• ISTE Standards for Coaches

    Service-Learning IGNITE Talk

    Combatting Apathy With Empathy: A Focus on Technology and Service-Learning Two years ago I sat down with the fourth-grade teachers at our school to co-write a persuasive writing unit for ELA. We wanted to use project-based learning (PBL) to give our students an authentic challenge or task to motivate them and at the same time refining their skills in persuasive writing. We also were interested in trying out service-learning, a form of experiential learning, where students partner with community groups to make a difference. We met weekly to design the curriculum and after several months of work, we emerged with our Community Helpers Unit.  We have taught the unit for several…

  • ISTE Standards for Coaches

    A Roadmap for Choosing New Technology

    A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away…. wait, wrong story.  A long long time ago in a classroom far far away there were students dreaming of one to one devices and teachers advocating for interactive whiteboards and student-adaptive technologies. Now, fast forward to 2020 and we have it all! From kid-friendly robots you can code, to platforms that connect you with classrooms around the world, and digital learning tools on every subject imaginable. The problem now is that teachers are inundated with various forms of educational technology and teachers, principals, and district leaders need to have a clear protocol for choosing which ones to adopt.  Let’s…

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