This document discusses best practices for integrating technology and digital tools into the classroom. It emphasizes that the focus should be on how tools are used, not just using technology for its own sake. Effective integration requires assessing needs, experimenting with tools, and transforming lessons so students can demonstrate understanding through digital means. Standards like NETS can help guide selection and use of tools to support creativity, collaboration, research skills and more. Examples provided show how specific lessons were enhanced by having students use digital tools like Glogster for an animal research project.

1. It’s Not the Tool, It’s How You Use It Mary Beth Hertz Instructional Technology Specialist Philadelphia, PA Diana Laufenberg’s History classroom at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia Best practices for integrating technology in the classroom

2. What are ‘Digital Tools’? images from jutecht and creative tools and manning999 on Flickr

3. What is ‘Reform’? From the Free Online Merriam Webster Dictionary When we discuss education reform, we often refer to incorporating digital tools. First let’s look at some terms.

4. What is ‘Transform’? From the Free Online Merriam Webster Dictionary

5. Make a Change From the Quotations Page Don’t think about making what you do in your classroom better , think about how you can change what you do in your classroom.

6. What Has Changed in Our Society? Connections Tools

7. What Does This Mean for Education? “ The way to modernize our work is not to use a computer instead of a typewriter and call it innovative.” – Heidi Jacobs, Curriculum 21 “ Our job is to help students find their own voices and develop their own understanding of the subject matter.” – Robyn Jackson, Never Work Harder Than Your Students

8. Implementing Change: Stage 1 Assessment Essential questions Goals Image from baboon on flickr

9. Implementing Change: Stage 2 Tinker image courtesy of jannem on flickr Blocked? Emerging List of Top 100 Tools for Learning Cybraryman’s Web 2.0 Tools page Larry Ferlazzo’s Best Websites of the Year

10. Implementing Change: Stage 3 transform Image courtesy of xcode on flickr put students in charge show understanding effective assessment

11. Other Considerations - introducing the tool - rules & expectations - individuals or groups - how long - turning it in - does it work?

12. The NETS*S The 6 Strands are: Creativity and Innovation Communication and Collaboration Research and Information Fluency Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making Digital Citizenship Technology Operations and Concepts International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Technology Standards for Students

13. Why Incorporate the NETS? No Bells and Whistles Please!

14. Animal Research Project (click here to read more about the lesson) Learning Goal: To find information about an animal seen on a field trip. Assessment: Students will be provided a rubric before starting the project to guide them through the process and describe the requirements of the final artifact. Tool: Glogster How tool will transform the lesson: Rather than research an animal and write a paper, students will be able to find sounds, images and videos of their animal, giving context to the facts they find. They will be able to include links to allow readers to do more research of their own.. The students’ research will be shared with others outside of the classroom, making their research more meaningful. Work will be completed online and accessible through the Glogster teacher’s account.

15. The Artifacts Please note that these projects are not considered polished pieces .

16. Serendipity and Digital Tools Learn from happy accidents! For more about the activity, click here. Click here to view the video on YouTube or here on Vimeo Build a teacher toolkit

17. Questions & Stories How have you successfully integrated digital tools into your classroom? Questions or comments? Contact me: [email_address]