Episode 3

How Can We Support Student Innovation Through Authentic and Meaningful Feedback?

In this episode of the Digital Learning Today Podcast, Jeff welcomes Carolyn Sloan, Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu, and Dory Weiss on the program to discuss ways that we can provide students with meaningful authentic feedback. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

In This Episode …

Providing Targeted Feedback to Students
  • How to motivate students
    • Project-Based Learning - Getting students interested in something that they enjoy doing.
    • Giving students freedom based on a common rubric
    • Look out for the #SpringSquirmies
    • Don’t forget to “check-in” with students from time to time.
  • The Importance of students having the opportunity to self-assess and judge their work.
    • Should we give students a choice of how they can share their work?
  • How to make independent learners
  • How to provide feedback to students to help and support their progress in learning.
  • How can we support our students at home to become confident in their studies?

Books Mentioned on the Podcast

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About our Guest:

Carolyn Sloan

Carolyn Sloan is a distinguished author, educator, composer, and entrepreneur whose dedication to the arts and education has enlightened and inspired young minds for years. With a unique flair for breaking down complex concepts into child-friendly narratives and interactive activities, she has penned four critically acclaimed, award-winning books that have been pivotal in introducing both children and adults to the vast world of music and founded an award-winning EdTech Company, set to impact children ages 5-12 as well as the adults who care for and educate them. TeachMe TV®, Ms. Sloan’s new EdTech and media company addresses specific inadequacies in children’s learning products by providing learning experiences that are process-focused, and designed to increase student agency across disciplines. These process-oriented learning activities embedded with a metacognitive approach result in higher reading levels, more consistent academic performance, and overall better student engagement, by providing students with tools and strategies for learning. TMTV’s newest initiative is an AI Study Buddy able to converse in 26 different languages that establishes a learning relationship with the student, prompting them to think and reason. By honing self-awareness through reflective practice and offering targeted feedback, students develop better learning habits, higher levels of engagement and generally exhibit more self-confidence and stamina to manage both academic and social difficulties. TeachMe TV® has already garnered recognition for its outstanding content, with 5 Telly Awards in media, animation, and music, The EdTech Honor Award for Cool Tool, 2023, and the Digital Education Awards for notable Start-ups 2022 & 2023 stand as proof to the platform’s excellence and innovation. Ms. Sloan lives in Brooklyn, NYC with her family. Links of Interest

Lindsay Kwock Hu

Dr. Lindsay Kwock Hu is dedicated to empowering educators and students alike through innovative solutions and transformative practices. With a wealth of experience spanning over two decades, Dr. Lindsay demonstrates a commitment to innovation and impact in education through her roles as a teacher, administrator, professor of education and independent consultant. Currently, Dr. Lindsay serves as Lead Consultant + Owner of a portfolio of impact-focused education projects, pioneering innovative tailored solutions to teacher support and student learning. In October 2023, Dr. Lindsay began building Cleary, an early-stage software solution that leverages generative AI technology, providing real-time formative feedback on student writing. Early experiments have revealed crucial findings, including the discovery that students are motivated by explicit feedback and guided discourse, not necessarily gamification practices. A prototype is currently in the works. In 2021, Dr. Lindsay’s commitment to helping students develop the skills-of-the-future led her to build the Lead-To-Learn© experience, an experience that empowers secondary students to collaboratively tackle community-based problems, culminating in the implementation of a real-world project. Most notable, she raised $37,000 in funding to bring this experience to local South Los Angeles high schools. This experience has resulted in tangible improvements to student attendance, reduced tardiness, and expanded course enrollment. Her commitment to ensuring teachers have access to high-quality professional learning opportunities is also a core part of her consulting work. At Watts Learning Center Middle School, she led the development of a professional learning community, redesigning a teacher observation and feedback cycle that focused on improving student writing. In under a 4-month period, pre- and post- writing assessment data revealed a 30% performance increase in student writing. Dr. Lindsay lives in Los Angeles with her husband Mike, and their three young children Sloane, Owen and Axel. Links of Interest

Dory Weiss

Dory J. Weiss is the founder of Brooklyn Reads, a company that specializes in children's literacy. Since 2005, Dory has engaged in working with students to help support their education. Dory grew up in Brooklyn Heights and attended Saint Ann’s School. She went on to earn a BS in Communication from Northwestern University, double majoring in theater and history. Dory worked at Saint Ann’s School  in Brooklyn for five years in various positions at the middle school while earning her masters degree in Developmental Psychology from Teacher’s College at Columbia University, and her MSEd from Bank Street in Literacy and General Education. Many of her students have successfully gone on to the high schools and colleges of their choice. Dory has the honor of serving on the board of the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, and lives in Brooklyn Heights with her family. Links of Interest

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About the Podcast

Show artwork for Digital Learning Today: Where Productivity Meets Innovation in the Classroom.
Digital Learning Today: Where Productivity Meets Innovation in the Classroom.
Transforming the Classroom into a Dynamic Hub of Innovative Learning

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Jeffrey Bradbury

Jeff Bradbury is a globally-recognized educator, educational broadcaster, public speaker, and entrepreneur whose powerful message has inspired thousands of educators through the TeacherCast Educational Network.