Professional Learning Facilitator

Search for:

Potential of LLMs and Automated Text Analysis in Interpreting Student Course Feedback

bobbyc February 10, 2024 February 10, 202401 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, Computer Science, data-driven, education, Professional Learning Facilitator, programming

Integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) with automated text analysis tools offers a novel approach to interpreting student course feedback. As educators and administrators strive to refine teaching methods and enhance learning experiences, leveraging AI’s capabilities could unlock more profound insights from student feedback. Traditionally seen as a vast collection of qualitative data filled with sentiments, …

Continue reading “Potential of LLMs and Automated Text Analysis in Interpreting Student Course Feedback”

Effective Technology Tools for K-12 CS Teachers

bobbyc January 27, 2024 January 27, 202401 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, ALICE, Computer Science, education, Learning Designer, Professional Learning Facilitator, programming, Scratch

Technology plays a crucial role in teaching computer science and programming concepts to K-12 teachers. The most effective technology tools include interactive coding platforms such as Scratch, Snap! and Blockly. These tools provide a user-friendly interface and visual coding blocks, allowing students to learn programming concepts through hands-on activities and projects (Kashif Amanullah & Bell, …

Continue reading “Effective Technology Tools for K-12 CS Teachers”

The Pros and Cons of Autograders in Programming Courses

bobbyc September 30, 2023 September 30, 202301 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, autograder, Change Agent, Computer Science, Connected Learner, education, Professional Learning Facilitator

Programming courses typically require assignments where students write code to fulfill specific specifications. In such courses, an autograder serves as an automated tool designed to assess student code submissions by conducting input and output tests. Autograders have been in existence since the inception of computer science as a field of study (Hollingsworth, 1960). More recently, …

Continue reading “The Pros and Cons of Autograders in Programming Courses”

Computer Science Curriculum Integration for K-9 Teachers

bobbyc June 3, 2023 June 3, 202301 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, coaching, Computer Science, Data-Driven Decision-Maker, education, Professional Learning Facilitator

Introduction With a rapidly advancing world and integrating more technology into life, it has increasingly become evident to parents, teachers, and students alike that technological literacy is essential to primary education. Parents are pushing for increased computer science instruction in elementary schools as they realize how vital this knowledge will be in preparing their children …

Continue reading “Computer Science Curriculum Integration for K-9 Teachers”

Competitive Programming Tools in the Classroom

bobbyc May 14, 2023 May 14, 202301 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, Collaboration, competitive programming, Learning Designer, Professional Learning Facilitator, Teaching

Introduction For young and upcoming computer scientists, competitive programming can be a powerful tool to hone essential skills. It helps sharpen problem-solving and analytical thinking abilities and provides the creative opportunity to experiment with algorithms in a safe and structured environment. With that said, introducing competitive programming into the classroom curriculum can open exciting opportunities …

Continue reading “Competitive Programming Tools in the Classroom”

Computer Science Curriculum in B.C.

bobbyc April 30, 2023 April 30, 202301 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, Computer Science, curriculum, K-12, Learning Designer, Professional Learning Facilitator

Introduction As an instructor of computer science at Simon Fraser University, one of my roles involves assessing the level of computer science knowledge possessed by high school graduates and the ease of their transition into higher education. These assessments help the school to evaluate the adequacy of our university’s introductory computer science courses. Unfortunately, we …

Continue reading “Computer Science Curriculum in B.C.”

ISTE Standards for Coaches

bobbyc December 29, 2022 December 29, 202201 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, Change Agent, Collaborator, Connected Learner, Data-Driven Decision-Maker, Digital Citizen Advocate, Learning Designer, Professional Learning Facilitator

First post for all categories

What if Professional Development Could Be…Fun!?

Katie Clum March 1, 2022 March 1, 202201 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, active learning, Adult Learning, collaborative learning, Collaborator, EdCamp, faculty professional development, Learning Designer, professional learning, Professional Learning Facilitator

As has been oft-discussed on this blog, as well as among communities of teachers since time immemorial, professional development (PD) activities are quite frequently dull, irrelevant, time-consuming, and centered around a single expert delivering one-size-fits-all content to a group of workshop attendees. This is not an effective approach to adult learning (or any learning, really), …

Continue reading “What if Professional Development Could Be…Fun!?”

Meaningful Feedback in Online Professional Development

Katie Clum February 17, 2022 February 17, 202201 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, Adult Learning, Collaboration, Collaborator, Connected Learner, faculty professional development, feedback, Learning Designer, online learning, online learning communities, Professional Development, Professional Learning Facilitator

Just as online teaching and learning became a necessity for K-12 and postsecondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic, so too did online professional learning activities for educators at all levels. Not only have professional development (PD) activities primarily been held in virtual spaces over the last two years (both synchronously and asynchronously), but often the …

Continue reading “Meaningful Feedback in Online Professional Development”

Did It Work!? A Brief Look at Professional Development Evaluation in Higher Education & Beyond

Katie Clum February 2, 2022 February 2, 202201 - Visionary leadership, 02 - Teaching, Learning, & Assessments, 03 - Digital age learning environments, 04 - Professional Development & Program Evaluation, 05 - Digital Citizenship, 06 - Content Knowledge & Professional Growth, Adult Learning, Data-Driven Decision-Maker, faculty professional development, Learning Designer, professional development evaluation, professional learning, Professional Learning Facilitator, technology integration

As I continue to dive deeper into the research related to professional development (PD) and adult learning initiatives within higher education, one aspect of PD I’ve yet to explore is the evaluation of PD. In other words, how do we determine if a PD enterprise was successful? Is the learning having an ongoing, meaningful impact …

Continue reading “Did It Work!? A Brief Look at Professional Development Evaluation in Higher Education & Beyond”

Category: Professional Learning Facilitator