How did all of the students of 3rd grade teacher Mary Dunbar Barksdale in Brazosport, Texas achieve remarkably high scores on the statewide test, despite the fact that 94% of her students lived in poverty?

How did a handful of schools in Argentina’s Misiones Province achieve a graduation rate of 75%, when the overall completion rate for the province was only 50%?

How did the students in one school district in Mason, Ohio achieve very high scores on achievement tests and other outcomes when their peer districts performed so poorly?

What’s their secret?

Following educators on Twitter will help you to keep up-to-date on the latest advice and research in education, as well as find and share resources, and be part of a passionate, international community of professionals.

If you’re not sure where to get started, here’s 15 educators and #edtech accounts we recommend following this year and beyond (list in no particular order):

21st century education has become global, and it has never been as important as it is right now. But how can schools internationally maintain high expectations and deliver a well-rounded educated student body, whilst preparing students for the global world? Especially when there is such a variation in the abilities of children and in the skills which a teacher has. Not to mention a difference in the way each school works and overall a difference in how each country operates within the education sector.  

What if there was a way to be able to unite these differences within a flexible, bespoke and collaborative system? Here are 3 ways video-based CPD is pioneering schools and organisations in the international education sector.

Guest blog from Jane Hyde-Walsh, Director of The Staffroom; a unique CPD planning and recording tool for education professionals working towards best practice.

As one of our most important professions, teachers need considerable knowledge and skill, which needs to be developed as their careers progress. Effective professional development for teachers is a core part of securing effective teaching, and research shows that a clearly defined policy towards CPD helps to ensure that good professional development can be delivered to all teaching staff within a school.

Guest blog from Sue Lloyd, Quality Improvement Co-ordinator, Phil Whitehead, e Learning Ambassador and Paul Boucher, Lecturer, Sport & Unformed Services/Quality Improvement Coach at North Lindsey College.

For everyone involved in coordinating teaching, learning and assessment at North Lindsey College, coming on board with video-based CPD provider, IRIS Connect, felt like a crucial step in further supporting and developing teaching and learning.

The online platform made sense, the system was easy to use, and it wasn’t difficult to envision areas that it could enhance our staff development practices.