HIG: Adapting Digital Tools
Adapting digital tools with high-effect size instructional strategies is a piece of cake. Two questions to ask yourself:
- Do you know when the right time is to use a particular strategy?
- How do you know which digital tool works best?
Think-Pair-Share
Scenario:
Your co-teacher has asked, "What are some digital tools that you would use to teach a history lesson (or math, or language arts, you decide)? How would you approach this?"
Think-Pair-Share Activity
Share your top three digital tools that are your "go-to" tools.
The Right Time
"What and when are equally important when it comes to instruction that has an impact on learning.
Matching the right approach with the appropriate phase of learning is the critical lesson to be learned." - Hattie, Fisher and Frey (Visible Learning for Mathematics, 2017)
Learn to use the right strategy at the appropriate time.
Approaches that facilitate students' surface-level learning do not work equally well for deep learning, and vice versa.
Strategies you use are more effective when they match the learning intention and students' phase of learning.
(Source: Hattie, Fisher and Frey. Visible Learning for Mathematics, 2017.Want to maximize student growth? Select instructional strategies that work best for different phase of learning your students are in.
Select the Digital Tool
Ready to see other digital tools and how the align to high-effect size instructional strategies?
Blending Google Digital Tools with High Effect Size Instructional Strategies
Amazing Lesson Design Outline
A quick review of how to design a high-yield lesson appears below. As you can see, it seeks to combine a variety of approaches, strategies, and ideas into a simple process (of course, that's not as as easy as it looks).
Work to build a learning partnership with each student, focused on creating a safe, positive learning environment that aligns to the diverse, deep culture backgrounds of students.
Ask yourself, "Where are the students now?" How many are 1) emerging, 2) developing, 3) meeting or 4) exceeding expectations? Determine what formative assessment you will use to assess students. (Source: Diane Sweeney)
Based on the phase of learning your students are in, select a high-effect size instructional strategy and digital tool that will speed learning.
Repeat the assessment you used earlier. Chart student progress towards learning objective. Adjust your existing approach.
Amazing Lesson Design Outline (ALDO) (left),
a tool for guiding lesson design for diverse learners. Read the accompanying blog entry.
Use the choice board (right) to get you started on designing. It features four choices for each of the lesson design stages in ALDO.
Teach Vocab with Google Slides
Want to use the Frayer Model with Google Tools? Be sure to explore Google Slides and Google Jamboard (see 16 examples). Both offer many opportunities to create interactive, online learning experiences.
Some technologies that lend themselves to Vocabulary Programs:
Frayer Model
Frayer Model (Google Slides)
Google Slides
"Teachers can use Google Slides and the Frayer Model to engage students in vocabulary review beyond the classroom. I created a Google Slide deck with a slide for each of the vocabulary words in the text. I used the Frayer Model to provide structure to the review activity."
-Catlin Tucker, Facilitate a Deep Dive into Vocabulary with Google Slides and The Frayer Model
The Frayer Model is a graphic organizer for building student vocabulary. This technique requires students to:
- Define target vocabulary
- Apply their knowledge by generating examples and non-examples
- Give characteristics, and/or
- Draw a picture to illustrate the meaning of the word.
(Source)
Follow these steps when introducing the Frayer Model:
The teacher explains a new word, going beyond reciting its definition (tap into prior knowledge of students, use imagery).
Students restate or explain the new word in their own words (verbally and/or in writing).
Ask students to create a non-linguistic representation of the word (a picture, or symbolic representation).
Students engage in activities to deepen their knowledge of the new word (compare words, classify terms, write their own analogies and metaphors).
Students discuss the new word (pair-share, elbow partners).
Students periodically play games to review new vocabulary (Pyramid, Jeopardy, Telephone).
For an easy, ready to go activity that emphasizes some of Marzano's steps, see the Frayer Model below.
Paper Slide Videos
Do your students struggle learning new vocabulary words? Make those words come alive through video. All you need is a device with a camera, paper, and markers/crayons. Work in small groups to create awesome content, whether it's a vocabulary video or animated GIF.
Manifest Destiny Vocabulary Jamboard
Students used #Jamboard to collaboratively #ispy all the items in the picture. Shoutout to @MrsSchroetlin @D54Keller for the great idea to introduce #manifestdestiny #ditchbook #eduducttape
Honoring Indigenous Peoples
Consider discussing "Reversing Manifest Destiny" (by artist Charles Hilliard) image featuring White Buffalo Calf Woman. Reversing Manifest Destiny symbolizes the return of Indian Lands to Indian Hands.
Michele Klein (@Sh3llyLynn84) offers an easy way to play Tic-Tac-Toe Vocabulary. You can adapt her slideshow for your own use.
A Sample Lesson
