The Knowledge Network for Innovations in Learning and Teaching (KNILT)

KNILT has got a new look with a new logo (designed by Hope Zhang, 11th-grader)

A Network of Knowledge Created by and for 21st Century Educators

Join the KNILT group on Facebook for updates and networking with fellow educators.

Announcement (May 1, 2022) Deb Byrne, who has been teaching online classes associated with the KNILT project, was selected to receive an Excellence in Teaching Award from the School of Education of the University at Albany. Recently, the University at Albany News Center created a news release featuring students' work on the KNILT project. See ETAP Students Create Mini-Courses to Empower 21st Century Educators (more news... Archived announcements)

Overview of KNILT

Welcome to KNILT, an open online knowledge space where educators can find, share, and develop new ideas to improve education for the 21st century contexts.

This long-term, ongoing project is situated in the graduate courses and research projects led by Dr. Jianwei Zhang at the University at Albany, SUNY (see Zhang Research Lab). Students enrolled in these classes (e.g. systematic design of instruction and learning technology 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 in 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.

Since its inception in September 2007, KNILT has accumulated more than 600 mini-courses; this number grows each semester. The mini-courses are continually used by students for peer learning within each class and across different cohort groups. The mini-courses are further made freely available to educators from all around the world, who search for new ideas, strategies, and tools to renovate their teaching. During the pandemic from January 2020 to October 2021, close to 500,000 users accessed the mini-courses from 223 countries. See KNILT:About for more information about the history, development, and outreach of the KNILT site.

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Featured Mini-Courses

Below are a few examples. Check out the Repository of Mini-Courses and Instructional Cases for many more mini-courses and cases.

Safe and productive education during the COVID 19 Pandemic

• Mark Gillmeister: Reaching and Teaching Learners in a Hybrid School Model
• Allison McElheran: How can students work together while being 6 ft apart?
• Sarah Sweazy: Hands on Learning Benefits Through Virtual Science Labs
• Alivia Clark: Incorporating Virtual Field Trips within Elementary Science Instruction
• Max Burman: Utilizing Microsoft Teams to Design Instruction
• Dorla Grant: Using Google Classroom as a collaborative tool in the classroom
• Adam Langworthy: Promoting Student Metacognition in the Classroom
• Joy Stephenson: Incorporating Virtual Field Trips
• Ryann Conlan: Integrating Google Classroom in the Classroom
• Kirby Simone: Designing Google Classroom to support Student Learning in a Pandemic
• Stephanie DeMolfetto: Google Drive Add-Ons for Education
• Devyn Fairbairn: Instilling Resilient Mindsets Within Students
• Heather Hoff: Quick and Effective Parent/Teacher Communication

Improve STEM learning and teaching

• Joseph Russo: Designing a Culturally Responsive Geometry Curriculum (Recommended by American Mathematical Society)

• Donna Alese Cooke: Garden-Based Learning Across the Curriculum (recommended by the Ag Center of Louisiana State University as a resource for school garden curriculum

• Gemelli Briceno: Adding the "A" in STEM Education

• Makala Foley: Incorporating the Workshop Model in Math (K-2)

• Emily Duong: Mathematical Modelling: The Foundation of Middle School Math

• Tim Vatovec: Creating a Geographic Information Systems-based Learning Activity

• Brooke Ebersold: Incorporating Computer Science K-12

• Danielle Greene: Strategies for Promoting Scientific Inquiry Skills in the K-12 Curriculum

• Gërt Arnold: Creative Engineering in the Classroom

• Rosalie Forrester : Cognitive Apprenticeship in Health Professional Education

• Gordon Lake : Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

• Jaclyn Penney: Using Literacy in the Science Classroom

• Annie Cartie: Including Personal Finance When Teaching Exponential Functions

• Becca Goess: The Design Thinking Process

• Eric Fana: Engineering Design for All

• Stephanie Quill: Problem-Based Learning in the Biology Classroom

• Matthew Wolfson: Problem Based Learning in Physics

• Bobbi Scirbona: Incorporating Visualization Tools in the Science Classroom

• Melissa Connor: Using Visualizations to Teach Mathematics with Understanding

• Jamie J Woodcock: Models: an Instructional Tool

• Katie Matthews: Integrating Student Response Systems in Mathematics Instruction

• Catherine Strattner: Integrating Metacognitive Development in Mathematics Instruction

• Kaitlyn King: Problematic Mathematics: PBL designed for the math classroom

• Scott Beiter: Teaching for Conceptual Change

• Nicole Gallo: Formative Assessment in PBL Math

• Rock Travis Getting Started with 3D Printing in Your Classroom

Improve literacy, language, and arts classrooms

• Alicia Mari: Keeping Imaginative Play In the Kindergarten Classroom (used by the Colorado Department of Education - Office of Standards and Instructional Support [1] and [2].)
• Jocelyn Testa: Inclusive Phonics Instruction
• Chris Plantone: Searching for Sources
• Alexandra Mazza: The Essential Question Approach to ELA Teaching
• Lara Kelley: Art Integration In Every Classroom

• Marissa Zuccardo: Incorporating Pragmatic Instruction for ELLs

• Ashley Stapon:Guided Reading in the Elementary Classroom

• Kim Kather: Revamping Writing for a Digital Age

• Hope Connors: Incorporating Movement into Read Alouds Mini-Course

• Ali Marshall : Project-Based Learning in the Music Classroom

• Michelle DeLace : Vocabulary Learning and Instruction in the Pre-K Classroom

• Sara Reale : English as a New Language: The Basics, Accommodations, and Co-teaching

• Mitch Scott: Authentic Text as Writing Mentors

• Valeria Elliott | Creating a PBL Spanish curriculum that empowers Heritage Speakers

• Ashley Howell: Developing the Joy of Reading in Students

• Jacqueline Wickham Blended Learning in the ELA Classroom

• Stephanie Aquino Integrating Media Literacy Skills in a Secondary ELA Classroom

• Anna Maria Wing: Writing Instruction using Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning

• Cheyenne Whirley: Digital Storytelling Course

• Melissa Filotas: Promoting Reading Comprehension in the Early Grades

• Diane Hamilton: Developing Phonemic Awareness in Kindergarten Children

• J. Robin Ward - Narrative in Instruction and Assessment

• Deborah Byrne: Teaching with Primary Source Documents

• Alicia Fernandez: Building Academic Vocabulary for Academic Achievement

• Mara Ciacelli Using Story Maps in Elementary Classrooms

Social studies and cvic education

• Brandon Hillier: Inquiry Design Model for Social Studies
• Vanessia Wilkins: Reading Like A Historian
• Michael Flynn: Teaching Socials Studies for Understanding
• Thomas Stolz: How to Handle Controversial Issues Inside Your Classroom

Support social and emotional learning

• Catherine Sadowski: Teaching Children Affected by Family Violence (Recommended by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services on its Child Welfare Information Gateway [3])

• Erin Wentworth: Making a Classroom Community using SEL

• Josiah Yarger: Preventing Plagiarism in the Classroom

• Chelsea Cummings: Developing a Growth Mindset Within the Classroom

• Kristie Guerriero: The Zones of Regulation in the Elementary Classroom and Beyond

• Melanie Gifford | Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

• Megan Myones: Stimulating Student Curiosity with the QFT

• Allison Teicher | Social Emotional Learning in the Secondary Classroom

• Sue Rappazzo: Understanding Dyslexia and Severe Reading Disabilities

• Elise Nash Weiss: Understanding Learning Disabilities and the Learning Disabled

• Cheryl DePra | Positive Discipline in the Classroom

• Christopher Poulopoulos: Creating a Bully Free Environment

• Krystal Nugent: Creating an Anti-Racist Classroom

• Alex Baule: Strategizing for Family and Community Involvement

• Heather Hoff: Quick and Effective Parent/Teacher Communication
• Erica_Hamilton: Increasing Parental Involvement and Student Achievement

How to learn/teach online

• Laura Shrader: Handbook for Building Instructor Presence
• Terri Burke: Exploring Open Educational Resources
• Anne Canale Stalnecker: Facilitating Effective Online Discourse
• Mary Huffman: Assessing for Understanding in Online Courses
  
• Suzanne Hayes: Developing Learning Communities Through Blended Learning Activities
• Jennifer Boisvet: E-portfolios for Post-Secondary Educators
• Katherine Watson: Multimedia in Online Courses
• Jennifer Weingarten: Effectively Incorporating Group Work in an Online Course
• Celia Marhefka: Creating Instructional Videos to Support Student Learning

New learning technologies, competencies and environments

• Rawan Abdelaal: Integrating Educational Video Games

• Andrew Wierl: Teaching Critical Literacy and Effective Research Skills

• Carrie Kagan : Digital Reading for Comprehension

• Marc Freed | Teaching students to manage data

• Leslie Cruz: Gammification and Language Learning

• Joy Stephenson: Incorporating Virtual Field Trips

• Ryann Conlan: Integrating Google Classroom in the Classroom

• Laura Bartlett: Understanding and Integrating Interactive Student Notebooks in the Secondary Classroom
  

• Abigail Moskovits: Effective Questioning in the Classroom

• Kelly Geddes: Concept Mapping Across The Curriculum

• Elise N. Weiss: Teaching and Learning with Wikis

• Shree Parsan SMART Board Technology and It's Application in the Classroom

• Anne Deutsch, Undergraduate Research Projects

• Nick Ferrelli: Demystifying Scholarly Journals

New approaches to assessment and evaluation

• Brian Spina | Formative Assessment in a Mathematics Classroom
• Brandon Payne | Competency-Based Education
• Mary Beth Rock: Assess for Success
• Allison Hubbs: Creating Authentic Assessment
• Brandon West: Reflective Teaching: Evaluating Your Own Instruction
• Theresa.Cetnar: Differentiation in the form of Choice Boards within any discipline
• Jessica Zmiyarch's Mini-Course: Formative Assessment in the Math Classroom (recommended by Ohio Resident Educator program's Mentor Toolkit as a mentor resource, 2020, see [4]

Special education & diverse learners

• Megan Proper: Students with Schizophrenia and Supporting them in the Classroom and at Home
• Crystal Velez: Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism
• Kaylee Fallat: Understanding and Applying Basic Behavior Components
• Michael VanDoren: Understanding and Using Learning Modalities
• Chelsea Brandimarte: Special Education in the Secondary Setting
• Caroline Carros : Universal Design for Learning
• Nancy Bauter : Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities and Supporting them in the Classroom
• Libby Wideman : Creating Safe and Healthy Classroom Environments that Respect Diversity
• Amber Ho: Supporting Visual-Spatial Processing Needs in a Mathematics Classroom
• Roger Wistar: Effective Use of Self-paced Learning in the Classroom Environment (National Dropout Prevention Center recommended this mini-course as a resource on how to engage at-risk students. [5])
• Anthony Traina: Utilizing Graphic Organizers (Recommended by the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), a central “Hub” of information and products serving families of children with disabilities [[6]]

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This network is designed and coordinated by Dr. Jianwei Zhang who directs the Technology-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.