feature
In fact, Bridges said of all the resources he learned about through the digital learning coach program, the diversity of Nearpod and its educational applications and activities have made it the most useful digital classroom tool he has used so far. “Nearpod allows me to imbed 3D locations and interactive videos within my PowerPoints,” Bridges said. “With these I can show students places in Japan and China, and even the seven wonders of the world. The students are able to visit these places virtually and maneuver around, so the kids get to experience history and
f
historical places from beyond the pages of a book.”
using them in the classroom.
The digital learning coach program’s emphasis on small-group collaboration in cohorts and instructional modeling and feedback from the coaches helped teachers expand their technology capabilities and brought exciting digital learning activities to students across the state. Reflecting on her experience as a coach, Sweazy said the most rewarding experience from her perspective is seeing teachers’ excitement when they learn about new digital learning resources and how to be successful
teachers get connected with programs
“What is so rewarding is helping and activities that are already available that they simply were not aware of,” Sweazy said. “The teachers may not be able to take their students to the zoo, but with technology, they can go to the virtual zoo. Teachers can use so many different interactive games, activities and labs that can be incorporated into lessons they already teach, and it is our mission as digital learning coaches to connect them with these resources.”
Quality Counts Miss. Ranks 35th for K-12 Achievement Mississippi ranks 35th nationally for K-12 achievement in 2021, climbing from 50th in 2013, according to a fall Quality Counts report published in Education Week. The report examines achievement in school systems from prekindergarten through 12th grade and socioeconomic factors leading to success in adulthood. Mississippi earned an overall grade of C- (70.8 out of 100 points), close to the nation’s overall grade of C (76.2 out of 100 points).
raised expectations for what our students can accomplish,” said Dr. Carey Wright, the state superintendent of education. “Other states now look to Mississippi to learn how
on the Quality Counts scale, and only four states improved their score by one point or more: Kentucky (+1.7), Washington (+1.1), the District of Columbia (+1) and Georgia (+1).
Quality Counts:
Mississippi’s
K-12 Achievement Improvement STATE
SCORE/ GRADE
CHANGE 2013-2019
Illinois
76.0
i 6.9
Mississippi
69.4
i 5.4
Nevada
73.0
i 4.8
improved
most
ranking
was
based on the state’s gains on
the
2019
National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Mississippi achieved the No. 1 spot in the nation for gains on the NAEP, known as the Nation’s Report Card.
NAEP measures student The report highlighted proficiency in fourth- and Mississippi as one of only Florida 80.2 i 4.4 eighth-grade reading and four states that closed the mathematics. Mississippi achievement gap by more was the only state in the than four points between nation to show significant increases 2003 and 2019: Illinois (-6.9), Mississippi to improve outcomes for students.” (-5.4), Nevada (-4.8) and Florida (-4.4). For the past three years, Mississippi in three of the four NAEP subjects. “Student achievement has been ranked No. 2 for improvement among all The District of Columbia was the only steadily climbing in Mississippi because states and the District of Columbia. From jurisdiction to show gains in three of teachers, school leaders and families have 2020 to 2021, Mississippi gained .3 points four subjects. Spring 2022
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School Focus
