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…

EduProtocols

EduProtocols

One thing that may be helpful for teachers in an entirely digital environment is to have a framework off of which to build lessons. A group of teachers and edTech folks have put together several of these and called them #EduProtocols. These can be used for things like...

Resources You Can Share with Parents

Resources You Can Share with Parents

The following are some resources parents may need to help their students to be successful and to navigate the tools we have available. As we approach parent-teacher conferences, you may wish to share some of these with parents. Most of these resources have been...

A Quick, FREE, Formative Assessment Tool You Can Use!

A Quick, FREE, Formative Assessment Tool You Can Use!

As we know, formative assessments are a great way to drive instruction. Using immediate, on-the-fly checks for understanding can steer a lesson in a matter of seconds, and also help teachers form differentiated groups quickly and efficiently. When we were in the “classroom”, a whiteboard was the perfect tool for this purpose. Now that we’re online, you can still use them.

Creating, Using, and Managing Rubrics

Creating, Using, and Managing Rubrics

A rubric is one of the most valuable tools for teachers when it comes to formative assessment. A good rubric allows teachers to... communicate expectationsset boundaries for student workgive standardized feedback The rubric creation process is also a valuable PLC...

Grading by Marking Period in Schoology

Grading by Marking Period in Schoology

Now that we are in our second marking period, teachers are looking for a way to show only assignments and grades for the current marking period in the gradebook. This is a fairly simple process, fortunately!

Now What?

Now What?

Certainly, even if we’re only learning how to use these tools to get us through the pandemic, it is not in vain–our learning is still worth it for the sake of kids. But we can begin to focus immediately on how we can use this (and future technological developments) to transform the ways we teach and the ways students learn.

Missing Something?

Missing Something?

We are getting a lot of panicked messages from teachers who cannot find their Schoology courses. If you fall into this category, try this first.

This Week’s Tech Coaches’ Corner

This Week’s Tech Coaches’ Corner

Please join us for this week's Tech Coaches' Corner. On Wednesday, Bob will be talking about setting up grading groups in Schoology. His session will begin at 3:15. On Thursday, Amy will be talking about setting up breakout rooms in Zoom. Her session will begin at...

Tech Coaches Corner is Today!

Tech Coaches Corner is Today!

Just a reminder that Tech Coaches Corner begins today! Today’s topics are Essential Settings for Zoom Meetings with Bob Harrison at 3:15, and Adding External Tools and Linking Specials in Schoology at 4:00 with Amy Gwizdz.

Streamlining Specials in Schoology

Streamlining Specials in Schoology

One way classroom teachers can help students and parents navigate Schoology is by including a folder of links to special area teachers’ courses within their own course. If done properly, students will never have to leave the classroom teacher’s Schoology course to visit another teacher’s course.

Some More Practical and Fun Zoom Tips

Some More Practical and Fun Zoom Tips

Here are a few more tips you may not know about that may help make yours and your students' lives easier (and maybe less stressful) as you continue to make your way through the year with Zoom. 1. Split Screen (Chromebook) You can use these buttons on a Chromebook to...

Preparing Sub Plans in Schoology

Preparing Sub Plans in Schoology

Considering the nature of the situation in which we find ourselves at the present time, it would be wise to prepare a couple days of emergency sub plans in your Schoology course. One way to do this is to create a folder that will forever sit at the bottom of your...

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