This presentation offers a vision to foster digital age learning in the classroom.

1. A Purposeful Change:
Utilizing Digital Age Resources
By: Jennifer Casazza

2. Should we be worried? Let’s look globally first…

3. Let’s unpack what this means for the United States...
The United States is lagging significantly in terms
of students attending higher education
“Looking ahead to 2020, the U.S. proportion of that
global talent pool will shrink even further as
China and India, rapidly expand their secondary
and higher education systems” (Stewart).

4. United States Fails World Standards
Not only falling behind in terms of “quantity, but there is
also increasing alarm about the quality of its education”
Compared to the rest of the world, the United States
ranked:
17th in Reading
31st in Mathematics
23rd in Science

5. What are other countries doing?

6. What’s the solution Digital Age Resources
“Research shows that if at-risk students gain ready access to
appropriate technology used in thoughtful ways, they can
make substantial gains in learning and technological
readiness” (Hammond et al 4).
“Through the use of technology, students see content in many
forms as it comes alive with maps, videos, hyperlinks to
definitions, additional content, and more” (8).

7. Digital Age Resources Continued...
“A number of studies have found that students demonstrate
stronger engagement, self efficacy, attitudes toward school,
and skill development when they are engaged in content
creation projects (Hammond et al 9).
To increase student motivation with technology ideas include: creating
reports, graphic representations, PowerPoints, websites, video
productions, digital storytelling, and more.

8. Summary of Positives of Digital Age Resources:
❏ Helps at-risk students make substantial gains
❏ Can view content in many forms-- caters to a variety of
learning types
❏ Increase student motivation, which will increase learning
❏ Fosters content creation projects
❏ Offers a rigorous and relevant curriculum

9. Should we be worried? Let’s look at North Brunswick ...
Insert pie chart here

10. Should we be worried? Let’s look at North Brunswick ...

11. Let’s unpack what this means for North Brunswick...
27% of teachers are either not using technology at all or hardly
using it
60% of students do NOT have a computer or laptop at home
40% do NOT have an Ipad or a tablet at home
Therefore, a large portion of students are not utilizing
technology nearly enough. North Brunswick students are
missing out on necessary digital age learning.

12. Proposed Professional Development Plan
Our goal at Linwood Middle School is to improve
the quality of instruction and foster student
learning. In order to achieve this goal, we plan to
increase the amount of technology used, and
provide professional development to ensure that
digital age resources are used both wisely and
intentionally.

13. Potential Roadblocks
➔ Roadblock 1: “One important aspect of this problem is that
more than 70 percent of public K–12 schools do not have
sufficient broadband to allow most of their students to
engage in digital learning activities at the same time”
(Hammond et al 3).
➔ Roadblock 2: Educators not utilizing technology correctly
➔ Roadblock 3: Not enough technology for each classroom

14. How will we achieve this?
Upgrading North Brunswick’s bandwidth plan
Providing useful and thoughtful professional
development concerning ways to incorporate
technology in the classroom
Increasing the amount of chromebooks within each
building

15. Increasing our bandwidth plan...
The State Educational Technology Directors Association
suggests that schools have at least 1 Gbps per 1000 students
Because we have around 2000 students, we need to increase
Linwood’s bandwidth to 2 Gbps
This will allow for robust & reliable bandwidth to access online
learning opportunities

16. Professional Development Ideas for Teachers:
Google Apps for Education
Google Drive, Google Classroom, Google Sites, Google Scholar, Google Hangouts
How to Flip Your Classroom
Screencast (Jing, Snagit, Camtasia Studios)
Educreations
Evernote Digital Notebook
Edmodo

17. Google Apps for Education

18. The Flipped Class: Which tech tools are right?

19. Using Plickers in the Classroom

20. Using Kahoot in the Classroom

21. How much do chromebooks cost?
Chromebook devices start as low as $229 depending on the type
of chromebook.
When buying in bulk, North Brunswick can get a deal of about
$100 per chromebook
Looking to add a chromebook cart per department (5
chromebook carts total)
Total price for chromebooks= $12,500

22. This may sound like a lot but...
We would be saving money on paper
Schools spend about $50,000 a year on paper
Now $12,500 does not sound like too much...

23. Chromebooks for Education

24. Overview/Summary
In order to increase student motivation & learning, we must
foster a digital age learning environment
We will achieve this goal by:
Increasing bandwidth
Providing Professional Development for teachers
Providing more chromebooks for each department