Second Avenue Learning

"With class time precious, you might still be hesitating. But consider the words of Horace Mann, often called the father of American public education: 'Education is our only political safety. Outside of this ark, all is deluge.'" — Web Hutchins for EdWeek: https://buff.ly/3ZZ9pxt As Hutchins—a veteran social studies teacher—points out, the 2023 Harvard Youth Poll found that a majority of young Americans didn’t feel their high school education prepared them for the practical aspects of voting. What strategies is your district using to close this gap? Share in the comments how you’re preparing the next generation to be informed, engaged citizens during this #VoterEducationWeek. #CivicEducation #VoterEducation #2024Election #CivicEngagement

🚨 The countdown is on: just 4 weeks until the 2024 Presidential Election! 🚨 With increasing political polarization and unprecedented events, it’s a crucial time for educators to deliver impactful non-partisan civics education. According to the Institute for Citizens & Scholars’ (ICS) 2023 survey (🔗 https://buff.ly/4fdZpoD ) students who demonstrate strong knowledge of U.S. civics and current events are not only more likely to engage in civic life, but also more likely to reject political violence. So, how can we support educators in this mission? CivxNow, a coalition dedicated to making civics education a national priority, recommends combining direct civics instruction with practices like: 🗨️ Viewpoint-diverse classroom discussions 🔬 Project-based learning 🗳️ Simulations of democratic processes At Second Avenue Learning, we’re addressing these needs with Election Edge, offering comprehensive lesson plans, discussion prompts, project ideas, and our “Run Your Own Election” feature. We’re excited to empower teachers and help foster the next generation of informed, engaged citizens. Learn more about Election Edge and how we’re supporting civics education here: https://buff.ly/3zFTQ39 #EdTech #CivicsEducation #2024Election #CivicEngagement #ElectionEdge #EdTechInnovation #DemocracyInAction #education #k12 #digitallearning

Our friends at the USPTO have some great #career opportunities available. Check them out! #employment

🎉 We’re excited to announce that Election Edge is a finalist for the 2024 Serious Games Showcase & Challenge! 🗳️🎮 Second Avenue is honored to be recognized for our innovative approach to civics education. Catch us at the showcase in Orlando, December 2-6th! 🔗 https://buff.ly/3zEjuoS #SeriousGames #EdTech #ElectionEdge #CivicEducation #SGS&C2024

At this month’s Lunch & Learn, we had the pleasure of hearing Travis W. Windleharth from foundry10 present on how players build mental models through #play and how he approaches analysis. Travis conducts qualitative research of players mental models through #TAIPA or Talk Aloud Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. There were lots of points of connection including Piaget, Flow Theory, #Constructivism, and Mayer's research. The team, and especially our game designers and developers, appreciated Travis’ insights and had lots of questions! Second Avenue Learning #learningdesign #gamedesign #flowtheory #research #IPA #InterpretativePhenomenologicalAnalysis #mentalmodel #education #K12 #elearning #seriousgames

🎓 Innovative Classroom Assessment with Election Edge: Allan Lichtman’s “Keys to the White House” 🗝️ In today’s EdTech landscape, we often see gamified products driving engagement—but there’s something to be said for tools that offer a more flexible, creative approach to assessments. That’s where products like Election Edge shine, allowing educators to apply their own creativity to lesson plans, making content adaptable to any classroom and any news cycle. Take this recent lesson idea inspired by Allan Lichtman’s recent 2024 election prediction (source: https://buff.ly/4efgoH2) Lichtman’s prediction model has accurately forecasted 9 out of the last 10 U.S. presidential elections, meaning it has outperformed traditional poll-based models. Instead of relying on polling, Lichtman’s model uses 13 true/false indicators—called the “Keys to the White House”—to predict outcomes based on the incumbent party’s performance. Here’s how educators can bring it to life: 1) Familiarize students with the 13 Keys (the attached video from the NYTimes video does this nicely). 2) Choose any U.S. election year from 1860 or later using the Election Edge tool. 3) Individually or in groups, have students reverse engineer which of the “13 Keys” Lichtman would have said were true or false for that election based on the outcome and the information/primary sources in Election Edge. 4) Compare and discuss findings in class, and see how close students' answers match up with what Lichtman said for that year. (Cheat Sheet: https://buff.ly/3MPcrMW) 5) As a bonus, educators offer small prizes for the most accurate predictions! Or even have students debate the merits and pitfalls of different election prediction models. This activity allows for stealth assessment of student understanding and participation without the need for strict gamification, while still fostering critical thinking and engagement in a way that is low-stakes and fun! 💡 The flexibility of EdTech tools like Election Edge allows for more diverse applications in the classroom, enabling educators to shape activities around learning goals and create their own desired level of gamification rather than fitting lessons into pre-built game mechanics. To learn more visit https://buff.ly/3XOkiAH or email info@secondavenuelearning.com #EdTech #ElectionEdge #FlexibleLearning #CreativeAssessment #ClassroomInnovation #CivicEducation #SecondAvenueLearning

Happy National Voter Registration Day! Educators play a key role in shaping the next generation of informed voters, and K-12 Social Studies education is central to that mission. But in today’s polarized climate, teachers may find that tackling essential civics topics in the classroom is daunting. That’s where Election Edge comes in. Election Edge is a data-driven, non-partisan EdTech solution designed to simplify complex topics like: -Primaries and caucuses -The Electoral College -Poll data analysis And much more! Our goal is to help teachers empower students with the knowledge they need to navigate the intricacies of our democratic process. For schools and districts looking to enrich their U.S. History and Civics curriculum with a reliable, engaging tool, Election Edge is the answer. Want to learn more about integrating Election Edge into your offerings? Contact us at info@secondavenuelearning.com. #NationalVoterRegistrationDay #EdTech #CivicsEducation #ElectionEdge #K12 #USHistory #DigitalLearning #StudentEngagement

🔒 Did you know? Over 50% of data breaches in K-12 schools between 2016-2021 originated from third-party vendors, including #EdTech companies. (Source: K12 Security Information Exchange https://buff.ly/4d4yoCi). Many breaches occur when hackers target EdTech providers, impacting multiple school districts in a single attack. Shockingly, 89% of EdTech companies collect students' personally identifiable information (PII) in violation of the Federal Trade Commissions' warning regarding COPPA guidelines (Source: Human Rights Watch https://buff.ly/4gkYlAA). 📊 Schools and districts must prioritize using EdTech solutions that are #FERPA and #COPPA-compliant to protect sensitive student data. With cybersecurity threats on the rise, it's crucial for schools to carefully vet their vendors and ensure proper safeguards are in place. EdTech companies must also do their part to ensure that they are not collecting student data for any purpose other than to benefit the school and are not storing it for longer than is necessary. 🔑 Let’s work together to ensure student data privacy and safety. If you have questions about ensuring FERPA and COPPA compliance for your EdTech products reach out to us at info@secondavenuelearning.com #EdTech #DataSecurity #StudentPrivacy #Cybersecurity

Our CEO Tory Van Voorhis is attending the EdExec Summit in Atlanta this week. Yesterday she participated in a panel discussion entitled, "EdTech Industry CEO's Share Roadmaps of Growth & Lessons Learned" with Chad A. Stevens, Ph.D. from TinkRworks, Inc., Jessica Parnell from Edovate Learning Corp. and Din Heiman from Amplio. Tech & Learning Second Avenue Learning #education #elearning #digitallearning

“We’re going to need technology companies to step up and do more. We as individuals are going to need to do more,” — Doug Levin for GeekWire: https://buff.ly/4dWrArA Cybersecurity threats in K-12 schools are escalating, with attacks becoming more frequent and severe. Highline Public Schools had to cancel classes for 17,000+ students yesterday, and now today as well, due to a cybersecurity breach reported on Sunday. Schools are increasingly targeted because they store vast amounts of sensitive data but often lack the advanced protections required to keep it safe. Outdated systems and limited budgets make them even more vulnerable. EdTech companies must take greater responsibility in protecting student and staff data by offering secure, #FERPA and #COPPA-compliant solutions. Schools can only be as secure as the technology they rely on. It's time for technology providers to step up and be part of the solution. 🛡️ Let’s work together to safeguard our schools and ensure students’ data remains secure. #CyberSecurity #K12 #EdTech #DataPrivacy #StudentDataSecurity #Education