21 THINGS 4 TEACHER Since 2009, the 21things4teachers (http://21things4teachers.net) site been annually updated through many modifications and changes to help teachers build their educational technology proficiency. We are excited to share that this spring and summer, thanks to the support and funding by the REMC Association the 21Things transformed from a course about learning how to implement various tools to truly being a course that will have an impact on an educator’s teaching in the classroom. The 21things4teachers Project Team is very proud to have received the ISTE Seal of Alignment this spring. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) determined that the 21Things provides an effective framework for teachers to meet all of the ISTE Standards for Teachers. This Seal of Alignment is good for two years. It is recognized throughout the world that the sites ISTE awards must meet their criteria of excellence. UPDATES: 1. The course was moved from Weebly to Foxbright where the content is presented in a more professional appearance to emulate the look and feel of its companion site http://21things4students.net thanks to the input and support from the REMC Association.
prepare to teach the students in their classrooms after taking the course. The team did an alignment of the Teacher and Student course so that the resources were the same on both sites. For example, Visual Learning has the same tools and resources for both projects. 4. Assignments have become more project-based to make each one more creative and student focused. It is important that the activities and digital creations be applicable in the classroom or educational environment. 5. The course was originally based on the ISTE Standards for Teachers and the Marzano nine strategies. The course is still based on the ISTE Standards for Teachers, and is now also aligned with the Using Technology in Classroom Instruction that Works (UT-CITW) nine best practices. Each of the assignments ensures that products the participants create meet one or more of the standards and the UT-CITW best practices. 6. We added a new ‘Thing’ titled Emerging Technologies. This is a really exciting addition that introduces the Maker Movement (www.weareteachers.com/hot-topics/special-reports/how-themaker-movement-is-transforming-education), 3D printing, Google Glass and much more. 7. Every ‘Thing’ of the 21things has been updated as well as every assignment. Additional resources for each ‘Thing’ can be found under its own tab on the 21 Things Dashboard.
This summer the new course was used with 40 participants enrolled in the Statewide 21 Things online course. These teachers are going back to their classrooms with amazing new resources to use with their students they created through the summer course! 2. The input from the surveys and focus groups of past participants of 21 Things4teachers helped guide the revisions. A brainstorming session with instructors from the Intermediate School Districts across the state who have taught the class in the past helped formulate the plan for new resources and revised assignments. This resulted in some deletions, additions, and revisions that have been implemented by the 21things4teachers project team. 3. Teachers who use the 21Things4Students resource said they wanted to be able to take 21Things4Teachers PD and be able to better 18
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They created: • Lesson plans that incorporate many of the resources • Awesome digital stories that made us laugh and cry • Screencasts that many are going to use with their colleagues, students and parents the first week of school explaining how to do something that in the past was difficult to convey without technology
Winter 2015
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MACUL journal