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Embracing Google
It’s not a secret anymore. The answers are out there. Whether it’s a high-level writing prompt or a simple multiple-choice question from the publisher’s question bank, the reality is the same: if it’s been used at all before, the answers are likely posted somewhere on the internet.
Student Online Publishing Raises the Stakes for Writing
For some students, publishing work online raises the stakes a little bit. Because it will be viewable by more people than just their teacher, many students put forth the extra effort to make things look good, care a little more about their grammar, and spend a little more time on the presentation.
Q: What Cool Tech Tool Should We Start with? A: None.
No tool or strategy, regardless of whether it is high tech or an engaging activity, is ever the right place to start planning a lesson.
Revamping a Webquest
…as students began working, we noticed that all they had to do is google the exact question and the search returned the work of students who had done the webquest before and had published their answers online. Were they cheating? I’m not so sure. After all, we were asking them to search for answers online–and that’s exactly what they did. Were they cheating themselves in the long run? That’s more likely. But not because they were finding answers…
Bryant’s Online “My Learning Plan”: Year 2
Over the next couple weeks, students will begin creating pages on Mahara, Dearborn’s ePortfolio system. These MLP pages will include their NWEA scores, their academic goals for all of the core areas and extended core, and their personal goals. And each team of teachers is currently thinking of ways to help students showcase even more of who they are using these pages.
Calling it Learning When it Isn’t
Simply putting technology in the hands of our students is not magically going to increase achievement. Neither is having them go through the motions of all the other strategies we try to employ. Just being “engaged” doesn’t mean a student is being enriched.
Elementary Moodle Courses Available – A Year in Review
Using iLearn (Moodle) for critical thinking skills, oral language development, vocabulary building and more at the elementary level just became easier! I have been busy creating some iLearn (Moodle) courses that elementary teachers can use immediately. Below is a...
![Go [Digital] Eagles!](https://techcoaches.dearbornschools.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/1261/2017/05/IMG_0016-400x250.jpg)
Go [Digital] Eagles!
This year, I've been working with an amazing team of sixth grade ELA teachers at Bryant Middle School to make the transition to implementing My Learning Plan on a digital platform using Mahara. Previously, the team was introduced to Mahara and some of the...
Good with Technology
Here's another one of my analogies for you: Being "good with technology" : integrating technology :: being good at cursive : writing ability The fact of the matter is that most people in the professional world are "good with technology". It's pretty much a given...
The Path of Least Resistance Around Our Pedagogy
I used to tell people that 80% of my job was finding creative ways to prevent kids from cheating. That was a bit of an exaggeration, but that’s how it feels sometimes, doesn’t it? We want kids to internalize their learning. We want them to be good, conscientious pupils, just like we were. We want them to forgo all of the modern conveniences–cell phones, the internet, Google–and just learn it for themselves like we did.
Cool Tech Tool: Google Docs Revision History Analytics
Many teachers who have used Google Docs with their students have taken advantage of the Revision History tool, which allows you to see specific changes made to the document by various editors. To get a better picture of how much members of a group are contributing to...
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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.
