What is ‘critical’ about critical thinking?

Most schools promote ‘critical thinking’; most teachers say they encourage it. Most schools, most teachers, do quite the opposite, and actually enforce closed-minded thinking. This discussion will discuss why this is, how it happens, what we can do about it, and why it is the only thing we should be concerned about.

Focusing on the why – Teaching students to make decisions in math

Using tools to solve problems involves two major components. The first is all about deciding why a particular tool or combination of tools applies to the situation and the second is about how we actually use the tools. ……

From Engagement to Assessment: Bringing the NGSS to Life

In this session, you will explore how issues of place and culture can bring the NGSS to life for students through projects. We will explore topic and lesson design and then consider the following question: Once you’ve engaged students with compelling science lessons, how do you assess their learning?

Developing resilience through teaching resilience

Teachers and students are both suffering in our present post-pandemic world. This session will demonstrate several practical classroom strategies and give attendees access to resources for helping students and helping themselves to generate more ‘inner strength’ and move confidently and positively into our shared future.

21st Century Learners: Agentic and Lifelong Learners

Learner agency may be characterized as student voice, choice and ownership. This session will explore the value of creating a learning environment that supports agency to promote lifelong learning.

Promoting Student Engagement and Learner Agency in Online Distance Learning

In this session, IB teachers from Xavier School will share how they are able promote student engagement and learner agency despite the distance. They will share various tools (one of which being Kognity) and how these have helped them ensure that even if students are not within the 4 walls of the classroom, teaching and learning is never compromised.

Approaching Sustainability Through the IBDP Core

At present there is no one place that the issue of Sustainability is dealt with in the iB Diploma. It is referred to in a number of courses (Geography, Economics, ESS and Biology). This means that students who are not studying these subjects get little exposure to Sustainability.

Bridging Pedagogy and Practice with Cambridge IGCSE

IGCSE learners develop 21st century competencies through rigorous curriculum standards that prepare them for academic and future success. This session will highlight how Kognity supports schools in bringing these competencies into the classroom through our innovative digital platform.

Curriculum innovation: you learn the work by doing the work!

So many conversations throughout my 25 years in education have been about the need for schools to transform, or reimagine their curriculum to meet the needs of an ever-changing world. In this session I would like to share some vignettes from my curriculum work, and also some of the lessons I have learned from my successes and failures. I haven’t given up yet, and I hope you haven’t either!

Acknowledging grades for what they are: a major distraction from learning

Let’s face it, grades are arguably the biggest distraction from genuine learning and growth in the classroom. So what can we do about it? In this webinar, we will unpack the utility of grading practices in international schools, articulating their place in the current educational framework.

Flipping the Classroom with Kognity – Identifying Knowledge Gaps

This session explores how Kognity can allow you to flip the classroom and use your time in class with students as efficiently as possible by identifying knowledge gaps. We will look at the question and reading assignment features, how they save time, and allow you to track student knowledge.

No ‘new normal’: Engaging Learners with What We’ve Learned

There is no ‘new normal’. People live by their circumstances and we adjust to the changing circumstances in which we live, in the best way we can. Humans are resilient. This session will discuss how we as educators can maintain curriculum expectations while applying skills learned before and throughout the pandemic.

Linking IBDP pedagogical approaches with digital learning

IBDP learners develop global competencies for academic and professional success through effective approaches to teaching and learning (ATL). This session will highlight how Kognity supports schools in bringing ATL skills into the classroom through our innovative digital platform.

Language Equity: Redefining our Language Learning Practices to Empower Multilinguals

In this session, participants will connect as language educators with the experiences of our students as language learners, explore translanguaging approaches that promote language equity in their multilingual classrooms, and hear student voices who have been empowered by valuing language equity in their learning experiences.

Creative Coding in Python with imagiLabs: a social, game-like and gender inclusive learning experience

In this interactive session you will get an introduction to imagiLabs’ creative coding in Python tools and curriculum and will have the opportunity for a hands on coding experience as well. imagiLabs’ tools are built to be non-intimidating and inviting for complete beginners, so if you are just starting out or playing with the idea of introducing a script based programming language in your classroom, this is the session for you!

TOK: this is what 21st century learning looks like

This webinar will look at what a well-designed TOK course looks like, the learning units that lead to genuinely life-changing outcomes, and the features of a great TOK lesson. It will also consider how to infuse a TOK approach throughout the DP – and beyond.

Data driven instruction with Kognity

In this session, we will learn about the efficacy and benefits of data-driven instruction for more targeted pedagogy, assessment and feedback in the classroom. We will then dive into how to effectively use Kognity statistics to inform your teaching and learning.

Mission Driven Learning: ASD’s Change-maker Education Story in Cultivating Contributors

What is a school if not the living example of its mission? In this presentation/workshop, Laurence Myers (K-12 Service Learning Coordinator) shares the story of the Change-maker Education Program at the American School of Dubai in its quest to cultivate contributors “in a rapidly changing world”……

Help us shape our new IBDP Science resources

We are currently researching how best to support the upcoming IBDP Sciences syllabus updates. Join members of the Kognity product team to give your views on how we can support you best through the new Science curriculum!

Why Gender Equality in STEM is a pre-requisite of gender equality in the future

Equipping and empowering girls to shape their world with technology is the single most important thing we can do for a gender equal future. Once these girls becomes women in technology, they will create new products and new markets that would otherwise go undiscovered and will solve problems our technologies currently fail to address.

Edible Education Nourishes the Whole Child

Few things capture students’ interest more than food. It has the potential to engage all of their senses and link these senses to curriculum. Food turns gardens, kitchens and cafeterias into classrooms. By design, Edible Education is integrated into curricular lessons of all types and focuses on concepts of organic principles, circular economy, systems thinking and sustainable choices.

3 keys to Authentic Leadership

Leading and teaching in 2022 is hard. How can we make an impact on those we teach while still improving ourselves? We’re going to talk about how we can develop the culture we want, enhance our leadership, and accomplish more in less time in the virtual world!

Microsoft Learning Tools Training x Kognity

This 100-level training for educators introduces Microsoft Learning Tools, a set of inclusive features available in a wide range of apps and platforms that assist all learners in reading, writing, math, and communication. You will also learn how Kognity has integrated the Immersive Reader into their platform.

The foundation for progress: An educator’s role in shaping society

Afghanistan is a fragile state, and the form of education delivery has been a source of historical conflict. Education delivery in conflict zones, policy considerations for education in Afghanistan and ways forward, especially for girls.

What can we learn from the experience of Afghanistan?

Embracing the Core of Innovative Teaching and Learning Now and Moving Forward

Sanée Bell says the following; “Students should have rich, relevant, and authentic experiences at school, across the board.” Starting with this thinking, what are some of the ways that we can “innovate inside the box”……

Social Learning: Designing for collaboration through playful ed tech tools

How do we as educators make the most of social learning, and how can we leverage technology to craft collaborative experiences that are engaging and sticky? There are lots of ed tech tools that let students work together, but it takes thoughtful learning design and an understanding of the pedagogy of collaboration to integrate meaningful social connection into our teaching.

Effective coaching strategies to help young people discover their purpose

‘Have you thought about what you want to do after high school?’ ‘What sort of career do you want to pursue?’ I am sure that nearly all of us have received or offered these questions at some point in our educational history. This webinar will explore effective strategies we can use as educational professionals to help students define their purpose early in their educational career in order to establish a compass with which to direct their future steps.

The 4 Laws of Learning

What really makes a difference in teaching? There are many factors, like relationship building, that have a powerful impact, but when it comes to planning lessons—that 45- to 90-minute block of time we set aside for instruction—what activities actually move the needle on learning?……

How to Use Technology to Assess Students and Pivot Instruction

This session will cover strategies for collecting and analyzing data so educators can take action through instructional pivots and interventions. We will focus on formative assessment and how to check for understanding before, during, and after instruction. Participants will explore how digital tools provide a special benefit for students as they increase student opportunities (frequency) and options (choice) to share their learning.

Using Sutori to Breathe New Life Into Your Lessons

Learn how to harness Sutori’s feature-rich creation tool to develop dynamic, interactive learning experiences. In this session, we’ll explore how educators can use Sutori to support student inquiry, enhance communication and collaboration, and provide opportunities for meaningful feedback.

Rethinking Class Discussion to Empower Every Voice

This interactive presentation explores how educators can leverage technology to create a safe learning environment where all students feel empowered to contribute to class discussion in a style and format that feels most comfortable to them. ……

Taking science learning to the next level with technology

Join us for this informative session where we’ll dive into our journey so far as we work to revolutionize the way we teach Science in high schools today; challenging old ways of thinking and trying to find a solution that fits the modern reality of education.

Mindfulness: A Pedagogical Tool

This session supports educators and school leaders to implement mindful practices within their own lives to then include in their pedagogical settings. Participants will walk away feeling refreshed and energized equipped with tangible tools they can take to their school settings whether online or in person.

The Equity Cycle: Anti-Racist, Diverse and Inclusive Digital Education

This session takes an intro look at bias and anti-racist education and asks the audience to not only understand some of these concepts, but takes a practical look into how can a teacher make his/her/their classrooms more inclusive, open, brave and diverse.

Teacher wellbeing and self management using Kognity

This session explores how Kognity can support educators in saving time through the use of automatically graded formative assessment, analyzing class statistics for better lesson planning, and how you and your students can benefit from using our curriculum aligned content.

Teaching with Minecraft: Education Edition Training Agenda (Level 100)

Minecraft: Education Edition is a game-based learning platform that builds skills, unleashes creativity, and engages students in collaboration and problem-solving. This course shows how to navigate in Minecraft and access a wide range of lessons plans, mapped to grade level and curriculum standards in a variety of subjects.

Strategies to Support Students as they Create Products of Learning

Students create in both big and small ways throughout the school year. In this session, we will examine how to support students as creators of content. We will look at how to develop the supporting resources necessary for everyday artifacts of student learning as well as for larger independent and collaborative projects. This session will provide an overview and hands-on opportunities for exploring open-ended creation tools.

Creating Inclusive Classrooms

In order for students to engage in three-dimensional phenomena-based lessons, we need a fourth dimension: a strong class ethos. In this session we will explore and activities that will allow you to co-create a class ethos with your students that position all learners as valuable members of the class, to feel a sense of belonging and become active participants in their own learning.

Executive Functioning is a Superpower

This session defines Executive Functioning and demonstrates actionable strategies to include in daily pedagogies to enhance student performance across age groups and disciplines. Dr. Thomas E. Brown argues there are six categories of Executive Functioning: “activation, focus, effort, emotional-regulation, memory, and action.”

Social Learning: Designing for collaboration through playful ed tech tools

How do we as educators make the most of social learning, and how can we leverage technology to craft collaborative experiences that are engaging and sticky? There are lots of ed tech tools that let students work together, but it takes thoughtful learning design and an understanding of the pedagogy of collaboration to integrate meaningful social connection into our teaching.

IB DP Success Through A Graduate’s Lens – 10 Things I Wish I Knew

 During this session, Aaron & Hazel will look at the IBDP through a successful student’s perspective, establishing key tips and methods for success which helped them excel in their diplomas. An engaging, dynamic and fun session to help teachers and educators better capture some of the less obvious elements of what make an IBDP journey so enriching.