Check out our latest blog posts
Reminder: Free May Not Always Be Free
We need to invest our time and energy, and that of our students in what is sustainable: in the tools that we can build over time and that will not be swept out from under our feet too easily. But we also need to help students develop habits that can withstand change in online tools, to establish ways of doing things that acknowledge that tomorrow could be entirely different, and to be able to do things in a variety of ways.
Tech Tip Tuesday: Giving Students the Power with Cast for Education
Did you know that it is possible for students to project their Chromebook screens onto the same board teachers use? Now students can use Google Cast for Education to share their work with the class right from their workspace. No more huddling around Chromebooks!...
Tech Tip Tuesday: YouTube Channels for Story Read Alouds
More and more, teachers are asking about websites for students to listen to stories being read to them aloud. While you may be tempted to create your own videos of staff and students reading stories out loud and posting them on blogs, please be aware that in most...
Goals
There’s a difference between students writing goals and students actually having goals. And what does technology have to do with setting goals anyway?
The first installment in unpacking the ISTE Standards for Students with practical ideas for teachers. Standard 1, Indicator 1a, Part 1.
The Devil is Not in the Technology
Technology is not inherently harmful. But it does have a way of amplifying our character traits. Think about how many emails you’ve sent that you wish you hadn’t. It’s also not inherently beneficial, either. One battle we have fought in education and continue to fight is the battle of “we’re using technology, so everything must be all good.” This is far from the truth. The goal with educational technology should not simply be to use more technology.
The “Find 3” Lesson Model
I’d like to propose a model for a technology-infused lesson that could be modified to fit any curriculum, any topic, almost any level. Over the past several years, among other things, I’ve tried to develop a tangible, realistic way for students to engage in inquiry, harness the power of technology and learn to do the things they will need to be able to do in the real world — and for teachers to spend their time being facilitators, guides, and coaches of their students. This is where I’m at so far…
Tech Tip Tuesday: Converting PDF to Word & Google Docs
One of the things we are often asked is for a good way to convert PDF documents to Word or Google Docs. There are several resources available to do this, none of which really do a consistently good job of it. However, one was brought to my attention recently that actually works pretty well and is quite consistent…
Moodle: It’s not just 4 nerds.
Over the past 12 years, many teachers in our district have tried using Moodle (in Dearborn, we call our Moodle site iLearn). A few absolutely took off with it. Many of those teachers are still using it, and at increasingly higher levels each year. Most, however, got...
The Ramblings of Bob Harrison, Father of Four
Please allow me to get a little personal with this one: My point of view from another role.
Tech Tip Tuesday: Embedding YouTube Videos into Google Slides
Did you know you can embed a YouTube video into a Google Slide? And it's pretty simple, too! When in Google Slides, navigate to the slide in which you want to embed your video. Click the Insert menu, and select Video. You can search for the video on YouTube, or,...
Tech Tip Tuesday: An Alternative to Tri-folds
Students love to unleash their creativity by creating elaborate tri-fold boards or brochures. Can we give students another option? How about using Google Drawings to create interactive poster boards? By using Google Drawings, students can create colorful multi-media...
Hybrid Assessment: The Best of Both Worlds
Just because one part of an assessment requires paper doesn’t mean the whole thing needs to. If you can automate part of what you do, you should.
Tech Tip Tuesday: The Onscreen Keyboard
Chromebooks have many accessibility options, but the one most frequently seen is the onscreen keyboard. The onscreen keyboard may take the place of the physical keyboard, if necessary. To turn the onscreen keyboard on or off, click on the settings in the bottom...
Tech Tip Tuesday: Changing Ownership of Google Files
Oftentimes, I will create, or begin to create, something for a teacher to use in the classroom. Yet, once I've created it, I have no use for the file any longer. If I delete it, the teacher and the class will no longer have access to the file. In this case, the...
If You Don’t Print It, Did It Really Happen?
One indicator that we may not yet have fully embraced technology in the classroom is the fact that physical products are preferred, if not strongly demanded, over digital.
Tech Tip Tuesday: Annotate Video
Take your Reading Apprenticeship strategies to the next level while incorporating a little digital media by empowering your students to “talk-to” video…
My Best Failure Yet
I've heard it time and time again in the Tech Coach role, "It's perfectly acceptable to fail." I don't take failing lightly, so this is hard advice to take. But I did it. I failed. And it was wonderful. I am working in a fourth grade classroom with an extremely...
Tech Tip Tuesday: Stop Right-Clicking on Google Images
…Modeling courteous and legal behavior for students is an imperative for teachers as students develop digital citizenship. Students are watching what we do.
Glue, Glitter and Gold – Part 2 (2017)
The providers of technological glitter will continue to produce it. New and fancier glitter will continue to catch our eye. We will continue to be lured by the latest tech tool, app, website, device. But the glitter we use today will be the stuff of tomorrow’s digital landfill.
Tech Tip Tuesday- New Google Classroom Interface
For those of you who use Google Classroom, you may have noticed that it looks a little bit different than it did last school year. Google is seemingly always changing it's products for more of a user-friendly experience. Here's a quick lowdown of some of those most...
Glue, Glitter, and Gold – Part 1 (2017)
Sometimes technology’s the glitter. The glued-on afterthought of desperation designed to captivate “kids nowadays”. All the while–running just as fast as we can to stay in the same place–we’ve searched and sought, learned and prepared, thinking it necessary to become the expert in everything that happens within our realms in order to maintain relevance.
How do I ...?
Meet the Tech Coaches
Teacher Perspectives
Dearborn Teachers discuss their experiences with using the Moodle Workshop module in their instrution.
Early Childhood / Preschool
Use technology in beneficial ways with your child
Google Apps
Help, tips, and hints for using Google Apps for Education (G Suite)
ePortfolios
Help students collect and curate artifacts of their work, set goals and develop plans.
Moodle
Transform the way students learn in your classroom with iLearn
iBlog
Form a working partnership with parents and students by communicating effectively
Accessibility
Everyone has a right to information. Learn how to make your materials accessible to all.
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…- Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.
- Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments.
- Model digital age work and learning.
- Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.
- Engage in professional growth and leadership.
from Standards for Teachers.
