Science teacher Sara Stein shares her lessons learned in using technology to support inquiry and project-based learning.

1. TACKLING TECHNOLOGY
SARA STEIN
MS SCIENCE TEACHER
Alexandria Country Day School, Alexandria,
VA

2. INTRODUCTION
 Teaching for 12 years (LS and MS)
 New to iPad in August (My Technology Story)
 Goal of Presentation: Connect, support,
share ideas, personal experiences and
examples of student work and assessments.

3. DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE RISKS
 Turn and talk with a neighbor about what helped
you take a risk with technology…
It’s OKAY to say, “I don’t know.”

4. BABY STEPS
See it as an opportunity; Start small & go slow
 One lesson, one App, one project at a time

5. DON’T DO IT ALL YOUR 1ST YEAR
We are designers, creators…do what you
can…85% is okay
Students and technology change each year

6. LEAN ON YOUR LEARNING
COMMUNITY
Look around for support. Who is there?
Ask for help- even from students!
Expand beyond school walls

7. LET STUDENTS DRIVE
 Education is shifting from teacher focused
instruction to student centered learning
 Letting go of control = Better learning outcomes

8. TEXTBOOKS ARE JUST ONE TOOL
Technology does not replace, only enhances
Resources at your fingertips
Give yourself credit

9. Learning Management System (LMS)
Haiku: post HW, links, polls, pics, podcasts
Extend beyond classroom walls through blended
learning- We start the dialogue, they run with it!

10. INQUIRY
Teachers are farmers
Start with questions
Empower students to guide their own education

11. PROJECT BASED LEARNING
Tests and quizzes still have a place
Student freedom to select, design & create
Examples!!

12. Rubric

13. TAKE AWAY’S
 Take Risks
 Baby Steps
 Don’t Do It All Your 1st Year
 Let Students Drive
 Learning Community
 Textbooks Are Just One Tool
 Inquiry
 Project Based Learning

14. Website
 www.tinyurl.com/vaissara
 Visit this link to see…
 My presentation
 Examples of student work
 A student-run blog
 Contact info and more!!

15. Image Links
 http://image.motortrend.com/f/photo_gallery/sedans/1204_2012_kia
_optima_and_optima_hybrid_photo_gallery/36136544/2012-Kia-
Optima-steering-wheel-2.jpg
 http://www.itslearning.net/Websites/itstest/images/topbanner/profes
sional_learning_communities.jpg
 http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/inspirestock/inspirestock1112/in
spirestock111209966/11436144-businessman-about-to-jump-off-
the-diving-board.jpg
 http://people.cs.umass.edu/~mccallum/house/house-may2003.jpg
 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GvLBy_Amp5I/TB1IVFiVMSI/AAAAAAAA
IHc/p-0zhvlP_0k/s1600/no+books+allowed.jpg
 http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/marish/marish1206/marish1206
00009/13955804-box-with-question-mark-icons.jpg

16. FINAL SHARES AND
QUESTIONS
Thank you for coming!!