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In 91��Ƭ��, we have a vision for technology integration: All students have consistent, authentic, and equitable opportunities to leverage technology to effectively communicate complex ideas and demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways by producing creative artifacts.

We have many teachers in our district who are empowering students through technology integration!

 

Jolie Falicks – Ashworth Elementary

Jolie Fralicks, a gifted and talented teacher at Ashworth Elementary, started the year with students creating slideshows to plan and communicate their Texas Getaway road trips on a strict budget. “Going out on a limb and learning and/or trying new things through technology is a challenge for us as teachers, but the benefits clearly outweigh the obstacles…. Students love to show off their knowledge in a way that speaks to them, in the way their generation prefers to express themselves. I say allow them to be proud of their work!”

 

 

Stephanie Kurikka – Fitzgerald Elementary

Stephanie Kurikka, a fifth-grade teacher at Fitzgerald Elementary, said that her students get very excited when given the opportunity to create digital artifacts to demonstrate their learning. “The benefits of implementing a technology integrated lesson are engaged students, a better understanding of their thinking and learning, opportunities for higher order thinking and creativity, and collaboration between students.”

 

 

Stacie Farr – Duff Elementary

Librarians like Stacie Farr at Duff Elementary leverage technology in creative ways as well. “(Students) created posters in Canva to advertise our new book fair. I sent several of the posters to the print shop. We posted the pics all over the school. They loved it!” And technology integration benefits students at all levels.

 

 

Cheral Jones – Workman Junior High

Cheral Jones, an eighth grade English teacher at Workman Junior High, designs activities that empower student creativity because she sees the value in providing student-centered learning opportunities, including for a recent unit on persuasion. “Students enjoy choice and autonomy in their learning. I had students create an advertisement for a student-created product. They were asked to use one of the persuasive appeals and one of the rhetorical devices in their advertisements. They could use either Adobe Express or Canva to create this.” And the results were fantastic!

 

 

Rheonda Long – Shackelford Junior High

In Rheonda Long’s history class at Shackelford Junior High, students dive into a wide-range of technology-integrated activities including “Using Flip to send a message to a historical figure, stop motion animation to illustrate historical battles… Canva to create campaign posters for the reform movements… and a Black History video montage to learn about how African Americans impacted early American history.” She states that such activities allow her to “boost student collaboration and differentiate assignments for equity.” Priding herself in being “future-focused” she said, “Technology is not going (away) and providing my students with the tools needed to compete in a global marketplace is not only fair but essential.”

 

For hesitant teachers, technology integration can be accomplished with something as quick and simple as students composing a “fake” social media post for an exit ticket or a 10-minute processing activity during which students use Google Drawing to modify/enhance a mind map template. Or maybe students reflect on a chunk of learning by recording a 30-second voice recording for an online discussion. Of course, the single most powerful technology tool in the classroom is a teacher who knows when and how to guide students in using technology to process new information and to demonstrate their learning.

Teachers who realize the power of technology and harness that to provide authentic and engaging learning through technology integration truly prepare students for college, career, and life.