Word of the Day: Leverage

[Read time: 2 min] What does it mean to “leverage” technology? And does every teacher need to help students do this?

ArchiTECHs of Learning Episode 8: When the ISTE Standards Call, the Penguins Answer

Amy and Bob talk about the ISTE Standards, and how teachers should be thinking about technology integration. Plus, we have our first podcast PENGUIN sighting! Find the ISTE Standards at iste.org/standards.

ArchiTECHs of Learning: Episode 7: What’s Up, HyperDoc?

Join us as the Tech Coaches discuss the ins and outs of HyperDocs. Warning! They AREN’T just docs with links!

Word of the Day: Competency

[Read time: 1 min] In much the same way that we learned that all teachers are teachers of reading, we need to start to recognize that all teachers are also teachers of technological competency. We need to know what these competencies are. We need to model best practices within these contexts. And we need to be intentional about how we and students use technology in the classroom…[Read more]

EdTech Word of the Day: ISTE

There are some things related to technology that every teacher should at least be familiar with. I’ll be posting several of these throughout the remaining weeks of school.

I wanted to start today with one of the most important ones, which is obviously really an acronym: ISTE (pronounced “isty”), which stands for…

Digital Age Teaching and Learning Resources (K-5)

There are a variety of open educational resource (OERs) available online. One such collection of resources for K-5 learning exists through REMC, and you can find a grade- and subject- oriented list on MiTech Kids…

Q-Tip: SEL Activities with Jamboard

There is a lot of hype around Jamboard, and understandably so! Check out these SEL activities you can do with your class using Jamboard! Using Jamboard for SEL activities, brought to you by TCEA Not sure how to use Jamboard? Check out this video tutorial.

Quick Tip: Get the annoying stuff out of the way

One of the simplest, but most consistent and effective tools I have been introduced to is one that was recommended to me a couple years ago by the amazing Sean Williams, one of our network administrators. The tool is called...

Q-Tip: Exploring Some of H5P’s Interactive Tools

Did you know that H5P offers dozens of interactive activities for you to use with your students? Read about it here!

Q Tip: How to Update Zoom

In a quest to strive for excellence, Zoom is constantly updating itself for a better user experience. Here are some quick directions for how to update Zoom.

Stayin’ Alive Center

Check out the Tech Coaches’ Podcast
ArchiTECHs of Learning

Our latest blog posts…

Digital Use Divide

Traditionally, the digital divide referred to the gap between students who had access to the Internet and devices at school and home and those who did not. Significant progress is being made to increase Internet access in schools, libraries, and homes across the country. However, a digital use divide separates many students who use technology in ways that transform their learning from those who use the tools to complete the same activities but now with an electronic device (e.g., digital worksheets, online multiple-choice tests). The digital use divide is present in both formal and informal learning settings and across high- and low-poverty schools and communities.

Read more

The Digital Divide is deeper than you thought

The National Technology Education Plan is a vision and call to action for preparing students for life in the 21st century.  One of the issues addressed is that of the Digital Divide.  But the divide may be deeper than you think: Digital Use Divide Traditionally, the...

Coaches’ Corner this week

Coaches’ Corner this week

On Wednesday, January 13, the Tech Coaches will be holding a repeat of the "Coaches' Corner" session on Google Docs and Google Drive from 3pm to 4pm and from 4pm to 5pm at ASC, in Room 8. This session is designed to introduce you to Google Docs, how it works, and some...

iLearn (Moodle) in 5th Grade- Part 1

iLearn (Moodle) in 5th Grade- Part 1

Take a look at one of the cool things that is going on in an elementary iLearn (Moodle) class in the district! At McCollough/Unis, students in Rola Harb's 5th grade used iLearn(Moodle) to discuss the indentured servant system and whether they felt the system was fair....

Metacognitive Multiple Choice

Metacognitive Multiple Choice

Dearborn High Science teacher and Dearborn Moodle Moot 2015 attendee Mrs. Heather Ferris has been working diligently this year to create powerful course materials on Moodle (iLearn) for her chemistry and forensic science students.  So far, Mrs. Ferris has provided...

Model Google Classroom

Model Google Classroom

Throughout the district, teachers are turning to Google Classroom to provide immediate feedback to students, differentiate learning, decrease the amount of paper used, share assignments and links quickly and efficiently, and increase student motivation.  They are...

Guide to Creating a Moodle (iLearn) Quiz

Guide to Creating a Moodle (iLearn) Quiz

Check out the latest guide created by the Tech Coaches to help you create a Moodle (iLearn) quiz.  The guide is easily navigable and even features Tech Coach Tips with advice on creating and administering quizzes on iLearn. This Guide is just the latest in a series of...

Google Classroom Guide

Google Classroom Guide

Do you want to start a Google Classroom but don't know how?  Or maybe you already have a Classroom, but forgot how to add an assignment?  Well we have your answers!  Check out the new Google Classroom Guide, created by your Tech Coaches!  With the Google Classroom...

Interpreting iLearn (Moodle) Quiz Data

Interpreting iLearn (Moodle) Quiz Data

One of the many advantages to using Moodle (iLearn) in addition to the flexibility of the Quiz module (the number attempts, shuffling questions, inserting variables into numerical questions) is the wealth of usable data you can glean from each quiz.  Bryant science...

Mr. Belknap’s Two-Draft Reading Lesson

Mr. Belknap’s Two-Draft Reading Lesson

I've had the good fortune of teaming up with English Language Arts teacher Mr. Jacob Belknap from Edsel Ford to find ways to integrate technology into his instruction.  Recently, Mr. Belknap and I used Google Hangouts to hold a video conference to discuss how he could...

Snow First Graders and Google Slides

Good things are happening at Snow Elementary!  In Julie Serazio's first grade classroom, students wrote about things they are thankful for, and why they are thankful for them.  Students had very creative ideas!  Now it was time to digitize them! First, we took those...

Assistive Technology at Geer Park

Assistive Technology at Geer Park

Geer Park's Special Ed Resource Teacher, Jen LeClair, is pioneering a new way for her special education students to use Assistive Technology in their general education classes.  Because some of her students struggle with fine motor deficits, Jen and I put our heads...

girl logs into Chromebook with student number written on card

Technology for Lifelong Learning

As technology increases exponentially, learners in the 21st century have the opportunity to go far beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom.  The available technology provided by the Dearborn Schools allows students to interact in the digital community, collaborate with peers, and engage with the world from their seats in our classrooms.  The possibilities for learning know no boundaries online.  Learn how to help students become lifelong learners in the digital community.

Our Goal

The goal of instructional technology coaches is to help teachers become effective at using technology to provide the most technology-rich, positive learning environments possible.  To this end, we believe effective teachers…

  1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.
  2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments.
  3. Model digital age work and learning.
  4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.
  5. Engage in professional growth and leadership.

from Standards for Teachers.

collage of students working on Moodle