This page has descriptions of some of the literacy and technology projects I've been, or am, involved with. Without a doubt, the best part of integrating technology in instruction comes when teachers and students are able to share and learn in new and more powerful ways. These projects have been really important in making that happen.
TILT - Technology Integrated into Learning and Teaching
Our district received this grant from the state department of education to work with 32 teachers from our 8 middle schools on increasing the use of technology to support literacy. Each school had a team of 4 teachers that met monthly for workshops. We covered a wide range of tools and topics including: podcasts, Inspiration, Google tools, wikis, blogs, Keynote, digital storytelling, clickers, document cameras, word processing, web 2.0 tools (like Voice Thread). Most of the teachers were not particularly tech savvy but all wanted to learn how to use new tools and strategies in their teaching. We saw student reading and writing improve and teachers reported that their classrooms were reinvigoragted and, sometimes, reinvented, as they learned to work more digitally.
An important facet of this project was focusing on the NETS*S and making a conscious effort to incorporate them in what we did.
DRAW - Digital Reading and Writing
This was a 2-year project in conjunction with the University of Oregon's Center for Advanced Technology in Education (CATE). We worked with teachers at an elementary and middle school with the goal of increasing ways to incorporate digital tools into reading and writing. Each school choose different tools and organized their learning differently but both came away with increased use of technology in their teaching and learning.
The elementary school focused on using Kidspiration and Inspiration as part of some grade level projects that they do yearly. They also utilized their SMART boards and incorporated their reading textbook lessons. This school had a wonderful Lit Night where the community was invited to come and write! Using a pirate theme, students and their parents got to experience lots of different writing opportunities.
Our middle school focused on using podcasts and wikis in their classrooms. Teachers found that students responded really well to creating podcasts and that they learned more content as well as developed better writing skills.
QWEST grant
Although this was a fairly small grant, it allowed us to purchase 18 iPod Touches to use for reading comprehension strategy instruction in 3 of our middle schools. Teachers uploaded digital versions of their literature selections and embedded comprehension prompts. Students loved using this technology and teachers noticed that many students who normally did not complete or understand the text were now able to participate more fully.
Chintimini grant
This grant is specifically designed to meet the needs of TAG identified middle school students. By providing iPod Touches for them to use, we're hoping to be able to explore particular areas of interest and to expand the scope of their learning.
TRC - Technology Rich Classrooms
Our latest grant through the Oregon Department of Education is to create technology rich classrooms and determine how this kind of environment affects student learning and achievement. Our goal is to create 4 elementary school classrooms that will incorporate a high level technology. Initially, each classroom will have a 2-1 student to laptop ratio. Eventually, we will augment this with iPod Touches. Teachers, and students, will learn to use web tools such as Skype, wikis, blogs and Moodles to communicate, collaborate and learn.
TILT - Technology Integrated into Learning and Teaching
Our district received this grant from the state department of education to work with 32 teachers from our 8 middle schools on increasing the use of technology to support literacy. Each school had a team of 4 teachers that met monthly for workshops. We covered a wide range of tools and topics including: podcasts, Inspiration, Google tools, wikis, blogs, Keynote, digital storytelling, clickers, document cameras, word processing, web 2.0 tools (like Voice Thread). Most of the teachers were not particularly tech savvy but all wanted to learn how to use new tools and strategies in their teaching. We saw student reading and writing improve and teachers reported that their classrooms were reinvigoragted and, sometimes, reinvented, as they learned to work more digitally.An important facet of this project was focusing on the NETS*S and making a conscious effort to incorporate them in what we did.
DRAW - Digital Reading and Writing
This was a 2-year project in conjunction with the University of Oregon's Center for Advanced Technology in Education (CATE). We worked with teachers at an elementary and middle school with the goal of increasing ways to incorporate digital tools into reading and writing. Each school choose different tools and organized their learning differently but both came away with increased use of technology in their teaching and learning.The elementary school focused on using Kidspiration and Inspiration as part of some grade level projects that they do yearly. They also utilized their SMART boards and incorporated their reading textbook lessons. This school had a wonderful Lit Night where the community was invited to come and write! Using a pirate theme, students and their parents got to experience lots of different writing opportunities.
Our middle school focused on using podcasts and wikis in their classrooms. Teachers found that students responded really well to creating podcasts and that they learned more content as well as developed better writing skills.
QWEST grant
Although this was a fairly small grant, it allowed us to purchase 18 iPod Touches to use for reading comprehension strategy instruction in 3 of our middle schools. Teachers uploaded digital versions of their literature selections and embedded comprehension prompts. Students loved using this technology and teachers noticed that many students who normally did not complete or understand the text were now able to participate more fully.Chintimini grant
This grant is specifically designed to meet the needs of TAG identified middle school students. By providing iPod Touches for them to use, we're hoping to be able to explore particular areas of interest and to expand the scope of their learning.TRC - Technology Rich Classrooms
Our latest grant through the Oregon Department of Education is to create technology rich classrooms and determine how this kind of environment affects student learning and achievement. Our goal is to create 4 elementary school classrooms that will incorporate a high level technology. Initially, each classroom will have a 2-1 student to laptop ratio. Eventually, we will augment this with iPod Touches. Teachers, and students, will learn to use web tools such as Skype, wikis, blogs and Moodles to communicate, collaborate and learn.