Techy Terms Tuesday - Sixth Edition

Welcome to the sixth edition of Techy Terms Tuesday!

Do you remember in the fall, taking the Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi)?  I know it was the week of conferences, and we had some log in issues, however, the LoTi is meant to help give you some areas to improve on in your teaching.  One of the biggest complaints I received about the LoTi was the complex "techy" vocabulary used in the survey.   Since we will be taking the survey again soon, I thought it might be a great idea to transform some of the complex language into teacher friendly terms - as I think we are all super innovative educators - and I know that will be reflected in the upcoming survey!  

This weeks question I'm picking apart: I employ learner-centered strategies to address the diverse needs of all students using developmentally appropriate digital tools or enriched resources.

Simply put:

This is a question about using digital tools for differentiation. When your students are using digital tools, do they all do the exact same work, or does it fit their learning needs?

Many digital tools are specifically built to differentiate such as RAZ Kids, Study Island, and Agnitus. Other digital tools lends themselves well to differentiation, such as Google Drawing, Presentation, Animoto, Glogster, and many, many others.

Techy Terms Tuesday #5

Welcome to the fifth edition of Techy Terms Tuesday!

Do you remember in the fall, taking the Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi)?  I know it was the week of conferences, and we had some log in issues, however, the LoTi is meant to help give you some areas to improve on in your teaching.  One of the biggest complaints I received about the LoTi was the complex "techy" vocabulary used in the survey.   Since we will be taking the survey again in April, I thought it might be a great idea to transform some of the complex language into teacher friendly terms - as I think we are all super innovative educators - and I know that will be reflected in the upcoming survey!  

This weeks term:  innovative thinking

My students engage in standards-based instructional units and related learning experiences that emphasize innovative thinking student use of digital tools, and applied learning to the real world.

Innovative Thinking

Innovative thinking represents the cognitive processes that enable students to look at problems or situations from a fresh perspective that suggests unorthodox or creative solutions.

Simply put, innovative thinking is thinking outside the box or exploring multiple solutions.

How do you use innovative thinking in your instruction?

Techy Terms Tuesday #4

Welcome to the fourth edition of Techy Terms Tuesday!

Do you remember in the fall, taking the Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi)?  I know it was the week of conferences, and we had some log in issues, however, the LoTi is meant to help give you some areas to improve on in your teaching.  One of the biggest complaints I received about the LoTi was the complex "techy" vocabulary used in the survey.   Since we will be taking the survey again in April, I thought it might be a great idea to transform some of the complex language into teacher friendly terms - as I think we are all super innovative educators - and I know that will be reflected in the upcoming survey!  

Here are two new techy terms for you:  formative and summative assessment opportunities & non traditional ways.

I provide multiple and varied formative and summative assessment opportunities that encourage students to "showcase" their content understanding in nontraditional ways.

Formative and Summative Assessment Opportunities

Formative assessments are generally carried out throughout a course or project and provide the information needed to adjust teaching and learning while they are happening. Simply put, formative assessment informs both teachers and students about student understanding at a point when timely adjustments can be made.  Summative assessments are generally carried out at the end of a course, project, or other designated time period and determine at a particular point in time what students know and what they are able to do. Simply put, summative assessments include: state assessments, district benchmarks, chapter tests, and semester exams.

Nontraditional Ways

Nontraditional ways refer to strategies for assessing student content understanding beyond paper and pencil tests, essays, and multiple-choice exams. Simply put, nontraditional assessments include: peer reviews, personal reflection, student portfolios, and interviews. I know that many of us use these different types of assessment to inform our instruction. Many teacher leaders in the building have even attended a workshop about the Seven Strategies of Assessment for Learning and are implementing these strategies in their classroom.  Please let me know if as your instructional coach if I can help you implement these in your classroom or can support you in any way! Over Spring Break I will be taking a break from Techy Terms Tuesday to chase my toddlers in the sun. :)  I'll be back with Techy Terms #5 in April!

Techy Terms Tuesday #3

Welcome to the third edition of Techy Terms Tuesday!

Do you remember in the fall, taking the Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi)?  I know it was the week of conferences, and we had some log in issues, however, the LoTi is meant to help give you some areas to improve on in your teaching.  One of the biggest complaints I received about the LoTi was the complex "techy" vocabulary used in the survey.   Since we will be taking the survey again in the spring, I thought it might be a great idea to transform some of the complex language into teacher friendly terms - as I think we are all super innovative educators - and I know that will be reflected in the upcoming survey!  

Here is a new techy term for you:  local and global learning communities

What's a local and global learning community?

Local and global learning communities involve collaborations with other individuals that promote interdependence, two-way communication, and creative problem solving.

So, in simple terms, a lot of the cool stuff that's been happening around Roosevelt!  From Google Hangouts, Virtual Field Trips, Pen Pals, etc. we have a lot of collaboration going on.  If you'd like help promoting a local and global learning community in your classroom, please let me know!

Techy Terms Tuesday Two

Welcome to the second edition of Techy Terms Tuesday!

Do you remember in the fall, taking the Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi)?  I know it was the week of conferences, and we had some log in issues, however, the LoTi is meant to help give you some areas to improve on in your teaching.  One of the biggest complaints I received about the LoTi was the complex "techy" vocabulary used in the survey.   Since we will be taking the survey again in the spring, I thought it might be a great idea to transform some of the complex language into teacher friendly terms - as I think we are all super innovative educators - and I know that will be reflected in the upcoming survey!   Here is two more techy terms for you to digest... however, in my mind, they are more curricular based.  It's nice when technology can enhance the curriculum.  :)

Complex Thinking Skill Strategies

Complex thinking skill strategies refer to the more broad, all-encompassing thinking strategies used in processing that depend on a series of steps to reach a conclusion.  Complex thinking strategies include:

• problem solving
• creative problem solving
• decision-making
• reasoning, 
• investigation, 
• experimental inquiry, 
• reflective thinking.

So simply put, these complex thinking strategies are things that we as teachers use all of them time!   I know that we are always trying to push this complex thinking strategies, and try to improve the ways we use them in our classrooms.   If you want help trying to transform a lesson using these complex thinking strategies, please let me know!

Content Standards

Content standards are collections of discipline-specific student outcomes for instruction and learning that define what students should know and be able to do. Instructional content standards provide a way to focus on a common educational vision among educational professionals, parents, students, and the community at large. They also provide a guide for enhancing preparation and continuing education of teachers while providing a foundation for curriculum development, instruction, and assessment of student performance. 

• National Science Education (NSE) Standards
• National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
• National Educational Technology Standards (NETS)
• National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) Standards
• National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Expectations of Excellence
• National Language Arts Standards
• National Council for Economics Education (NCEE) Standards
• National Standards for Arts Education
• National Standards for History
• National Association for Sport & Physical Education (NASPE) Standards
• National Health Education Standards
• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Performance Guidelines
• Center for Civic Education (CCE) National Standards for Civics and Government

So, simply put, Content Standards are what we use to guide our instruction every day!

These aren't so tough, right?   Next week I'll break down a few more questions, about how we are using digital & environmental resources. 

Techy Terms Tuesday

Do you remember in the fall, taking the Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi)?  I know it was the week of conferences, and we had some log in issues, however, the LoTi is meant to help give you some areas to improve on in your teaching.  One of the biggest complaints I received about the LoTi was the complex "techy" vocabulary used in the survey.   Since we will be taking the survey again in the spring, I thought it might be a great idea to transform some of the complex language into teacher friendly terms - as I think we are all super innovative educators - and I know that will be reflected in the upcoming survey!

Standards-based Learning Experiences 

A standard is a statement of what students should know and be able to demonstrate.  Therefore, a standards-based learning experience is any lesson/activity/learning experience that happens in your classroom that is based on the standards your students are assessed.

Simply put, standards-based learning experiences are pretty much every lesson or activity that happens in your classroom on a daily basis!

Digital Tools 

Digital tools commonly include laptop computers, mobile devices, software applications, web-based applications, digital cameras, printers, probes, MIDI devices, interactive whiteboards, scanners, analog video cameras, digital video cameras, multipurpose calculators, and video-conferencing equipment available for instructional use in your classroom.

Simply put, digital tools are all of the technologies that you use with your students including the hardware, software and Internet.

Environmental Resources 

Environmental resources commonly include any form of non-print materials including manipulatives, displays, dioramas, original photos, original artifacts, measurement devices, household or store products available for instructional use in your classroom..

Simply put, environmental resources are the hands on teaching tools we use every day. 

So if we were to look at the survey questions...

• How often are your students involved in standards-based learning experiences during the instructional day?
• How often are you (the teacher) using digital tools and/or environmental resources during the instructional day?

My guess is that every teacher at Roosevelt would respond "multiple times per day" given all of the amazing teaching going on here!

Stay tuned for next week when I break down complex thinking strategies & content standards.