Technology is used in AJUSD schools in several ways: 1) It helps students develop 21st century skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving. 2) Teachers use technology to enhance project-based learning and flipped classroom models, allowing students to learn concepts online and apply them in hands-on classroom activities. 3) Virtual field trips, online research projects, and blogging give students opportunities to connect with people and information beyond the traditional classroom.

1. How is technology
used in AJUSD?
by Tracy Watanabe
This work by Tracy Watanabe is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

2. How do we use
technology?
• Communicating
• Shopping
• Banking
Photo Credit: andyp uk via Compfight cc

3. Remember the day?
Photo Credit: Reeding Lessons via Compfight cc

5. What skills are needed
in the 21st century?
• communication
• collaboration
• critical and creative
thinking
• problem solving
• informational literacy
• digital citizenship

6. Key ideas
• How we “do school” has
changed, and focusing on 21st
century learning skills is the
shift taking place
• At AJUSD, we are preparing
them for 21st century college
and career paths
• Technology helps students
connect learning beyond the
four walls of the classroom
photo by Tracy Watanabe

7. Mystery State Skype
• Knowledge:
Remember facts
about states
• Skills: Use the critical
reasoning to
determine the state,
and answer questions
about our state
3rd graders in Mrs. Hamman’s class
blogs.goaj.org/mrshamman

8. Virtual Field Trips
• Knowledge: Learn
facts about places
and share to
teacher
• Skills: Learn about
places, go on
virtual field trips,
and create a video
to share their
learning with
others
5th graders in Mrs. Hamman’s class
blogs.goaj.org/mrshamman

9. Virtual Field Trips
• Knowledge: Learn
facts about places
and share to
teacher
• Skills: Learn about
places, go on
virtual field trips,
and create a video
to share their
learning with
others
5th graders in Mrs. Hamman’s class
blogs.goaj.org/mrshamman

10. Save the Rhinos
• Knowledge: Research
about endangered
species
• Skills: Research,
share, raise
awareness, and make
an impact on the
world
3rd graders in Mrs. Moore’s and Mrs. Hamman’s classes

11. Iditarod Project
• Knowledge: Learn
the facts about the
race
• Skills: Interact with
the mushers and
share their learning
3rd graders in Mrs. Hamman’s class
blogs.goaj.org/mrshamman

12. 0
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
PretestDemonstrateVelocity
Post-TestDemonstrateVelocity
PretestNewton’sFirstLaw
Post-TestNewton’sFirstLaw
PretestNewton’sSecondLaw
Post-TestNewton’sSecondLaw
PretestNewton’sThirdLaw
Post-TestNewton’sThirdLaw
PretestGraphing
Post-TestGraphing
PBL Results
9%
91%
23%
77%
25%
75% 74%
26%
18%
82%
69%
31%
5%
95%
76%
24% 22%
76% 74%
26%
CCJH Students go
“CSI” at
Mock Crash Site
Photo Credits: Brian Killgore from AJUSD
Approaches & Falls Far Below
Exceeds & Meets
• Knowledge: Memorize Newton’s
Laws
• Skills: Students use critical
reasoning and apply Newton’s
Laws to real world learning

13. Blended & Flipped
Learning
• Knowledge: Learn
chemistry facts from
teacher
• Skills: Apply
chemistry through
PBL in class and
online content
AJHS chemistry students spend class time
focussed on PBL and content is flipped,
coming from an online source

14. Blogging about Journey
North Mystery Class
• Knowledge:
Longitude and
Latitude affects
seasons
• Skills: Students use
critical reasoning to
determine longitude
and latitude of others
3rd graders in Mrs. Hamman’s class
blogs.goaj.org/mrshamman

15. Blogging about WW2
• Then: Students write
for the teacher as the
audience
• Now: Students write
for a global audience
and converse in
comments
8th graders in Mrs. Carpenter’s class
blogs.goaj.org/pcarpent

16. Blogging
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.6
Use technology, including the
Internet, to produce and
publish writing and to interact
and collaborate with others.
image by Tracy Watanabe,
quoting CASTLE research

17. Blogging Increases
Academic Achievement
• Knowledge: Students
know how well they
learned it when they
get their scores
• Skills: Students know
how well they
learned it when they
create, share it, and
reflect on it; scores
reflect the amount of
learning
0
0.93
1.85
2.78
3.70
Fall -- Narrative
Spring -- Expository
2012-2013 Benchmarks
3rd grade bloggers
6 Traits of Writing

18. Key ideas
• How we “do school” has
changed, and focusing on 21st
century learning skills is the
shift taking place
• At AJUSD, we are preparing
them for 21st century college
and career paths
• Technology helps students
connect learning beyond the
four walls of the classroom
photo by Tracy Watanabe

19. Question
and
Answer
What questions do you have?
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