Amanda Afshar’s Post

🎉 Excited to share that I am now an Apple Certified Educator! 🍎✨ This certification empowers me to integrate Apple products seamlessly into the classroom, fostering creativity, collaboration, and innovation among my students. I look forward to using these tools to enhance the learning experience and inspire young minds! #AppleEducator #AppleEducation #InnovativeTeaching #EdTech #21stCenturyLearning #CreativeClassroom #EducationalTechnology #TeachingWithApple #PYP #MYP #IBEducation #TransformingEducation

Unlock the potential of Apple in education! 🍏📚 See how integrating Apple technology is revolutionizing teaching and learning processes, making education more interactive and impactful. Learn more about implementing Apple in your school today. Connect with us today https://lnkd.in/g-fJAkpm #apple #iplanet #education #educationspecialist #applereseller #applepartner #technology #integration

**Apple Education Impact Report 2024**: Here are my top three takeaways from the report (These are personal reflection and does not reflect my employer’s or my professional capacity) 1️⃣Commitment to Education Equity Programs like EveryoneCanCode EveryoneCanCreate have significantly broadened access to education and technology. In my Personal opinion these resources are the highest quality and can be used or repurposed by every teacher with Apple device or not. 2️⃣Empowering Educators and Professional Learning Apple has invested heavily in supporting educators through professional development programs. I have been an Apple Professional Learning Specialist for 5+ years and has been my best Professional Development. Apple Education Community** now boasts over **1M+ members** globally. Apple’s emphasis on equipping educators with the skills and resources to adapt to the evolving needs of students, making education more innovative and effective. 3️⃣Driving Impact through Technology Integration and Real-World Application The report highlights various successful initiatives that integrate coding and creative skills into the local curriculum.I personally love the #ChallengeBasedLearning framework, something which Apple hasn’t marketed it enough. #AppleEducation #AppleImpactReport #EducationTechnology Russell John Cailey Kerry-lee Schroeter. Abdul Chohan Michael Henderson Linda Scaife Olly Lewis Thomas Sale Andi Price

Set your school apart with cutting-edge Apple education solutions. Discover how our bespoke Apple integrations can enhance academic performance and foster a culture of learning and creativity, making your school a preferred choice for innovative education. Dive into our latest blog to discover the transformative power of Apple in your classrooms. Reach out to iPlanet today for a personalized consultation. #Apple #AppleEducation #AppleInSchools #iPlanet #InnovativeLearning

I work with so many teachers and leaders in schools to help them optimise their use of iPad and Mac with their students - and this framework often hits the spot! It explains the different categories of 'Digital Learning Modes' that any digital tool enables and I use it to both explain, diagnose teacher practice and help set next steps. Here are some considerations for using this kind of model effectively. - all of these modes are an important part of any learning process - the art of teaching is to know when each mode is relevant and effective - learning can be enriched and engaging when we utilise a 'multi-mode' approach - consider which modes you lean towards and why - ask, 'Are there opportunities my learners are missing out on?' To really embed the 'Creative and Collaborative' modes takes tools, knowledge, time, and most importantly, the vision and belief in the benefits for these modes to benefit our learners. If you'd like to read more about the importance of creativity in the classroom, read this infographic from Apple on 'Insights from Gallops Creativity in Learning Report.' https://lnkd.in/gf9JQdSk If you're a NZ educator, this is some great holiday reading on this much-needed approach in our schools.

👨💻When you engage with an Apple Professional Learning Specialist — either in person or online — you receive coaching, mentoring, and support that’s personalized to the needs of your educators and students. 👏You're never alone - and we'll help you unlock the potential (and amplify the impact) of your Apple devices - for you, your colleagues, and your students. https://lnkd.in/eqhvEVAG #AppleProfessionalLearning

I've had the pleasure 😀 of working or being the lead on a number of projects over the years... ▪︎ Was a model classroom to test out the Samsung Smart School platform and working closely with Samsung reps. ▪︎ Was a model classroom to test out Google Classroom (before it was even called Google Classroom) and working with Google reps. ▪︎ Led InnovateNJ ▪︎ Redesigned the learning and development program ▪︎ Created a gamified 🎮 eLearning experience for educators/staff throughout a district ▪︎ Led a model classroom redesign for future classrooms ▪︎ Oversaw the FutureReady Schools Iniative ▪︎ Oversaw Apple Learning Initiatives ▪︎ Created first-time curriculum for education/corporate sectors ▪︎ Organized and tackled curriculum rewrites ▪︎ Redesigned hiring/onboarding paperwork 📃 workflows ▪︎ Created and organized a student run genius tech bar through a collaborative effort. ▪︎ Consulted with international schools 🏫 (London, Thailand, China, Singapore, etc) ▪︎ Developed a summer in-district held learning conference (complete w/ prizes 🏆, and food 🥨 trucks) ▪︎ Presented at leading education conferences and being a featured speaker on the Google Stage! ▪︎ Managed and oversaw various cohorts and teams. ▪︎ Partnered with school districts to help them redesign their own L&D/PD programs. ▪︎ Started a badging/microcredentialing program within education amd corporate sectors. ▪︎ Built my own COVID dashboard (when that was a thing) ▪︎ Built my own Vendor Dashboard to track payments, receipts, applications and software being used, platforms we have, seats we pay for, etc. The list goes on... but the work was energetic and helped me prove my skills amd expertise in a variety of areas as well as define a culture of learning. #learning #learninganddevelopment #LXD #culturebuilding #training #projectmanagement #culture

#ThrowbackThursday to when our Level 3 Business learners visited the Apple store in Watford for a digital skills workshop 💻 Our learners worked with the team to develop a variety of skills they can use in their current studies and future careers. This included key presentation skills, top tips for working with Apple products, photography advice for marketing products, and how to code their own app! Each student picked their workshop in line with their desired destination and what they've identified as topics they struggle with, helping improve their work in future units. The skills covered in the sessions will be embedded during future teaching sessions, where students will work on their digital skills. In particular, the presentation skills that learners have developed will help them to achieve even better grades when completing their assignments. Level 3 learner Cobie said: "I usually dread presentation work as I never know how to make it digitally appealing. After the trip, I feel a lot more confident to do so and the team were so friendly. I learnt features such as how to add my own speech and videos to the presentation." Could you help boost the confidence and skillset of young people? Give a future, explore how you can inspire young minds below 👇 https://ow.ly/LAwg50RGLq5

Food for Thought: If we removed all educational labels and looked at learner challenges across the grade levels we'd find that two most common challenges that learners face are access to print/text and expression through print/text. Yet, we ask them to access and express themselves through print and written expression most of the day. That's why we need to share 3 tools on iPad to build learner empowerment: Text to Speech (Spoken Content, Speech Controller), Predictive Text and Dictation. I like to call these tools: "Tools for Learning" because it is essential all learners have exposure and experience with them. Check out more in this story in the #AppleEducationCommunity #Accessibility #UniversalAccess https://lnkd.in/gPMzUGS8

WE USE GLASS WALL FOR BLACKBOARD. DID YOU DO SIMILARLY? I particularly believe that traditional ways of group discussions at schools are killing learners' creativity. Indeed, whenever I got a whatsapp message calling for a group discussion on an assignment or something and began picturing things like blackboard, notebooks, laptop, projector in my mind, I bumped into boredom. Instead, let's do it informally, and I'm sure all members will be unlocked their potential. An informal setting for academic group discussions can significantly enhance the learning experience. It fosters a relaxed atmosphere where students feel more comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions without the pressure of formal grading or evaluation. This openness encourages more vibrant and diverse participation, leading to a richer exchange of perspectives. Moreover, the casual environment allows for spontaneous questions and debates, which can lead to deeper understanding and retention of the subject matter. Informal settings also promote collaborative learning, where students can learn from each other’s insights and experiences, cultivating a sense of community and shared learning objectives. Ultimately, the advantage of an informal setting lies in its ability to create a more engaging, interactive, and enjoyable educational experience. In the picture below, you see we used to brainstorm together on a glass wall viewing the busy Pearse Street in Dublin. We are never fed up with it!!!