The Knowledge Network for Innovations in Learning and Teaching (KNILT)
Welcome to KNILT
An open knowledge space with 700 mini-courses and 1.2 million global users, all designed by educators, for educators.
Follow KNILT Youtube Chanel; Join our KNILT Facebook group for updates and networking with fellow educators.
The University at Albany honored Dr. Jianwei Zhang with the Distinguished Public Engagement Award for his work on KNILT and innovative collaboration with schools. Thanks to all our educators and partners! (More...)
Overview of KNILT
KNILT is a long-term, ongoing project situated in the graduate courses and research projects led by Dr. Jianwei Zhang at the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY) (see Zhang Research Lab). Students enrolled in these classes (in the MS CDIT program) carry diverse expertise as PreK-12 teachers, college instructors, technologists, instructional designers, curriculum coordinators, online education specialists, and other professionals. Their expertise is brought to bear on an authentic, semester-long project. Each class member goes through the systematic processes of learning design to create an online mini-course targeting teacher learning of a high-need topic, which may focus on a new pedagogical approach, a subject-specific teaching/assessment strategy, or a new technology tool. The mini-courses are shared in the KNILT open knowledge space. The goal is to empower educators as professional knowledge builders to advance the field's collective know-how/know-why and improve education in the 21st century. See About KNILT for more info.
Featured Mini-Courses
Teachers, leaders, instructional designers, parents, and other educational practitioners may use KNILT as a free, open resource to support their continual learning. For educators with a busy daily schedule, taking a MOOC can be too big while reading a blog post can be too simple. KNILT mini-courses offer usable knowledge in a right "bitesize." Each mini-course addresses a focused issue with 3-5 learning units. You may
- check out the list of Featured Mini-courses below,
- visit the topic-based index,
- use the Search tool on the top to find mini-courses that match your need.
Below are a few examples.
๐ Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching
- ๐ฑ Donna Alese Cooke: Garden-Based Learning Across the Curriculum (Recommended by LSU Ag Center)๐ Marena Kline: Student-Centered Learning: Bringing Successes from Finland to U.S. Classrooms
- ๐ญ Mariah Jacobson: Integrating Dance Concepts and Interdisciplinary Practices
- ๐ Jaclyn Penney: Using Literacy in the Science Classroom
- ๐ฐ Annie Cartie: Including Personal Finance When Teaching Exponential Functions
- ๐ง Simona Borkina: Integrating Movement into the Curriculum
- ๐จ Lara Kelley: Art Integration In Every Classroom
- ๐งช Gemelli Briceno: Adding the "A" in STEM Education
- ๐บ Stephanie Aquino: Integrating Media Literacy Skills in a Secondary ELA Classroom
- ๐งโ๐ฌ Anne Deutsch: Undergraduate Research Projects
- ๐ Nick Ferrelli: Demystifying Scholarly Journals
- ๐ Matthew Sodano: College and Career Planning in High School
๐ฌ Computer Science, AI and Data Literacy
- ๐ Natalie Stagnitti: Integrating Data Analysis Techniques into the Science Classroom
- ๐ป Elizabeth Pegarella: Understanding the NYS Computer Science & Digital Fluency Learning Standards
- ๐ Devan Walton: Cultural DataScape
- ๐ค Alexander Darling: Integrating Artificial Intelligence Into the Classroom
- ๐ถ๏ธ Amita Verma: Augmented Reality (AR) in Higher Education
- ๐บ๏ธ Tim Vatovec: Creating a Geographic Information Systems-based Learning Activity
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Brooke Ebersold: Incorporating Computer Science K-12
- ๐ก Becca Goess: The Design Thinking Process
- ๐จ๏ธ Rock Travis: Getting Started with 3D Printing in Your Classroom
- ๐ Marc Freed: Teaching students to manage data
๐ฌ STEM Learning and Teaching
- ๐ Joseph Russo: Designing a Culturally Responsive Geometry Curriculum (Recommended by AMS)
- ๐ Sam Chiesa: Academic Research in Science: Online and Scholarly Inquiry
- ๐ Courtnee Yasses: Real Life Applications of Mathematics
- ๐งฎ Daniel Alfeo: History of Math and Culturally Responsive Math Instruction
- ๐ง Alix Zipperman: Collaborative Learning in Mathematics
- ๐ฒ Toni Fiore: Incorporating Probability & Statistics into Mathematical Curriculum
- ๐ Alejandro Mundo: Studying climate change with remote sensing technology
- ๐ฌ Alexandra Ranaudo Sartori: Inquiry Earth Science
- ๐งฎ Jayna Dwarika: Error Analysis in Math and Beyond
- ๐พ Sarah Stolberg: Taking a Strengths-Based Approach to Teaching STEM in Rural Schools
- โ Stephanie Cambrea: Hands-On Manipulatives in Mathematics
- โ๏ธ Mai Alawamle: Writing-to-learn in Teaching STEM for Understanding
- ๐ญ Ashley Wellington: Teaching Science using Phenomena
- ๐ Naomi Bradley: Scientific Inquiry in the Elementary Classroom
- ๐งโ๐ซ Makala Foley: Incorporating the Workshop Model in Math (K-2)
- ๐ Emily Duong: Mathematical Modelling: The Foundation of Middle School Math
- ๐บ๏ธ Tim Vatovec: Creating a Geographic Information Systems-based Learning Activity
- ๐งซ Danielle Greene: Strategies for Promoting Scientific Inquiry Skills in the K-12 Curriculum
- ๐งช Sarah Sweazy: Hands on Learning Benefits Through Virtual Science Labs
- ๐งณ Alivia Clark: Incorporating Virtual Field Trips within Elementary Science Instruction
- โ๏ธ Gรซrt Arnold: Creative Engineering in the Classroom
- ๐งฌ Rosalie Forrester: Cognitive Apprenticeship in Health Professional Education
- ๐งช Gordon Lake: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- ๐ก Becca Goess: The Design Thinking Process
- ๐ ๏ธ Eric Fana: Engineering Design for All
- ๐ง Stephanie Quill: Problem-Based Learning in the Biology Classroom
- โ๏ธ Matthew Wolfson: Problem Based Learning in Physics
- ๐ผ๏ธ Bobbi Scirbona: Incorporating Visualization Tools in the Science Classroom
- ๐ Melissa Connor: Using Visualizations to Teach Mathematics with Understanding
- ๐งฐ Jamie J Woodcock: Models: an Instructional Tool
- ๐ง Katie Matthews: Integrating Student Response Systems in Mathematics Instruction
- ๐ Catherine Strattner: Integrating Metacognitive Development in Mathematics Instruction
- ๐ฅ Kaitlyn King: Problematic Mathematics: PBL designed for the math classroom
- ๐ Scott Beiter: Teaching for Conceptual Change
- โ๏ธ Nicole Gallo: Formative Assessment in PBL Math
๐ Literacy, Language, and Arts
- ๐ญ Alicia Mari: Keeping Imaginative Play In the Kindergarten Classroom (Used by Colorado DOE)
- ๐ Maria Almonte: Shifting to the Science of Reading
- ๐ Emma Durfee: Rekindling Students' Love for Reading: Strategies for Lifelong Literacy
- ๐ Katelin Fitzpatrick: Building Reading Comprehension in Upper Elementary Students
- ๐ Hannah Knapp: Reciprocal Teaching in ELA
- ๐ Mikayla McGarry: Supporting ELLs: Where to Start
- โจ Sam Mossman: Appreciative Inquiry Student Work Protocol
- ๐ถ Paige Lee: Supporting Cultural Responsiveness & Equity in the Music Classroom
- ๐ Sydney Smith: Student-Led Story Telling in Early Childhood Education
- ๐งง Ying Kong: Enhancing Cultural Awareness in Classrooms of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language
- ๐ Chelsea Thompson: Teaching Dialectal Variation in the Spanish as a Foreign Language Classroom
- ๐ฎ Alicia Esposito: Game-Based Learning in the Music Classroom
- ๐ง Sumaiyah Islam: The Science of Reading
- ๐ Erica Riekert: Reimagining Language Arts Instruction
- ๐ Devindi Samarakkody: Task-based Language Teaching
- ๐ก Jocelyn Testa: Inclusive Phonics Instruction
- ๐ Chris Plantone: Searching for Sources
- โ Alexandra Mazza: The Essential Question Approach to ELA Teaching
- ๐จ Eric Rodrigues: Understanding & Increasing Visual Art Engagement
- ๐ฌ Marissa Zuccardo: Incorporating Pragmatic Instruction for ELLs
- ๐ Ashley Stapon: Guided Reading in the Elementary Classroom
- ๐๏ธ Kim Kather: Revamping Writing for a Digital Age
- ๐ Hope Connors: Incorporating Movement into Read Alouds
- ๐ Melinda Phillips: Choreography Structures Mini Course
- ๐ผ Ali Marshall: Project-Based Learning in the Music Classroom
- ๐ Michelle DeLace: Vocabulary Learning and Instruction in the Pre-K Classroom
- ๐ Sara Reale: English as a New Language: The Basics, Accommodations, and Co-teaching
- ๐ Mitch Scott: Authentic Text as Writing Mentors
- ๐งโ๐ซ Valeria Elliott: Creating a PBL Spanish curriculum that empowers Heritage Speakers
- ๐ Ashley Howell: Developing the Joy of Reading in Students
- ๐ป Jacqueline Wickham: Blended Learning in the ELA Classroom
- ๐ฉโ๐ป Anna Maria Wing: Writing Instruction using Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
- ๐ฝ๏ธ Cheyenne Whirley: Digital Storytelling Course
- ๐ Melissa Filotas: Promoting Reading Comprehension in the Early Grades
- ๐ Diane Hamilton: Developing Phonemic Awareness in Kindergarten Children
- ๐ J. Robin Ward: Narrative in Instruction and Assessment
- ๐๏ธ Deborah Byrne: Teaching with Primary Source Documents
- ๐ฌ Alicia Fernandez: Building Academic Vocabulary for Academic Achievement
- ๐บ๏ธ Mara Ciacelli: Using Story Maps in Elementary Classrooms
๐ Social Studies and Civic Education
๐ Social and Emotional Learning
๐ป How to Learn/Teach Online
๐ ๏ธ New Learning Technologies, Competencies and Environments
๐ New Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation
โฟ Special Education & Diverse Learners
๐ป Remote/Hybrid Education (Created During the COVID-19 Pandemic)
KNILT is designed and coordinated by Dr. Jianwei Zhang who directs the Tech-Augmented Co-Creativity Lab (TaCCL) at the University at Albany's School of Education. Special thanks to the technology team at UAlbany's Academic and Research Computing Center (ARCC) and Information Technology Service for their strong ongoing support. Contact us: knilt.edu@gmail.com.