Welcome!

As a part of the Assistive Technology Grant we received spring 2014, we were asked to document our journey! Here is an attempt to share what we are learning in the Ed Tech world, as well as, collaborative efforts with our teacher colleagues to integrate best teaching strategies and practices. My hope is that you will find resources you can use and share with us your favorites!

Project Title:

Assistive Technology for All Learners: Supporting the development of reading and writing within the digital age.

Project Focus:

To provide educators with professional development regarding the most current implementation of assistive technology within the classroom to support student engagement, learning, and outcomes. Assistive technology will be used within the classroom to support students’ achievement of ELA standards.

Target population: All 3rd grade students at Hawthorne, 2014-15 school year.  

Technology provided: All 3rd-5th grade students at Hawthorne are part of a 1:1 chromebook initiative funded by district and site budget.

Measurable objectives for project:

• Implement strategies learned at ISTE Conference to provide effective assistive technology for all 3rd grade students in a 1:1 chromebook classroom. All 3rd-5th grade students at Hawthorne are part of a 1:1 chromebook initiative funded by district and site budget.

• Students will be assessed on ELA Common Core performance tasks with and without the assistance of the assistive technology tools in order to determine the effectiveness of the AT. Those assessments will be given on pre-, mid-, and post- basis (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

• Based upon rubric scores, students will be grouped according to similar skill deficit. The SETT framework will be used to determine instructional strategies for the students who scored between 0 - 2.  This will be repeated for both pre- and mid-test sessions.  

• In addition, STAR reading assessment data will be collected and assessed at benchmarks for all students. Additionally, STAR assessments will be used for progress monitoring (growth).

• Informal progress monitoring of close reading strategies will occur throughout the year.

• At mid-trimester the team will meet and problem solve the effectiveness of assistive technology versus non-technology strategies. This will be based on information obtained from multiple sources including STAR assessments, rubric scores, close reading progress monitoring. Instructional changes will be made as needed. The SETT framework will be used for individual students who have not shown adequate progress on the mid-assessment.

Measurable student outcomes:

Using a leveled rubric to assess CCSS ELA standards RI3.1 and W3.1, students will perform at Level 3 (Effective) or above by the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS ASSESSED:

• Students will ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as a basis for the answers (RI.3.1)

• By the end of the year, students will read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 2-3 text complexity band independently and proficiently. (RI.3.10)

• Students will write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. (W.3.1)

WHY TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION?

Here is an interesting video called “Pay Attention”  created by Darren Draper in an effort to motivate teachers to more effectively use technology in their teaching. If you cannot view the movie directly from this page, here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT2E2F0DmyE

Pay Attention