The Integrator
Latest News and Tips from SCS Instructional Technology
New, News Kid on the Block!
Welcome to Mr. Wedlock's Class: Exemplary Digital Integrator at Spring Hill Middle School
Being a technology integrator, Mr. Wedlock embraces a challenge and encourages his students to do the same. He states, "My students enjoy a challenge, so a great deal of my lessons begin with a questions being posed. The remainder of the instruction is student self discover to answer the question. Technology is the tool that enhances these problem solving skills." Students solving a problem will ultimately produce problem solving citizens!
When asking Mr. Wedlock about advice on digitally integrated lesson plans and instruction, he had valuable information to share.
"I always start by looking at two areas, what area am I trying to enhance and what new resources have I heard about. Look for resources that are easy to share with students and that save your work history. This way you can use the resources for years to come. Also have students become masters of these resources as well! So of my best Kahoots, Breakouts, and Edpuzzles have been created by my students!"
"I use technology to engage students to both build a digital community and to collaborate with peers. Technology is also a tool for motivation because it allows no room for error which keeps students always working for a better self."
Mr. Wedlock, thank you for the exemplary example that you are setting with the Scotland County School district. Your dedication and innovative style of instruction is truly reaching you students.
Digital Word Walls
Digital Anchor Charts
Digital Student Work Displays
Digital Publishing at Carver and Spring Hill
Tool of the Month Club: LucidPress
Lucidpress is an online digital publication tool that allows users to create everything from brochures to posters to infographics. The company offers free and basic level accounts to teachers and students. Its intuitive design makes the user learning curve extremely easy, and sharing the finished product is as simple as either downloading a .pdf or sharing a link. Another very attractive feature of Lucidpress is that the company has a repository of lesson plans shared by other educators. You can even submit your own for review and sharing.
So, if you are looking for a way to integrate writing and digital learning within your current lesson plans, consider having your student give Lucidpress a try. Just another online tool in your ever-growing tool box! Happy publishing! (Hint: It is also fully integrated with G Suite!)
Integrating Digital Publishing as a Strategy
Take a math lesson, for example. Maybe you have unpacked Standard NC.6.SP.1 - Display data on a graph or table that shows variability in the data - to teach histograms. An example of using Lucidchart to create an assignment may consist of the following planning steps:
- Determine that the students will demonstrate learning through an assignment that graphically displays vacation destination facts and demographics. Basically, they will be travel agents, seeking vacationing clients. (Assignment choice aligned to lesson essential question and learning goals.)
- Students will create a travel brochure, advertising a chosen destination to potential customers. (Individual, student-led project)
- The teacher will provide initial data that can be computed by the student for use in the brochure. (Rubric provided to the students as a project guideline.)
- Students use Lucidpress to design their brochure promotions of their vacation destinations through factual information in chart and table format for review by potential customers. (Allows for modification of learned information, transferring knowledge into a real world application. Integration of writing standards and digital learning competencies take place within a math lesson.)
- Students will then promote their vacations, and students can individually choose the vacation that is most desirable and economical based upon the statistical information presented in the brochure. (Provides another opportunity to spiral back to learning goals and, ultimately, the associated standard.)
This is just an example of using a digital publication tool to integrate STEM, writing, and digital learning competencies. The main points to consider are determination of intended outcome of using the online tool, assurance that the online will not produce extraneous cognitive load, and confirmation that writing and digital learning can be achieved alongside the standard being taught through the online tool.
SCS Instructional Technology
Email: cfreeman@scotland.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.scotland.k12.nc.us/Domain/208
Location: 322 South Main Street, Laurinburg, NC, United States
Phone: 910-276-1148
Twitter: @SCS_C_and_I