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1 week ago | 
techlearning.com | Michael Gaskell
It was 2020 and a raging pandemic was well underway, shuttering teachers and families into online learning. As a school leader, I remember spending years before the pandemic urging teachers to embrace technology to support their instruction. A few tech geeks like me did. Most eventually accepted it, and the rest…well, they resisted. Suddenly, edtech was thrust into the teaching spotlight. Teachers felt the urgency and stepped into it.
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2 weeks ago | 
smartbrief.com | Michael Gaskell
5 min read EducationEducational Leadership My parents were yelling over the loud music, and I was shouting back, rebelling like any American 80s teen. A rebel yell felt good, exhilarating. In schools everywhere, children carry trauma and challenges that can interfere with their ability to learn, connect and thrive.
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1 month ago | 
techlearning.com | Michael Gaskell
Being a school leader comes with challenges. As I reflect on a 20+ year school leadership journey, the level of trust in leadership has decreased. Many reasons are responsible for this, and I won’t delve into the political polarization or social media impact. Instead, I offer a refreshing glimpse into practical ways learned through research and experience to rebuild and solidify trust.
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1 month ago | 
smartbrief.com | Michael Gaskell
5 min read EdtechEducation I started my day at the gym, checking my phone on short breaks and opening a LONG email about testing instructions. It had important directions.
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2 months ago | 
techlearning.com | Michael Gaskell
I remember when I was a new teacher and the principal raved about this odd-sounding tech tool called “mail merge.” I probably would have ignored the rest but he kept referring to it as a time saver when mass sending individualized content. With little experience in spreadsheets, it sounded like a foreign language to me. Back then, only tech geeks knew a thing or two about spreadsheets .…I was glad I went to that session on how to mail merge two decades ago.
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2 months ago | 
smartbrief.com | Michael Gaskell
As educators, we communicate with students, parents and colleagues, which makes it hard to resist relying on and responding to digital communications. But are we truly communicating or just transmitting information? This matters in the most significant “people business,” working with children and families. While digital communication has its place, it often falls short, especially when clarity and understanding are needed in sensitive and sensible situations.
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2 months ago | 
smartbrief.com | Michael Gaskell
5 min read EducationEducational Leadership As educators, we communicate with students, parents and colleagues, which makes it hard to resist relying on and responding to digital communications. But are we truly communicating or just transmitting information?
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Feb 19, 2025 | 
smartbrief.com | Michael Gaskell
Students are struggling with body dysmorphia, possibly more than ever, due to the influences of social media. Body dysmorphia is a condition where a person is preoccupied with perceived flaws in their appearance, often leading to repetitive behaviors and significant distress. The repetitive behaviors include mirror checking, camouflaging, skin picking and excessive grooming, all driven by preoccupation with perceived appearance flaws. Body dysmorphia can also lead to eating disorders.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
smartbrief.com | Michael Gaskell
5 min read Best PracticesEducationEducational LeadershipInsightsSpecial Education I often begin conference presentations about at-risk children, those who face monumental obstacles, by sharing the true story of one child — a little boy identified at an early age as unlikely to succeed.
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Dec 1, 2024 | 
techlearning.com | Michael Gaskell
As a school leader, I have witnessed a surging interest in implementing phone management systems, such as Yondr phone pouches, to address distractions to student learning. These magnetically sealed pouches are gaining traction in schools, offering the potential to reduce distractions, improve student focus, and enhance more direct social interactions among students. At the same time, the implementation of phone pouches has brought controversy and unique challenges.
