Some things I have learned about the U.S by Juan Luis Cortés Nicolás

This OER (Open Educational Resource) presents a series of activities that encourage and motivate students to explore and experiment, as well as to work in teams to learn about different aspects of the English curriculum related to the development of their Cultural Competence. 

ESO (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, equivalent to secondary school) students will be able to develop their skills and acquire knowledge in a way that relates concepts and associates ideas, solves problems, and enhances their critical thinking, so that it becomes part of their personal and academic development to function in their environment.

The OER, which can be found in the Creatum repository of digital educational objects of the Community of Madrid, consists of a set of varied learning situations, presented as small challenges that spark curiosity and creativity, and can be developed over several sessions. 

This is a didactic proposal in which, through learning situations related to the USA, it is intended to develop the cultural competence of English Language students. It will aim to introduce aspects of the country's history, traditions, and geography, highlighting the following content:

The Civil Rights Movement in the USA, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks.

The celebration of Thanksgiving and the importance of being grateful.

The National Parks of the USA, emphasizing Big Bend National Park, located in Texas.

For the development of the learning situations, the English language will be used as a vehicle, in any ESO course, with the activities being especially suitable for bilingual courses, as they have to learn the cultural component of the foreign language and possess greater communicative skills to express themselves in English.

Find this OER on:

https://innovacionyformacion.educa.madrid.org/creatum/odes/9acad783-f54a-4454-b1cb-ec8ac1347151/index.html

ProfRobBob. Youtube channel #Mathematics

ProfRobBob is a YouTube channel created by Rob Tarrou, offering a comprehensive collection of mathematics education videos. The channel covers a wide range of topics, including Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Calculus 1, and Calculus 2. 

These lessons are designed to help students understand complex mathematical concepts through clear and detailed explanations. In addition to YouTube content, 

Rob Tarrou maintains a website, Tarrou's Chalk Talk, where lessons are organized by chapters within each subject, providing a structured learning experience. 

https://www.profrobbob.com/

The channel features various playlists, allowing learners to navigate through topics systematically

https://www.youtube.com/@profrobbob

Becas para la participación en un programa intensivo de inmersión lingüística en inglés

Se han convocado en régimen de concurrencia competitiva un máximo de 2.400 becas para la participación en un programa intensivo de inmersión lingüística en inglés en España en régimen de internado y pensión completa, de una semana de duración, en el mes de julio de 2025.

El plazo para la presentación de solicitudes finalizará el día 13 de marzo de 2025 a las 15:00 hora peninsular.

Serán requisitos necesarios para optar a estas becas:

a)     Haber nacido entre el 1 de enero de 2005 y el 31 de diciembre de 2008

b)     Estar matriculado en el curso 2024-2025 en cualquier curso de alguno de los siguientes estudios:

-          Bachillerato

-          Enseñanzas profesionales de música y danza

-          Grado medio de Formación Profesional

-          Grado medio de artes plásticas y diseño

-          Grado medio de enseñanzas deportivas y

-          Enseñanzas de idiomas de nivel intermedio o avanzado

c)      Haber obtenido en el curso 2024-2025 la condición de becario del Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes en alguno de los estudios reseñados en el apartado anterior conforme a la Resolución 13 de marzo de 2024, de la Secretaría de Estado de Educación, por la que se convocan becas de carácter general, para el curso académico 2024-2025, para estudiantes que cursen estudios postobligatorios (BOE del 15 de marzo).

d)     Tener aprobadas todas las asignaturas del curso 2023-2024, a fecha de finalización del curso, con una nota final mínima de 9 puntos en la asignatura de inglés. En el caso de solicitantes que estén matriculados en enseñanzas bilingües, pero no hayan cursado la asignatura de inglés como materia individualizada el curso anterior, se tendrá en cuenta la calificación obtenida en la asignatura de inglés de cuarto curso de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria.

e)     Estar situado en un lugar del orden de prelación de solicitudes que le permita la obtención de una de las becas convocadas.

https://www.infosubvenciones.es/bdnstrans/GE/es/convocatorias/813674

https://aee.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es/convocatorias.html

Love is in the air #ValentinesDay #IESAzorín #Petrer

 

Facing History & Ourselves

Facing History & Ourselves is a global non-profit organization founded in 1976, dedicated to using lessons from history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up against racism, antisemitism, and other forms of bigotry and hate.

The organization provides educators with professional development, teaching strategies, and resources to help students connect historical events to contemporary issues, fostering critical thinking and ethical decision-making. Their curriculum covers topics such as the Holocaust, civil rights movements, and other instances of injustice and prejudice, aiming to promote a more inclusive and informed society.

https://www.facinghistory.org/

Women in Research

The year 2025 marks two important anniversaries: 10 years of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) and 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, both focused on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Even though gender equality in science is essential for a better future, women and girls still face many obstacles and biases when pursuing scientific careers.

To close this gap, we need to break stereotypes, highlight inspiring role models, support women's progress with special programs, and create inclusive spaces through policies that promote diversity and fairness.

The "Women in Research" series by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) showcases inspiring stories of women across various fields of research and innovation. These narratives highlight their contributions, challenges, and achievements, aiming to promote diversity and encourage more women to pursue careers in science and research. The series includes interviews and features on platforms like YouTube, where viewers can learn about the journeys of these remarkable women.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkjB0VcEl5P-lB56uVLk35_Vn9_7Eh7Xa

EasyLang AI

EasyLang AI is an application developed by MyLens that leverages artificial intelligence to facilitate language learning in an engaging and personalized manner. It transforms your preferred topics or content into concise visual lessons tailored to your native language, allowing your interests to guide your language acquisition process. 

The platform supports various input formats, including CSV/Excel files, PDFs, images, YouTube links, web addresses, and extended text. This flexibility enables users to learn from content that genuinely interests them, enhancing the learning experience.

By converting complex information into easily digestible visuals, EasyLang AI aims to make language learning both enjoyable and effective. The application's approach ensures that learners remain engaged and can grasp new concepts with greater ease.

https://mylens.ai/apps/easylang

III #Kahoot Olympics

14 de febrero de 2025

🕒 3 Sesiones

Inscripciones en:

https://forms.office.com/e/eHQtiH59hw

The UDL Guidelines 3.0

The UDL Guidelines serve as a practical tool for applying the Universal Design for Learning framework, which was created by CAST to enhance teaching and learning for everyone, grounded in scientific research on how humans learn. The ultimate aim of UDL is to empower learners to become purposeful and reflective, resourceful and authentic, as well as strategic and action-oriented.

These guidelines provide valuable support to educators, curriculum designers, researchers, parents, and others, helping them implement the UDL framework effectively. With a collection of actionable suggestions, the UDL Guidelines can be adapted to any subject area or learning context, ensuring that all learners have access to engaging and meaningful educational experiences that challenge and inspire them.

This new iteration of the UDL Guidelines responds to a strong call from the field to address critical barriers rooted in biases and systems of exclusion. This new update aims to respond to this call and to work toward fulfilling the promise of the Guidelines as a tool to guide the design of learning environments that more fully honor and value every learner.

https://udlguidelines.cast.org/

What’s at Play? Unpacking the Relationship between Teaching and Learning

What kinds of teacher pedagogical practices can improve foundational learning—including basic literacy and numeracy skills—of students in primary schools in low- and middle-countries? And are there promising policy levers for improving the pedagogical skills and content knowledge of teachers? 

This discussion paper examines the dynamic and interconnected relationship between teaching practices and learning outcomes. It explores how pedagogical methods, educational strategies, and the roles of educators impact student engagement, knowledge acquisition, and skill development.

Stacy,Brian William; Akmal,Maryam; Rogers,F. Halsey; Venegas Marin,Sergio; Rajaram,Hersheena; Farysheuskaya,Viyaleta.What’s at Play? Unpacking the Relationship between Teaching and Learning (English). Education Working Paper; No. 9 Washington, D.C. : World Bank Group. 

Download:

https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099011625211529079/pdf/P500778132eb1002b199171b38f37e2b936.pdf

Climate and education: strategies for adaptation, learning and play

This document is a discussion paper published by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) in collaboration with Learning Through Landscapes (LtL) in December 2024.

The paper explores the intersection of climate change and education, focusing on two primary areas:

- Climate and the curriculum. It emphasizes the importance of integrating climate education across various subjects and educational phases. The discussion includes current placements of climate topics within curricula, identifies barriers to effective implementation, and proposes strategies to embed comprehensive climate education. 

- Future-proofing the education estate. The paper examines how school infrastructures can be adapted to enhance learning experiences, promote play, and build resilience against climate-related challenges. It highlights the potential of school grounds to improve children's physical health, mental well-being, and educational outcomes by providing enriched natural environments. 

The report draws on findings from a series of roundtable discussions and a public webinar held on November 12, 2024, which brought together experts to deliberate on embedding climate education and utilizing school grounds for climate resilience.

You can access the full report here:

https://epi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Climate-and-education_strategies-for-adaptation-learning-and-play_Discussion-paper_EPI_LTL_Dec24.pdf

The Global Risks Report 2025

The Global Risks Report 2025 is the 20th edition of the World Economic Forum's annual analysis of the most pressing global risks. This report is based on the Global Risks Perception Survey 2024-2025, which gathers insights from over 900 experts worldwide. 

Key findings from the report include:

- State-based armed conflict: identified as the most immediate global risk for 2025, with nearly a quarter of respondents ranking it as the most severe concern. 

- Environmental risks: extreme weather events and biodiversity loss are highlighted as critical threats over the next decade. 

- Misinformation: recognized as a major risk in the coming years, exacerbated by technological advancements and geopolitical tensions.

The Global Risks Report can be an excellent resource for educational purposes in schools, fostering critical thinking, global awareness, and problem-solving skills. Here are some ways it can be used across different subjects and educational activities: critical reading (analyze sections of the report to teach students how to interpret complex texts, extract key information, and identify bias or perspective) or debate and argumentation (organize debates on topics such as "Which global risk poses the greatest threat to humanity?" using data from the report to support arguments).

For a comprehensive understanding, you can access the full report here:

https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Risks_Report_2025.pdf

Population Explorer (Thanks to @NaoCasanova)

Population Explorer is an online tool that provides detailed demographic data to help organizations understand their target markets. It offers quick access to information on population density, age, gender, and other demographics, facilitating market analysis and decision-making across various industries.

The platform is designed to be user-friendly, minimizing the need for complex GIS software or extensive data management. It allows users to visualize population data through interactive maps and generate summary statistics, enabling efficient site selection, market segmentation, and resource allocation. 

Population Explorer serves a wide range of sectors, including retail, real estate, healthcare, and infrastructure. By providing high-resolution demographic insights, it supports decision-makers in optimizing asset placement, targeting marketing campaigns, and accelerating strategic planning. 

For more information or to explore the tool, you can visit their website at https://populationexplorer.com/

The Six Triple Eight

I just watched this movie on a popular streaming platform, and I think it’s worth featuring on the blog due to its compelling example of resilience against both gender and racial discrimination, as depicted in this little-known story from World War II.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was a unique and historic military unit of the United States Army during World War II, known as the "Six Triple Eight." It was composed entirely of African American women, led by Commander Charity Adams Earley, and was the only African American women's unit deployed overseas during the conflict.

The battalion’s mission was to address a critical problem: a massive backlog of military mail intended for American soldiers stationed in Europe. This correspondence was essential for troop morale, but piles of undelivered letters and packages had accumulated due to logistical and organizational challenges. The "Six Triple Eight" was first sent to Birmingham, England, and later to Rouen, France, to tackle this task.

The women of the 6888th faced racism and sexism both within and outside the military, including segregation in their accommodations and workplaces. They worked in 24-hour shifts in cold, poorly lit warehouses.

Despite their vital contributions, the 6888th was largely overlooked in military history for decades. However, in recent years, their legacy has been recognized. In 2019, a monument was unveiled in their honor at the U.S. Army Women’s Museum. More recently, in March 2022, the members of the 6888th were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor granted by the United States Congress.

You can find information about the movie through this link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Six_Triple_Eight

The Library of Congress offers an intriguing collection of resources (in English) about this unit, including testimonies from its members. Access it here:

https://guides.loc.gov/6888th-central-postal-directory-battalion

This website is dedicated to these women and their achievements:

https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/

Photo source: https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/photo-gallery?lightbox=dataItem-jfe4criy4 

EU 2025: The future demand for English language in the European Union

The aim of this project was to quantify and describe the future demand for English language teaching and learning to 2025 and beyond in seven European countries.

The project was carried out in late 2017 and early 2018 by Trajectory, an independent research consultancy specialising in strategic trends analysis and forecasting. The approach is mixed method combining literature review, quantitative analysis of secondary data and qualitative research.

According to this British Council's 2018 report,  the number of potential English language learners in seven EU countries—France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain—is projected to decrease by approximately 15.3 million by 2025. This decline is attributed to demographic changes and an increasing number of adults already possessing higher levels of English proficiency.

Despite this reduction, English is expected to maintain its status as the EU's lingua franca. Employers will continue to seek employees with advanced English skills for tasks such as negotiations, problem-solving, and strategic presentations. Consequently, adults may require ongoing "top-up" tuition throughout their careers, leading to a demand for more flexible, personalized, and efficient learning methods. Traditional long-term courses may see a decline in favor of these adaptable learning solutions. Additionally, older learners may pursue English studies to stay mentally active, travel, or communicate with family abroad.

Download it here:

https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/future_demand_for_english_in_europe_2025_and_beyond_british_council_2018.pdf 

Lightnote. Interactive Music Theory Lessons

Lightnote is an interactive online platform designed to teach music theory in an engaging and accessible way. It offers bite-sized lessons that simplify complex concepts without relying on traditional musical notation or requiring prior instrument experience. The platform includes interactive exercises, virtual instruments, and ear training tools to enhance the learning experience.

For those seeking a more comprehensive understanding, Lightnote provides a premium course titled "The Complete Guide to Music Theory." This course covers topics such as chord progressions, melody creation, and the fundamentals of various music genres. It includes over 30 lessons, hundreds of interactive exercises, and additional resources like a virtual piano and guitar-specific content.

Find Lightnote on:

https://www.lightnote.co/

Talking about food

The BBC Learning English "Food" topic page is a fantastic resource for improving English skills while exploring food-related vocabulary and themes. It features engaging lessons, videos, quizzes, and articles that teach language essentials like phrases, idioms, and pronunciation, all centered around food and cooking. 

Whether you're learning to talk about your favorite meals, understand menus, or master food idioms like "spill the beans," this page offers a fun and interactive way to enhance your English. 

Perfect for learners of all levels!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/topics/food

The SIOP Model

The SIOP Model (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) is a research-based framework designed to help teachers effectively teach both academic content and language skills to English learners (ELs). 

It provides a structured approach to lesson planning and delivery that ensures students not only grasp the subject matter but also develop their English proficiency. It ensures that the teacher explicitly teaches the content while scaffolding language skills, making the lesson accessible and engaging for all learners.

The SIOP Model is built around 8 components that guide lesson design and teaching strategies:

1 Lesson preparation

Develop clear, measurable content objectives (what students will learn) and language objectives (how students will use language to learn).

Ensure materials and resources are adapted for various language levels.

2 Building background

Link new learning to students’ prior knowledge and experiences.

Emphasize key vocabulary that students need to understand the content.

3 Comprehensible input

Modify speech (e.g., slower pacing, simplified language) to make lessons understandable.

Use visual aids, gestures, and examples to clarify concepts.

4 Strategies

Teach learning strategies (e.g., summarizing, predicting) to help students organize and retain information.

Scaffold instruction by providing support and gradually increasing student independence.

5 Interaction

Promote frequent opportunities for peer interaction, such as group work and discussions.

Encourage students to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English.

6 Practice and application

Provide hands-on activities and real-world tasks where students can apply new knowledge.

Integrate all language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) into the activities.

7 Lesson delivery

Ensure lessons are engaging, well-paced, and aligned with both content and language objectives.

Keep students actively involved throughout the lesson.

8 Review and assessment

Regularly review key vocabulary and concepts to reinforce learning.

Use informal and formal assessments to check for understanding and guide future instruction.

Do you want to know more about this model?

https://blog.tcea.org/siop-model-and-digital-tools/

https://study.com/learn/lesson/siop-model-components-benefits.html

https://www.tupeloschools.com/uploaded/Departments/SIOP_8_Components_for_Teachers.pdf

Library of America short stories

This webpage offers an extensive, alphabetically organized list of stories featured in the Library of America's "Story of the Week" series. Each entry includes the author's name and the title of the story, providing readers with easy access to a diverse range of American literature. 

This resource is particularly useful for educators, students, and literature enthusiasts seeking to explore works by specific authors or to discover new stories within the American literary tradition.

https://storyoftheweek.loa.org/p/stories-sorted-by-author.html

The structure of European education systems

This website is an invaluable tool for teachers involved in Erasmus mobilities and educators across Europe. It provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the education and training systems from pre-primary to tertiary levels for the 2024/2025 academic year, covering 39 education systems in 37 countries within the Eurydice Network.

The diagrams are especially useful for understanding the structure of formal education programmes, enabling teachers to align expectations and strategies with the systems in other countries. These visual tools focus on:

Early childhood and school education, including early enrolment programmes (ISCED 0) and primary/secondary education (ISCED 1-3).

Post-secondary non-tertiary programmes (ISCED 4).

Tertiary education (ISCED 5-8).

For Erasmus participants, this resource simplifies the process of navigating different education systems, making it easier to design exchange activities, prepare students, and collaborate with partner schools. It’s also perfect for teachers from other European countries who want to deepen their understanding of how education is structured across the continent, fostering meaningful and well-informed international cooperation.

https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/data-and-visuals/european-education-structures