Instructional Technology Professional Learning

Looking for onsite, instructional technology professional development?
Consider these to get your staff started!

We understand it's difficult to send staff off-site for professional development of any kind due to substitute and travel issues. NEWESD 101's Technology & Design Services is offering a variety of onsite instructional technology opportunities, bringing the training to you. Our Technology & Learning coordinator, Steve Schreiner, can schedule a series of group sessions, as well as individual, embedded classroom support for your educators. Contact him at [email protected] to discuss your districts goals and instructional needs.

Google Certification

TechnologyEnhance your staff’s use of Google’s education tools and enable them to gain recognition for their accomplishment by earning the Google Certified Educator Level 1 credential. You’ll know that your teachers have a practical understanding of how to use Google tools in the classroom. Following Google’s guidelines for its Fundamentals Training program, we’ll provide hands-on experiences that help teachers understand the essential skills needed for effective use of Chrome, Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Sites, Groups, Hangouts, YouTube, and more. When training concludes, teachers independently complete Google’s external assessment; those earning their credential are eligible to progress to the Level 2, Certified Trainer, and Certified Innovator programs. Certification generally requires 12 hours of instruction, spread out over multiple days. Fees, specific schedules and details can be arranged upon request.

Visit the Level 1 Google Certified Educator site.
Other Google training options are also available. Just ask!

Elementary Coding

TechnologyGive your elementary teachers the hands-on introduction they need in order to bring coding to life in their classrooms. We’ll focus on the block-based coding language Scratch that teaches kids to be problem solvers, designers, and innovators. Your staff will learn not only how to use various code blocks, giving them the foundation they need as they assist students with their creations, but also how to use existing coding curricula in their classrooms. Our goal is to help your teachers feel competent, confident, and excited about student coding projects. We focus on the interplay between structured instruction and open-ended exploration, and we discuss the importance of providing opportunities for students to self-reflect on their creations, revise their work, and share their products. Effective use generally requires 6 hours of instruction, typically spread out over multiple days; intermediate-level use generally requires an additional 6 hours of instruction; and high-level use generally requires a further 6 hours. Fees, specific schedules and details can be arranged upon request.

Visit the Scratch website.

Have a (Mostly) Paperless Classroom

TechnologyBring learning online, simplify assignment distribution and collection, and reduce paper and copier use by having your teachers learn how to use Google Classroom, Schoology, or Canvas to have a (mostly) paperless classroom. Staff will learn how to post announcements, create and organize assignments, provide feedback, and communicate with students, all potentially without ever touching a piece of paper. Schoolwork appears in one centralized place, and students can access resources (and turn in assignments) even after the last bell rings. Engaging features like polling, online discussions, and embedded assessment can transform instruction in your buildings. We’ll focus on how teachers can encourage communication between students (both online and in-person) and how to keep families informed of classroom activities. Effective use generally requires 6 hours of instruction, typically spread out over multiple days; high-level use generally requires an additional 6 hours of instruction. Fees, specific schedules and details can be arranged upon request.

Flipped Instruction

TechnologyShow your teachers how to “flip” instruction in their classrooms, turning lessons into homework and homework into in-class activities. Educators will practice using screen-capture software to record lessons that students can watch again and again. They’ll learn how to make compelling content that keeps kids’ attention, see how to upload and share their creations, and discuss options for viewing by students without Internet access. Our focus is on teaching educators how to design instruction that promotes student mastery of concepts and skills by giving them in-classroom time to explore, create, work, communicate, and ask for help when they need it. Effective use generally requires 6 hours of instruction, typically spread out over multiple days; high-level use generally requires an additional 6 hours of instruction. Fees, specific schedules and details can be arranged upon request.

Internet Safety for Teachers

TechnologyGive your staff the confidence and knowledge they need in order to effectively guide students through a new world of online living, plus an awareness of ways that they can personally be safer with technology, both in-district and at home. Participants will learn about the apps and sites that are most popular with students, as well as the dangers those services pose. They’ll discover the privacy and safety issues that surround mobile devices, and they’ll discuss appropriate use of those devices. They’ll learn how to avoid phishing and other online risks, and specific steps they can take to keep their work and personal devices secure. We’ll discuss how cyberbullying can affect communities, and we’ll share simple steps for reducing its impact. Basic awareness generally requires 3 hours of instruction; higher-level awareness generally requires an additional 3 hours of instruction. Fees, specific schedules and details can be arranged upon request.

Student-Generated Digital Media

TechnologyExperts predict that in only a few years, photos and videos will completely dominate the web. Help your students understand the modern-day media landscape by teaching your educators how to plan, guide, and support student-generated media projects. We’ll focus on developing educators’ skills so that they can competently create and publish their own content, and then show students how to do the same. From video-based science lab reports, to slideshow-based history projects, to meme-style language arts presentations, students across the globe are creating and sharing learning products that were inconceivable only a decade ago. Digital media literacy is a true 21st century skill, and many teachers feel ill-equipped to teach it. Our focus is on developing their proficiency and providing tips for launching media projects for (and with) students. Effective use generally requires 6 hours of instruction, typically spread out over multiple days; high-level use generally requires an additional 6 hours of instruction. Fees, specific schedules and details can be arranged upon request.


Don't see what you need?
Be sure to get in touch with Steve to discuss other options he can provide - [email protected].

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