Michael Gaskell

1 week 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.

2 weeks 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.

1 month 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.

1 month 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?

2 months ago | 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.