Tools for Engaging All Learners in the Classroom

1. Tools for Engaging All Learners in the Classroom Using Microsoft Education Application Solutions

2. What Teachers Have Said About the ClassEngagement Tools for the Classroom “This course included an incredible amount of pertinent and useful technology integration material. The environment was collaborative and the set-up was very effective. The technology worked when we needed it to and support was excellent. Love having a course in the New England area!” Cathy Brophy, Technology Integrator SAU56, NH “Grant was an amazing and knowledgeable instructor. He was there to guide, teach, and achieve with us. I believe this is the BEST educational workshop I have attended and hope Microsoft creates more. . .” Jennifer Barreto, Technology Educator Saint Charles School, Woburn, MA

3. Setting the Stage In a true collegial and collaborative workshop learn instructional strategies that improve student achievement using Microsoft products. • Motivate learners both inside and outside the classroom; • Engage students in higher levels of thinking through real world problem solving; • Assess learning through formative, summative, and self-assessment tools.

4. Engagement Tools for the ClassroomProject Learning at it’s Best Secretary of State: International Business Summit Race to the Planets Students ask questions that help them understand the enormity of our Solar System. The essential question, “How long would it take to run to each of the planets?” provides the foundation for inquiry that elevates each student’s science literacy. Using the nationally recognized social studies standards, each student takes an active role in their learning by designing a campaign to promote the business opportunities of their state. Each student assumes the role of an individual state’s business ambassador– the Secretary of State.

5. Cross-curricular Units International Business Summit Race to the Planets Astronomy Math Reading and writing Physical education Data collection Data synthesis and evaluation Art Music (and more!) • Math • Reading and writing • Social studies • Maps • Data collection • Data synthesis and evaluation • Art • Science (and more!)

6. Communicate  Think  Apply SkillsIn Each Class Lean to seamlessly integrate new tools and new methods so that the technology is transparent and integral to teaching the core curriculum and beyond. • Participants learn by doing • Curricular relevant activities • Leaders model instructional strategies • Time for reflection and collaboration • Continuous coaching

7. Discuss How Project Planning WorksFive Dynamic Principles Reach today’s students with authentic, cross-curricular units built on rich ideas. Motivate students to do their best plus a little bit more. Design Principle #2 Develop the Driving Question Design Principle #5 Manage the Process Design Principle #1 Begin with the End in Mind Design Principle #4 Map the Process Design Principle #3 Plan the Assessments

8. Participants Create  Organize  Share Participants use both PC and Web based applications with the active learning units: Secretary of State and Race to the Planets.

9. Engagement Tools for the Classroom Course Structure Each course book provides participant and sample files aligned with the course content. The files allow student practice and creation to maximize instructional time.

10. Course Structure Hands-on activities align with standards. Activities built around a seamless integration of technology within each unit. Included are Test Your Knowledge, and Curriculum Connections sections.

11. Engagement Tools for the ClassroomProject 1: An International Business Summit North Carolina’s Secretary of State’s mission statement reads: Mission Statement: To serve and protect citizens, the business community and governmental agencies by facilitating business activities, by providing accurate and timely information and by preserving documents and records. Welcome to the International Business Summit. As the Conference convenes, students collaboratively embark on a technology-rich, project-based inquiry incorporating multiple disciplines to motivate and challenge their thinking. Each student becomes a state’s Secretary of State.

12. Connect to StandardsNational Council for the Social Studies Coaching Skill Development Three Strands of Essential Skills Three strands of essential skills: Acquiring information Organizing and using information Developing interpersonal relationships and social participation Students grow their intellectual and social skills through the thinking processes of: • Classifying • Interpreting • Analyzing • Summarizing • Synthesizing • Evaluating • Creating • Participants use the following tools in the Secretary of State unit: • Windows Vista • MS Office 2007 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) • Zune • Movie Maker • Sound Recorder

13. International Business SummitWhat Does the Student Do? • Acting a their state’s ambassador, the Secretary of State, students persuade the Conference attendees (parents, local business people) to begin a business in their state. After completing the project rubric, each student presents their research in a face-to-face, kiosk setting. Students engage the Conference attendees about the attributes of their state. Along with this dialogue, each kiosk includes: • A foam board display • Short PowerPoint for small group viewing • Video and audio to use with Microsoft Zune • Dialogue with Conference attendees about the attributes of their state

14. Engagement Tools for the ClassroomProject 2: Race to the Planets Use WorldWide Telescope and MS Excel Office 2007 to understand the great dimensions in space. • Practice using Microsoft Excel and WorldWide Telescope • Build a planet racecourse • Collect the data • Use Excel to answer questions • Visit the planets • Build a slide show of your teams race

15. Live Mesh Learn to collaborate in the digital world using Live Mesh to synchronize your devices. When using files in Live Mesh folders the data is updated automatically to all devices that have been added to the Live Mesh network. Live Mesh puts YOU at the center of your digital world!

16. What Teachers and Students Use

17. Tying It All Together As an educator, you increasingly work with students of diverse backgrounds, cultures, native languages, and ability levels. Project-based learning provides a greater range of learning opportunities to your students. Working on a project with others motivates learners by allowing them to work with content in the context of real-world situations (Katz & Chard, 1989). Additionally, twenty years of research has shown the motivation has a positive impact on achievement (Brewster & Fager, 2000).

18. Benefits of Academic Coaching Project Based Learning • Prepares children for the workplace; • Increases motivation; • Frequent, deliberate practice in thinking (Roberts & Billings, 2008); • Increases communication and social skills; • Practice presenting to an invested audience; • Increases problem solving skills; • Provides a practical, real world way to learn and use technology. (Northwest Regional Educational Library, 2002)

19. Final Words About Engagement Tools for the Classroom Julie Maher, a participant in the Summer Workshop, says, “This course was the best course I’ve taken for computer technology integration EVER!! Grant (the instructor) modeled the teaching he expected us to bring back to our teachers, gave us time to produce a product, and then asked for our reflection on how we would integrate the material into our own schools. “