Deeper Learning with WeVideo

Dr. Jennifer Williams is a member of the United Nations’ Global Goals Educator Task Force, #TeachSDGs. Our students today need to be engaged in authentic experiences that connect them to real people and real problems of our world. Through the sharing of stories and with unified efforts to tackle global issues, students can begin to discover the power they each have in making a difference at local and global levels. The Climate Action Project, connecting students from 64 countries and 250 schools, provides a unique opportunity for classrooms to take ACTION on climate change and to find their role in the United Nations’ Agenda for Sustainable Development. Climate change is an ideal topic for concentration as this issue is not one that sees borders of countries or is focused on any one geographic location---this is a problem for all---which means every single person can be part of a solution. Together as teachers, through experiences such as The Climate Action Project, we can #TeachSDGs and mobilize as world educators to reach the global goals by 2030. Learn more at teachsdgs.org and follow Jennifer on Twitter @JenWilliamsEdu. Deeper Learning with WeVideo explores ways to inspire creativity in the classroom, activities that ignite deeper learning for students, and interviews with thought leaders in education that motivate teachers and influencers in education technology. Dr. Nathan Lang-Raad is a speaker, author and professional learning facilitator. He is the Chief Education Officer at WeVideo. Throughout his career, he has served as a teacher, assistant principal, university adjunct professor, consultant, and education strategist. He served as Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, as well as Education Supervisor at NASA's Johnson Space Center. He is a Google Certified Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator, and 2016 Apple Teacher, serves on the board of the Student Voice Foundation and serves on the International Literacy Association Task Force. Nathan is the author of Everyday Instructional Coaching and co-author of The New Art and Science of Teaching Mathematics with Robert J. Marzano. ​ https://www.wevideo.com/education (WeVideo for Schools) https://www.youtube.com/wevideo (YouTube) https://www.twitter.com/wevideo (Twitter) https://www.facebook.com/groups/wevideoeducators/ (Facebook: WeVideo Educators) https://www.instagram.com/wevideo (Instagram) http://pages.wevideo.com/education-newsletter-subscribe (Sign up for our Education Newsletter)

Angela is an eight year educator that has taught STEM in elementary, middle, and high school. She is currently based in Chicago, where she teaches high school math. Her teaching philosophy centers community - the classroom being a space where teaching and learning happens with all parties involved. She also focuses on student empowerment in STEM for Black youth, with the goals of instilling STEM confidence, increasing STEM knowledge, and providing students with the tools to create systemic change through STEM. Follow Angela on Twitter @wokeSTEMteacher and visit her website https://www.thewokestemteacher.com/.

Creativity is not only essential to school, but essential to a fulfilling life. Creativity is the ability to connect previously disconnected thoughts and ideas together in new more powerful ways. It allows us to fully express the joy, awe, and wonder in the world around us. Sir Ken Robinson, a leading education expert, shares that schools should be focusing on creativity as much as they focus on literacy. So how can we promote creativity in the classroom?

As educators, how do we encourage, support and promote the process of creativity? Students naturally crave ways to express themselves creatively, so how can we help foster that natural curiosity? Creativity means to use the imagination freely without constraints, but that doesn’t mean your classroom will turn into creative chaos. The most creative endeavors actually require some sense of structure, organization and a safe, nurturing environment so that students can focus their energy and cognitive efforts on play and creativity.

Communication and storytelling have been gaining a lot of attention lately, especially their role in the classroom. This makes sense as effective communication is the foundation of human interaction. Many view communication as the most important skill for success as students enter the workforce and there is considerable evidence that the best communicators have greater professional success. So, it’s important that we continually support students in developing their skills and confidence as communicators and storytellers.