“Every Conversation Was PASSION and HOPE” by #ASTE19 Keynote Speaker Robyn Hrivnatz, Senior Manager of Education Strategy at Microsoft

Unplugged ASTE 2019

The Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE) 2019 Conference has ended but my hope for the future of education has only been reignited. The gentle snowfall each day in Anchorage was the perfect backdrop to a showcase of educators successfully sharing and learning together. I know that they will be changing student lives in the near future as they bring their optimism and hope back to their classrooms and begin implementing new strategies and resources into their lessons. Continue reading “Every Conversation Was PASSION and HOPE” by #ASTE19 Keynote Speaker Robyn Hrivnatz, Senior Manager of Education Strategy at Microsoft

The Juneau Community Charter School (JCCS) Community Winter Camp by Principal Caron Smith

Our Alaskan Schools blog

The Juneau Community Charter School (JCCS) is a small, community driven, charter school in the heart of Juneau. Recently, 87 of its students, K-8, attended two incredible days of the biennial Charter School Community Winter Camp off the grid, out in the forests north of Juneau. Weather in southeast Alaska is notoriously fickle, but the camp lucked out with 2 days of sunny skies and lots of new snow to play in. Continue reading The Juneau Community Charter School (JCCS) Community Winter Camp by Principal Caron Smith

Empowering Communities through Teaching Digital Citizenship by Sam Jordan, ASDN

Our Alaskan Schools blog

Any place where children and youth gather, work or socialize provides an involved community with an opportunity to provide guidance, perspective and help reinforce safety. Digital environments are now part of that landscape of where students gather. Teachers, parents, elders and caregivers are critical partners in helping children and youth navigate the opportunities and liabilities of the digital world. Continue reading Empowering Communities through Teaching Digital Citizenship by Sam Jordan, ASDN

Foundational Skills in K–5 by Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D. Educational Consultant and Researcher

New Home Foundation Construction
New Home Foundation Construction

Dr. Jan Hasbrouck is a leading reading specialist and education consultant, and provides professional development to Alaskan educators through the Alaska Staff Development Network

Researchers have made extraordinary progress in understanding what “reading” really is. Numerous complex brain processes involved in the act of reading have been identified, along with many individual component skills that must be learned and used automatically and efficiently by a reader. At this point, compelling evidence from a convergence of reading research indicates that close to 95% of all students can achieve literacy levels at or approaching grade level. These statistics include students with dyslexia and other students with learning and cognitive disabilities. Continue reading Foundational Skills in K–5 by Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D. Educational Consultant and Researcher

Esports Alaska by Luke Meinert, EsportsAK Founder

Alaska E-Sports

Alaska’s high school esports scene continues to grow after a successful inaugural season!

Why Esports

What are esports, you ask? Esports is organized competitive video gameplay between two teams with its own rules and guidelines. Large scale tournaments are happening all over the world where teams compete for millions of dollars in cash prices. Esports is a billion-dollar industry, and three of the ten most watched sporting events last year were esports events. Continue reading Esports Alaska by Luke Meinert, EsportsAK Founder

School in Anaktuvuk Pass Updates Classroom Space and Inspires Students/Elders, by Sam Jordan at ASDN

Our Alaskan Schools blog

Each year, Carrs-Safeway and the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) awards education grants to educators looking to enhance and innovate their professional practice in schools around Alaska. The program encourages educators to identify a problem of practice in their classroom, school, and/or district and propose novel ways to address this challenge to improve student outcomes. Continue reading School in Anaktuvuk Pass Updates Classroom Space and Inspires Students/Elders, by Sam Jordan at ASDN