprehensive digital portfolio, students can incorporate various artifacts of their work such as images, text, audio files, video files, and other documents like PDF and Microsoft Word files using tools like SpacesEDU. The types of work that students can exhibit in their portfolios may vary depending on their grade level and subject area. However, understanding how your student's teacher plans to use their portfolio can help make informed recommendations on what to include. In general, your students can post these types of documentation:

• Work samples: Students can include their best work from various subjects and projects, such as essays, presentations, videos, artwork, projects, etc.
• Reflections: Students can write reflections on their learning experiences, highlighting what they learned, how they grew, and what challenges they faced. These self-reflections can be in the form of blog posts, journal entries, or video reflections.
• Goals: Students can set personal and academic goals for themselves and track their progress towards achieving them.

When curating and organizing their digital portfolio, your student should consider the following tips:

1. Choose their best work: Students should select their best work to showcase in their portfolio. They should consider the quality of their work, as well as its relevance to their goals, interests, and teacher guidelines.
2. Organize their work thematically: Students can organize their work thematically, grouping similar items together. For example, they could dedicate posts for writing, another for artwork, and a third for STEM projects.
3. Include reflections: Students should include reflections in their posts, explaining what they learned, what they would do differently, and how they plan to apply what they learned in the future.
4. Keep it updated: Students should keep their portfolio updated regularly, adding new work as they complete it and reflect on older work that no longer represents their best efforts.

How can I help my student with their portfolio?

Using portfolios in the classroom offers many benefits, one of which is to engage families and encourage their participation in their student's learning. Digital portfolios, in particular, promote open dialogues among students, teachers, and families. By commenting on their student's portfolio artifacts, families can prompt further reflection and receive feedback directly from their student's teacher. Moreover, digital portfolios can serve as the centerpiece of parent-teacher interviews or support student-led conferences.

As students reflect on the work and progress displayed in their portfolio, families can play a crucial role in providing constructive feedback and engaging in meaningful conversations with their student. This presents an excellent opportunity to explore their student's experiences and perspective. To start, families can discuss with their student what they excel at and enjoy doing. This helps identify their strengths and interests and aligns them with their future goals. Encouraging self-reflection is equally important. Asking questions such as "What did you learn from this experience?" or "What would you do differently next time?" helps students reflect on their progress and accomplishments.

As students identify their strengths and interests, families can encourage them to set achievable and specific goals. By breaking down these goals into smaller, manageable steps, families can offer support and motivation to their students. In summary, portfolios not only engage families but also provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their progress and accomplishments, and for families to offer support and encouragement to their children.

Tips for providing feedback on your student's learning

1. Encourage the process. Rather than commenting on the final product, focus on the process of learning that leads up to the actual artifact to honour your student’s work that came before it. Focus more on perseverance and your student’s improvement over time rather than on their ability.
2. Have an open dialogue. The best conversations start when asking questions to spark thinking rather than by passing judgement. Consider what your student (or their teacher) was trying to convey by posting the artifact and use one of the dialogue prompts suggested below to allow them to share their perspective.
3. Avoid “yes” and “no”. Use open-ended questions that encourage your student to reflect on their learning. Try to give concrete examples when providing feedback so your student understands what you are referencing, and be mindful not to make comparisons to the work of others.

Looking for some tips on how to best provide feedback on your student's learning? We’ve got you covered. Click here to download our Family Feedback Prompts for Digital Portfolios (PDF).

 

Digital portfolios are becoming an increasingly popular way for teachers to encourage capturing and documentation of learning, prompting meaningful reflection, and providing ongoing, formative feedback.

But for many of us, this is a new concept from when we were in school.

Back in my day, I recall putting together a physical portfolio for an eighth-grade capstone project. I purchased a black three-ring binder, created chapters on each of my elementary school accomplishments in a word processor, and scrapbooked together artifacts of learning.

Today, thanks to many improvements in technology, digital portfolios can be a powerful classroom tool that students use and every day.

However, where students may no longer need to be crafty, they now need to be savvier with digital tools.

For parents, guardians, and family members of students who are inundated with digital tools and social media, it can be overwhelming to advise and guide on products you’ve never even heard of.  So, let's go through some tips for family members.

What is a digital portfolio in K-12 education?

A digital portfolio is a body of student work that can take on a variety of formats and showcase growth, reflection, and accomplishment. (Read: “What is a digital portfolio for the classroom?”)

The use cases can vary greatly depending on the class, the student’s age, and the teacher. A capstone or graduation projects that showcase highlights from elementary school will be different than a digital portfolio used to capture and reflect on daily learning throughout the year.

How will my student's portfolio be evaluated?

There are three main ways student portfolios can be evaluated.

Show the Process: Students collect and store evidence of learning and reflect on the process in a continuous cycle. In this case, the reflection on the learning may be evaluated as well as the work.

Show the Progress: Students document growth and changes in their work over time to show progress. In this case, the progress over different versions and assignments may be considered in the evaluation.

Show the Product: Students curate projects, learnings, and evidence into a final “polished” product. In this case, the final artifacts and the overall story of the different pieces of the portfolio will be evaluated. (Read: "The three ways teachers use portfolios in the classroom.")

Be sure to check in with assignment details or contact your student's teacher if you’re unsure of the learning outcomes and purpose of a student portfolio.

What should my student’s portfolio include?

A digital portfolio can include any number of artifacts of student work.

In most digital portfolio tools, like SpacesEDU, students can upload images, text, audio files, video files, and other documents like PDF and Microsoft Word files.

Once you know how your student’s teacher is planning to use a student’s portfolio, you can better make recommendations on what to include.

How can I help my student with their portfolio?

One of the key benefits to using portfolios in the classroom is to engage parents to participate in their student's learning.

More importantly, digital portfolios foster open dialogues between student, teacher, and family.

Not only can parents comment on their student's portfolio artifacts to prompt further reflection, but they can also receive feedback directly from their student's teacher.

Digital portfolios can also be used as the centerpiece of parent-teacher interviews or to support student-led conferences.

While students self-reflect on the work and progress displayed in their portfolio, parents have the opportunity to provide constructive feedback and prompt conversation to engage their student in sharing their experiences and perspective.

Tips for providing feedback on your student's learning

1. Encourage the process. Rather than commenting on the final product, focus on the process of learning that leads up to the actual artifact to honour your student’s work that came before it. Focus more on perseverance and your student’s improvement over time rather than on their ability.
2. Have an open dialogue. The best conversations start when asking questions to spark thinking rather than by passing judgement. Consider what your student (or their teacher) was trying to convey by posting the artifact and use one of the dialogue prompts suggested below to allow them to share their perspective.
3. Avoid “yes” and “no”. Use open-ended questions that encourage your student to reflect on their learning. Try to give concrete examples when providing feedback so your student understands what you are referencing, and be mindful not to make comparisons to the work of others.

Looking for some tips on how to best provide feedback on your student's learning?

We’ve got you covered. Click here to download our Family Feedback Prompts for Digital Portfolios (PDF).