MassCUE December News and PD

MONTHLY NEWS | DEC. 2024 MassCUE News Better Together Virtual Event: Recording Available December Featured Educator Dr. Hossam Elsayyad Save the Date! Corporate Partners Showcase set for 2/27/2025 Classroom Grants: Applications open through 1/10/2024 SEE THE NEWS BLAST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS View the PD news to learn about exciting professional development opportunities! SEE PD OFFERINGS Interested in signing up for our monthly news ? View our website subscription page.  SUBSCRIBE NOW   Monthly Newsletter Logo

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What’s the focus of Winter CUECamp? Help us Choose!

What's the focus of Winter CUEcamp? Help us choose! MassCUE is inviting your input on our next CUEcamp. We are excited to announce that we will be returning to the Museum of Science in Boston on February 21, 2025, for our popular CUEcamp: a full day of hands-on professional learning. To ensure we deliver an event that meets your specific needs, we're inviting you to vote on the theme for the day. Choose from topics like accessibility, design thinking/maker spaces, technology in storytelling, and more. Please fill out the form below and let us know which areas of focus would be most meaningful to you. Submit your vote below and plan to join us on February 21st at the Museum of Science! VOTE HERE!

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New Year, New Focus on Digital Equity (2025 Winter BC→DE Cohort)

NEW YEAR, NEW FOCUS ON DIGITAL EQUITY Join us in January for the winter cohort of our Building Capacity through Digital Equity program.  If you have been looking for strategies and systems to help you integrate technology into your classroom, school, or district while promoting equity for all students, the BC→DE Winter Cohort is the perfect opportunity. This flexible program will help you develop your expertise in educational technology while learning strategies to ensure that all students benefit. When you join our winter cohort, you’ll gain access to a supportive community of educators and participate in structured learning experiences designed to help you bridge the digital divide.   Visit our BC→DE page to learn more about this flexible program and register for the winter cohort. VISIT THE BC→DE PAGE

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December Featured Educator – Dr. Hossam Elsayyad

For Dr. Hossam Elsayyad, language learning is more than just academics. It’s about building confidence and creating a sense of belonging. As an English Language Development teacher at the Wawecus Road School in Worcester, Dr. Elsayyad integrates culturally responsive teaching and innovative tools with the goal of creating a classroom where every student feels valued, capable, and excited to learn. “Helping students overcome language barriers, express themselves, and gain confidence in their abilities is incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Elsayyad says. “I’m passionate about teaching English language learners because I believe in the transformative power of education.” Dr. Elsayyad leverages technology to enhance language development across the core domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. His innovative use of AI tools has transformed language instruction. He uses Simplified AI to create engaging, visual lessons by turning written text into dynamic video content, making it easier for visual learners to grasp concepts. Pi AI gives students practice speaking in a safe, low-pressure environment through simulated real-life conversations. He creates differentiated activities with ChatGPT, adjusting task complexity to match students’ language levels. “With ChatGPT, you can simplify vocabulary and structures for beginners while challenging advanced learners with more complex language,” he says. “This ensures that all students are appropriately engaged, maintaining high expectations without watering down the content.” One of Dr. Elsayyad’s core beliefs is that learning is a collaborative journey. Involving students in setting goals and reflecting on their progress empowers them and fosters ownership. He integrates digital portfolios, primarily through Seesaw, to track and showcase student progress. These portfolios include writing samples, voice recordings, and project work, allowing students to reflect on their growth and take pride in their achievements. He uses Imagine Learning, an adaptive program that tailors lessons to each student's proficiency level, to provide the right challenge and instant feedback. “Together, these tools help me stay organized and offer families easy access to their child’s progress, fostering a sense of ownership and boosting students' confidence,” he says. “For English learners, seeing their improvement is especially motivating.” Another favorite tool for Dr. Elsayyad is Canva, which allows students to create visually compelling projects like infographics and storyboards, reinforcing vocabulary and comprehension. For group projects, he uses Google Slides. Students collaborate to create presentations on topics such as animals, foods, or family traditions, fostering creativity while allowing them to practice their language skills. He uses Google Classroom for organizing assignments, offering feedback, and maintaining communication with both students and parents. “These tools make learning interactive and give students a chance to express themselves in creative ways, turning language practice into an engaging, meaningful experience,” he says. His advice to fellow ELD teachers: build strong relationships with your students. When you understand their backgrounds, cultures, and interests, it helps you connect with them and make the material more relevant. “Embrace technology, but always use it with purpose. It should enhance learning, not complicate it,” he says. “And above all, create a welcoming classroom. A supportive environment encourages students to take risks with their language practice, which is essential for growth.” Ensuring that students feel confident and engaged, especially when facing language barriers, can be a challenge, he says. Balancing the diverse language abilities and cultural backgrounds of his students requires creativity and flexibility. The reward, he says, is watching his students grow. “Whether it’s the first time a student speaks up in class or the pride they feel when sharing a completed project, these moments remind me of why I do this work,” he says. “Their resilience and progress inspire me every day.”   Hossam Elsayyad is an experienced ELD educator and researcher, currently teaching in Worcester, MA. With a Ph.D. in English Education from the University of BathSpa, his work focuses on bilingualism, language acquisition, and the impact of working memory on reading comprehension. Hossam integrates culturally responsive teaching and digital technology to foster English language development and build intellectual agency in his students. Passionate about supporting English language learners, he focuses on creating an inclusive, student-centered classroom that respects and celebrates cultural diversity.

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Recording Available – Better Together

Watch the Recording All Hands on Deck: The Shared Responsibility of Student Well-Being When it comes to technology and student well-being, we all have a role to play in keeping kids safe. Educators from organizations across the commonwealth joined forces on Thursday, November 21 to tackle the issues and make suggestions on student data privacy, social media use and more. Watch the full recording of our November Better Together event below: This event was held in partnership with the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), the MA Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD), the Massachusetts Educational Technology Administrators Association (METAA) and the Mass School Library Association (MSLA). Resources Discussed by Panelists VIEW RESOURCES IN FULL-SCREEN MODE Featured Panelists CES Julia Sabourin Chief Operating Officer Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office Ronna Zigmand Tech Director, Librarian Richmond Consolidated School CSTA Megan Bounit Technology Officer Buckingham Browne & Nichols School MASCD Suzy Brooks Director of Instructional Technology Mashpee Public Schools METAA Trisha Leary Director of Technology and Digital Learning Seekonk Public Schools MSLA Laura Gardner Librarian, Dartmouth Middle School Moderators (MassCUE) Jen Thomas MassCUE Brandon Hall MassCUE

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Influence and Advocacy Update: U.S. Department of Ed Releases AI Toolkit

Influence & Advocacy Update November 2024 U.S. Department of Education Releases AI Toolkit On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Ed Tech released an AI toolkit for safe, ethical, and equitable AI integration for K-12. This new federal AI resource comes as more districts look for guidance around AI in their classrooms. While many states have released their own K-12 AI guidance, this toolkit will provide a more uniform resource for developing school district AI plans. The Office of Ed Tech is committed to encouraging innovative technological advances to improve teaching and learning across the nation’s education systems in a safe, ethical and equitable environment/manner. Read the announcement here. AI TOOLKIT READ THE ANNOUCEMENT

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MassCUE Nov News and PD

November News Blast Check out the latest newsletter for all that MassCUE has to offer. Classroom Grants: applications open Fall Conference 2024: Earn grad credit Still time to register for Coaching Master Class Influence & Advocacy Committee update: AI toolkit MassCUE News_ November 2024 November PD News View the PD News to find out information about exciting upcoming professional development opportunities. MassCUE PD Offerings - November 2024

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Celebration of Educators Kicks Off Fall Conference 2024

The 2024 MassCUE Fall Conference got off to a great start with a celebration of three amazing educators who are using educational technology to make a difference for students and colleagues. The annual President’s Dinner featured an awards ceremony for this year’s Pathfinder, Administrator and Shelley Chamberlain Community Service award winners. Michael Rubin Uxbridge High School Principal Michael Rubin knows who to carry a vision forward in the face of adversity and obstacles. This year’s winner of the MassCUE Administrator Award also finds time to share his expertise in educational technology, AI and the Pathways program. When AI first appeared on the educational scene, Board Member Jessica Brittingham pointed out that Rubin learned as much as he could about this technology so that he could be a leader in this innovative time in technology. Read more about our 2024 award winners. Beth Hughes An English Language Arts teacher in Wakefield, Pathfinder Award winner Beth Hughes is a passionate educator and advocate for all students. Board Member Chris Gosselin joined President Casey Daigle in presenting the award to Hughes, saying she is a pioneer in edtech who is always finding new ways to incorporate tech tools in the classroom. Read more about our 2024 award winners. Jared Perrine He is the Director of Technology for the Naragansett Regional School District, but his superpower is his ability to remind us all of our human connection. Jared Perrine has worn many hats in the MassCUE organization over the years. President-Elect Sarah Boyle says he listens carefully to others and approaches every idea with the question, “how will this benefit our teachers and students?” She says he earned the Shelley Chamberlain Community Service Award for his servant leadership and for being the kind of person who will always stop to ask how you are doing and always listen for the answer. Read more about our 2024 award winners.

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Classroom Grants – Open Oct.16, 2024-Jan. 10, 2025

Elevate Your Classroom with a MassCUE Classroom Grant Ready to transform your teaching and inspire your students? Apply for a…

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Join the Goosechase Scavenger Hunt at the MassCUE Fall Conference

  Make Discoveries, Win Prizes! Get ready to explore the MassCUE Fall Conference in a whole new way. Join the Goosechase Scavenger hunt! As you complete the missions, you’ll discover new areas of the conference and earn the chance to win some amazing prizes: Chromebook Gift Basket courtesy of Custom Computer Specialists New England Patriots Memorabilia courtesy of The Craft Group Celtics Tickets courtesy of The Ockers Company Goodie Bag courtesy of ClassLink One Free Course courtesy of the CES MassCUE Membership courtesy of MassCUE & more! Once you have registered for the conference, watch your email for a Join Code and a Password. Download the Goosechase App and log in to get started on the pre-conference missions right away! Need more information on how to download? Visit the Fall Conference Apps page of our website. All participants who earn at least 150 points and are present at the time of the drawing will be eligible to win. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make new discoveries and win big at the MassCUE Fall Conference.

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MassCUE Oct News and PD

October News Blast Check out the latest newsletter for all that MassCUE has to offer. Fall Conference 2024: still time to register October Featured Educator Mindy Murphy Influence & Advocacy Committee update: New Safety Measures for Teen Social Media MassCUE News_ October 2024 October PD News View the PD News to find out information about exciting upcoming professional development opportunities. MassCUE PD Offerings - October 2024

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MassCUE Sept News and PD

September News Blast Check out the latest newsletter for all that MassCUE has to offer. Fall Conference 2024 keynotes, workshops and more Fall Conference social media ambassador and volunteer applications Join a Special Interest Group MassCUE News_ September 2024 September PD News View the PD News to find out information about exciting upcoming professional development opportunities. MassCUE PD Offerings - September 2024 Interested in signing up for our monthly news or viewing our archives?  Visit our website subscription page.

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