Laker Lessons
As more and more teaching and learning moves to a virtual setting, the GVSU CSO is recording short webinars for educators to view whenever they prefer. Our Laker Lesson videos tackle the broad topics that we usually cover each year during in-person workshops such as literacy, tech tools, or utilizing digital assessments.
Laker Lessons for Research-Based Best Practices
Research in Action: Disciplinary Literacy
Description: Dr. Venessa Keesler dives into the research around how well students use foundational literacy processes within a specific field of study, going beyond content area reading. She also provides an overview of current evidence-based tactics for promoting the development of disciplinary literacy skills.
Run Time: 25 minutes
Research in Action: Classroom Management
Description: In this Laker Lesson, Dr. Venessa Keesler discusses 5 of the best research-based classroom management strategies for K-12 educators. She goes into specific tactics for each strategy to give viewers a playbook for improving interactions between students and school staff.
Run Time: 25 minutes
Research in Action: High Quality School Counseling
Description: In this Laker Lesson about putting educational research into action, Dr. Venessa Keesler discusses the significance of having school counselors on staff. She also outlines some of the key do's and don'ts that all school counselors should be aware of when supporting students.
Run Time: 26 minutes
Research in Action: Chronic Absenteesim
Description: In this Laker Lesson, on putting educational research into action, Dr. Venessa Keesler dives into what we currently know about chronic absenteeism (causes, effects, and prevalence), as well as what we can do to reduce it.
Run Time: 29 minutes.
Research in Action: Postsecondary Educational Transitions
Description: In this Laker Lesson on putting educational research into action, Dr. Venessa Keesler dives into high-quality research related to the significance of creating a college-going culture for K-12 students.
Run Time: 19 minutes.
Research in Action: Staffing in Schools
Description: In this Laker Lesson on putting educational research into action, Dr. Venessa Keesler dives into high-quality research related to staffing schools. She explains some of the top strategies for how to creatively recruit and hire new staff to K-12 schools.
Run Time: 16 minutes.
Research in Action: Instructional Time
Description: In this Laker Lesson on putting educational research into action, Dr. Venessa Keesler dives in high-quality research related to balancing instructional time. She explains why or why not its helpful to adjust the amount of instructional time, how its structured, and the need for extra attention on mitigating disruptions.
Run Time: 17 minutes.
Research in Action: High Dosage Tutoring
Description: In this Laker Lesson, Dr. Venessa Keesler dives in high-quality research related to improving student learning through high-leverage tutoring. She explains what it is and how it can be scaled up to positively impact a large number of students. This video is part of the Research in Action series created in 2022-2023.
Run Time: 20 minutes.
Research in Action: School Climate and Staff Satisfaction
Description: In this Laker Lesson, Dr. Venessa Keesler dives in high-quality research related to improving staff satisfaction and retention. She details tactics that teachers and school leaders can quickly utilize to build a more positive school climate. This video is part of the Research in Action series created in 2022-2023.
Run Time: 20 minutes.
Research in Action: Professional Learning and Instructional Coaching
Description: In this Laker Lesson, Dr. Venessa Keesler dives in high-quality research related to picking impactful professional development plans and instructional coaching techniques. This video is part of the Research in Action series created in 2022-2023.
Run Time: 24 minutes
Research in Action: The Best Evidence of Pandemic Recovery in Education
Description: In this Laker Lesson, Dr. Venessa Keesler details what schools should look for when making decisions about research-based instructional practices to help combat pandemic learning loss. She explains the difference between good research and junk research, and then shares high-quality evidence into what is working right now to help kids regain ground in growth and achievement. This video is part of the Research in Action series created in 2022-2023.
Run Time: 19 minutes
Laker Lessons for Assessment
NWEA Data for Leaders (Spring data reports)
Description: GVSU's Jeff Maxwell shows school leaders how to identify and run the highest leverage NWEA reports that determine student achievement over the course of an entire school year. He also demonstrates how to use specific data reports to communicate to all stakeholders, inform instructional practices, and coach teachers.
Run Time: 20 minutes
NWEA Data for Leaders (Winter data reports)
Description: GVSU's Jeff Maxwell shows school leaders how to identify and run the highest leverage NWEA reports that determine mid-year student achievement and growth trends. He also demonstrates how to use specific data reports to communicate to all stakeholders, inform instructional practices, and coach teachers.
Run Time: 28 minutes
NWEA Data for Leaders (Fall data reports)
Description: GVSU's Jeff Maxwell shows school leaders how to identify and run the highest leverage NWEA reports that determine student achievement at the start of the school year. He also demonstrates how to use specific data reports to communicate to all stakeholders, inform instructional practices, and coach teachers.
Run Time: 26 minutes
Assessment in a Post-COVID World.
Description: The world of assessment is always changing, and that is particularly true in the last year as we grapple with the implications of the global pandemic. Assessment expert Dr. Venessa Keesler provides the latest information on what K-12 assessment is slated to look like for Michigan students in 2021 and beyond. Dr. Keesler is an education consultant with more than 20 years of experience of education leadership at the local and state level, formerly serving as the Deputy Superintendent for the Michigan Department of Education.
Run Time: 29 minutes
Laker Lessons for Literacy
Understanding English Code Complexities (Part 3)
Description: In the final part of their conversation around decoding words, Wendy Miller and Jill Weber of the GV NextEd Co-Lab demonstrate how to show kids that the same letters can sometimes make different sounds.
Run Time: 10 minutes
Understanding English Code Complexities (Part 2)
Description: Wendy Miller and Jill Weber of the GV NextEd Co-Lab continue their decoding discussion by demonstrating how to use sound boxes with students to show them that the same sound can be created through multiple letter combinations.
Run Time: 13 minutes
Understanding English Code Complexities (Part 1)
Description: Decoding the English language is an important skill kids should learn from an early age to succeed in literacy. Wendy Miller and Jill Weber of the GV NextEd Co-Lab demonstrate how teachers can use sound boxes in 1-on-1 or small group settings to show students that more than one letter can spell a sound.
Run Time: 13 minutes
Phonemic Awareness and Manipulating Sounds
Description: After students understand blending and segmenting sounds, they are ready to learn how to manipulate them. Wendy Miller and Jill Weber of the GV NextEd Co-Lab demonstrate how to teach kids to delete and substitute sounds while they are learning to read.
Run Time: 15 minutes
Phonemic Awareness and Segmenting
Description: Once students understand how to blend sounds, they can quickly move to segmenting. Wendy Miller and Jill Weber of the GV NextEd Co-Lab guide viewers through the research behind phonemic awareness and segmenting and demonstrate how to appropriately segment instruction in both an in-person setting and virtual environment.
Run Time: 12 minutes
Phonological Awareness and Blending Sounds
Description: Blending letter sounds is critical literacy building block that every young student should master. Wendy Miller and Jill Weber of the GV NextEd Co-Lab will guide viewers through the research behind phonemic awareness and blending and demonstrate how to appropriately provide blending instruction in both an in-person setting and virtual environment.
Run Time: 7 minutes
Additional Laker Lessons
Understanding the Meaning of "Evidence-Based"
Description: Educators are often told they need to utilize "evidence-based" instructional practices. But what does "evidence-based" really mean? Dr. Venessa Keesler, an assessment expert and former Deputy Superintendent at the Michigan Department of Education, breaks down the term and provides tips that will help teachers select practices that are grounded in quality research.
Run Time: 50 minutes
Questions?
If you have any questions about Laker Lessons or issues with the videos, please email Michael Cousins, the GVSU CSO's manager of communications.