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…

The Student Experience: Multiply Everything by 6

The Student Experience: Multiply Everything by 6

As we continue thinking about how to structure our classes in moving to the hybrid model, one of the most important factors we need to consider is what the learning experience is like for our students.

As I mentioned in several of the PD sessions I have helped facilitate, we need to design with empathy. What is it like to be a student in this class the way I have structured it? And what is the student’s whole day like?

Hybrid Teaching 101

Hybrid Teaching 101

As we make the transition from remote learning to a more hybrid approach, there is a degree of uncertainty for every teacher. Much of this stems from our inability to really visualize what it will all look like once it gets going. One way to confront this uncertainty...

B.I.G. Tech PD- Rubrics

B.I.G. Tech PD- Rubrics

There are still available slots for the B.I.G. Tech PD session on rubrics this Monday, February 22nd at 4:15 p.m. This session is open to ALL levels. To sign up, visit the B.I.G. Technology PD for Teachers Schoology course!

Students need a passcode for Zoom?

Students need a passcode for Zoom?

Many thanks to the fabulous Sean Williams, network administrator, for the following tip... If your students are experiencing the need to enter a passcode to enter your Zoom sessions, make sure you have the "Embed passcode in invite link for one-click join" setting...

Student-Created Infographics Using Google Drawings

Student-Created Infographics Using Google Drawings

One way students can show their knowledge of a topic is by creating an infographic. Infographics, by nature, require students to summarize their learning and choose only the most important information to present visually and textually. When constructing infographics, students are making models of the world around them while functioning at the top of Bloom’s pyramid.

ArchiTECHs of Learning- Episode 3- Voice and Choice. . . and those Oregon Trail Kids

ArchiTECHs of Learning- Episode 3- Voice and Choice. . . and those Oregon Trail Kids

Hot off the presses! Bob and Amy discuss the importance of voice and choice in the classroom, and give some ideas of how to implement this important strategy in the digital world. Also, when it comes to projects- We weigh in on the three types of kids in your class, the Autobahn kids, the Yellow Brick Road kids, and the Oregon Trail kids. Don’t get caught with a snakebite! Listen today!

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