Coaching for Technology Integration

This is the time in the semester when I get really excited! Preservice teachers in literacy practicum
have been in the classroom since the beginning of the school year. They have been teaching literacy courses as well as literacy across the curriculum, using their iPad to access lesson plans and online reading curriculum. They have received formal feedback on their teaching and are confidently managing the class. Additionally they have been creating technology projects to use in their practicum classroom. Now they are preparing to make their students the creators in demonstrating their learning using technology.

At the same time their cooperating teachers are beginning to listen to technology ideas as I share them with their preservice teachers. When cooperating teachers have a question about technology they go to their preservice teacher, and sometimes I'm lucky enough to be in the room to help out. One question this week was about how to search for images within Google Docs. Since the Research tool has been replaced by Explore, teachers have to change their visuals that demonstrate how students can add images to their research projects. A preservice teacher found that Explore let's you search the web, images, and your Google Documents to add information to your paper. She created a screencast using Screencastify to show students how to add images to their presentations. I was so impressed with the level of this screencast and others created this semester.

Additionally, we just had Tech EDGE 18 The Future is Now: Innovative Approaches to 21st Century Learning. A couple cooperating teachers and other inservice teachers led sectionals demonstrating creative ways they are integrating technology in the classroom. Student teachers, and some of these literacy practicum students, attended the conference along with some classroom teachers. When processing what they learned and wanted to use in their classrooms these beginning teachers discussed ways they could incorporate Genius Hour, Makerspaces, Google Classroom, interactive student responses, international collaboration, green screen videos, Google Draw, and much more. How exciting to send new teachers into the field with innovative ideas of what education can be along with competence in making it a reality. I am convinced there has never been a more exciting time to be a teacher, and am proud to coach amazing preservice teachers and their cooperating teachers. Now to prepare for more preservice teachers to observe classroom teachers using 1:1 devices with students at Tech EDGE Aurora on Wednesday! Let the innovation continue!

Innovative Schools with Personalized Learning

This week I have visited schools that inspire me! They extend the bounds of what school can be to meet the individual needs of its students. The first is Mill Neck Schools for the Deaf and Special Needs Preschool. I was inspired by this sign outside one classroom empowering all children to be scientists, authors, explorers, creators, thinkers, leaders! Another bulletin board noted that these students have as their Super Power... Signing! One graduate of the School for the Deaf just graduated from Harvard Law School, realizing the school's vision in her own life through their individualized educational program to help her realize her God-given potential.

I enjoyed seeing the way technology enables the teacher to present multimedia on a specially designed Smart Device where the teacher can sign on the other half of the board as information is shown. Now students can look at one board to see content and watch the teacher sign to teach at the same time. Amazing!

Next I visited Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School, a progressive school preparing students to serve and lead globally in 21st century careers. LuHigh offers an Academy Model to allow students to pursue their interests and passions within a college preparatory curriculum. Beginning as a junior students may focus their learning in areas including STEM, Leadership & Communications, Allied Health Services, Social Science, and Arts & Humanities. This allows students to explore interests before applying to college to build knowledge and learn if this is a field they would like to pursue. 100% of students go on to college!

When I visited a class was working in a Makerspace to design a prosthetic hand for a child in another state who was born with only two fingers. This robotics course uses project-based learning to inspire students to create to meet real world needs. Student designers are building two models that will allow another student to grasp a lacrosse stick to better compete in a sport he loves. They are collaborating with the child to find out with what other activity he would like the second device to assist. After designing they will create the prosthetic using one of the five 3D printers in this space. These students are learning the STEM areas of critical thinking to make a difference in someone's life, and their own.

Personalized learning does motivate students to pursue their interests as they develop their God-given gifts. It is exciting to see actual schools achieving standards while helping students go far beyond to achieve their own goals and prepare for college and career. Hats off to these Lutheran schools of excellence!