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NEW POST! Using Formative Assessment and Seat Time Data for Engagement and Retention

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NEW POST! Using Formative Assessment and Seat Time Data for Engagement and Retention

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Scroll down and click on May 13, 2022 – Building Relevance and Engagement to Keep Learners Motivated and Moving Forward. And peruse the other recorded webinars for topics of interest with expertise from across the country.  From the EdTech Center @ World Education.

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Every month, our virtual strategy sessions convene two lightning talk speakers to share innovative edtech and digital equity strategies.

Join our bi-weekly mailing list to get regular updates about the speakers and topics for each session, along with other resources and news.

Access and share recorded lightning talks from nearly 100 EdTech Strategy Sessions in our YouTube playlist.

Explore Past EdTech Strategy Sessions

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EdTech Strategy Sessions - EdTech Center @ World Education

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Since March 2020, the EdTech Center has hosted EdTech Strategy Sessions on a weekly to monthly basis. The virtual strategy sessions convene leaders, practitioners, educators and more to share and discuss your distance learning questions.

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Digital Literacy courses, programs & resources | Microsoft Digital Literacy

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Microsoft tutorials in plain language with multilingual course materials

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Microsoft tutorials in plain language with multilingual course materials

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Courses are Working with computers and Working and collaborating online, and include closed captioning and transcripts. Scroll down for resources in 12 languages including lesson guides, transcripts, videos, and closed caption files. Also the English SCORM package to import into your course website and to edit.

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Creative Commons license

Microsoft Digital Literacy is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike License which means you may share and adapt this material for non-commercial use as long as you attribute it to Microsoft and license your adapted material under these same licensing terms.

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Digital Literacy courses, programs & resources | Microsoft Digital Literacy

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Discover Microsoft Digital Literacy courses. Learn how to use devices, software, and the Internet to collaborate and utilize information with digital literacy.

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Register your program to be matched with a donor near you. Devices can include laptops, tablets, computers, web cameras, monitors, keyboards, and more. See their FAQ for more information.

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Millions of people are cut off from opportunity because they don't have a computer. At Digitunity, we believe everyone who needs a computer should have one, and that device ownership is the heart of digital equity. Possessing a functioning, connected computer and the skills to use it productively is a basic, fundamental need in today's society.

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MassMATCH lending library for assistive devices

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MassMATCH lending library for assistive devices

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MassMatch | Massachusetts’s Initiative to Maximize Assistive Technology (AT) in Consumer’s Hands

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MassMATCH is the Commonwealth’s initiative to Maximize Assistive Technology (AT) in Consumer’s Hands. Through partnerships with community-based organizations, MassMATCH is currently creating new AT programs and working to coordinate AT services throughout the Commonwealth. MassMATCH is one of 56 st…

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Want to view captions?

On a computer: (Read all steps first.)
1. Click the video to start it.
2. Click the magnifying glass icon to enlarge it.
3. Near the bottom right corner, click CC.
4. To return here, click anywhere on the webpage.

On a phone:
1. Tap the video (may need to do this twice) to start it.
2. Tap it again to reveal the menu icon (3 vertical dots) and click it.
3. Click 'Captions off' to toggle captions on.

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From the IDEAL Distance Education and Blended Learning Handbook (2020) -  the bible for distance ed. and blended learning program development.

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Adapted from digital literacy self-assessments developed by SABES Program Support PD Center and the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN)
This self-rating form is comprehensive and suitable for use in helping teachers determine their own technology competencies. You may want to use the items here as a guide to develop your own checklist that focuses on the skills required by the particular distance education program you are offering.

Access to Technology

1. Do you have a device for teaching that you can use at your local agency, satellite locations, and/or home (if needed)?

2. Do you have access to high-speed internet at your local agency, satellite locations, and/or home (if needed)?

3. Do you have access to other technology needed for the distance education program (e.g., smartphone, tablet, software, applications)?

For each of these areas below, please indicate your skill level integrating these tools/skills into teaching activities and your interest in attending professional development on this topic using the scales below:

Basic Computer Operation

There are some basic skills and knowledge that both you and your students need to have in order to learn with technology, such as start-up steps, using the keyboard, printing, and troubleshooting simple problems.

Productivity Software

These tools allow people to perform various tasks, including creating written documents, graphs and spreadsheets, and presentations. Some popular productivity software includes MicrosoftOffice (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher) and Google Applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides).

Instructional Software

These resources include a wide array of programs, ranging from complete online curricula to those used for specific skill development, e.g., reading, writing, math, work skills, and ESOL.

Assistive Technology (AT)

These tools include assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices. AT promotes greater independence for people with disabilities by enabling them to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to or had great difficulty accomplishing.

Creating learning resources that are
accessible for learners with disabilities

Using Online Resources

Many classes have access to and use the Internet on a regular basis because adult learners need the skills involved for further education, at their places of employment, and for daily life needs.

Communication Tools

People today communicate using a variety of online technology tools. Some examples include email, shared online documents, blogs, and social networking sites.

Video Technologies

These tools include video cameras and other digital media tools as well as video editing software. These tools can be used to create both teacher- and student-generated videos.

Professional Development

Keeping up with and integrating technology into classrooms requires continuous learning and exploring. There are many ways you can continue to learn, including doing research online, subscribing to email lists, using Twitter or other social networking sites, talking to colleagues, attending conferences, and even using this self-assessment tool.

Evaluating and Using New Technologies

One of the most challenging tasks you may face is simply keeping up with current technologies and choosing what is best to use in your classroom and program. Sometimes our students are way ahead of us!

Social and Legal Issues

The instructor serves as a role model when it comes to using technology. This includes knowing and obeying copyright, privacy, and other computer and Internet usage laws; modeling healthy habits while using computers; and thinking and talking about the role of technology in society.

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Appendix D: Computer Skills Assessment for Teachers

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Adapted from digital literacy self-assessments developed by SABES Program Support PD Center and the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) This self-rating form is comprehensive and suitable for use in helping teachers determine their own technology competencies.

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for those who receive free school lunch or other government benefits.

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Affordable devices for hybrid learning.
Once you've signed your family up for Project 10Million, you can purchase these affordable devices at-cost through your account or at your nearest T-Mobile store.

Samsung Chromebook 4

Lenovo 100e Chromebook

Lenovo 100e Windows PC

TCL Tab 8 LE

During congestion, Project 10Million customers may notice speeds lower than other customers due to data prioritization. Video typically streams at DVD quality (480p).
See full terms

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Free Internet for Students: Project 10Million | T-Mobile

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With Project 10Million, we're providing eligible student households free internet on our expanded network to help fight the homework gap. Learn more today!

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Affordable Connectivity Program from the federal government

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Affordable Connectivity Program from the federal government

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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Eligible households receive assistance to pay for internet service and devices. There are now 20 service providers who have high-speed internet plans for $30/month or less, which means no out-of-pocket costs for ACP recipients.

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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Eligible households receive assistance to pay for internet service and devices. There are now 20 service providers who have high-speed internet plans for $30/month or less, which means no out-of-pocket costs for ACP recipients.

Watch this video to learn more about who qualifies and how to sign up.

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The Affordable Connectivity Program - EdTech Center @ World Education

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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Eligible households receive assistance to pay for internet service and devices. There are now 20 service providers who have high-speed internet plans for $30/month or less, which means no out-of-pocket costs for ACP recipients.

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reduced wifi price for income eligible students

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reduced wifi price for income eligible students

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- Lifeline

- Internet Essentials

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Please add your tips!

- It helps to catalogue the devices so they can be kept track of easily.

- Devices may need to be 'restored' when returned, so setting up a restore point previously is helpful. (Click for an example for a Windows laptop/PC - see 'Restore from a system restore point.')

- There are services that can be purchased that track the location of devices (click for one I found randomly - I have no experience with them), but colleagues and I have found that loaning to students who are known to be responsible works out fine 99% of the time.

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Support for applicants/students who have digital/connectivity needs

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Support for applicants/students who have digital/connectivity needs

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- Help low-income students get free/low-cost connectivity. Check out NDIA, Mobile Beacon, and everyoneon.org
- Tech Goes Home - Students can enroll in classes at partner sites. Classes include a 15-hr course, and graduates receive a device and the opportunity to get low-cost internet for 1 year.  Become a partner site! Requires instructor to be trained. TGH partners are in a number of cities in eastern MA, and TGH invites those in other areas to contact them about becoming partners.
-Loan devices. Click above for an example contract.
-Buy devices in bulk. Leah recommends Newegg.

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From Amanda Blount, The Literacy Center in Attleboro: We provide limited cellular service to a few students who are unable to pay for that at this time. We utilize data plans on SIM cards that we purchased through a contract with T Mobile.  We installed the SIM cards in Samsung Galaxy tablets and loaned the tablets to our students.

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So cool! Here's one example. (Not an endorsement.)

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Foldable Keyboard, iClever BK03 Portable Keyboard with Stand Holder (Sync Up to 3 Devices), Full-Size Bluetooth Keyboard for iPhone, iPad, Smartphone, Laptop, Tablet

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Buy Foldable Keyboard, iClever BK03 Portable Keyboard with Stand Holder (Sync Up to 3 Devices), Full-Size Bluetooth Keyboard for iPhone, iPad, Smartphone, Laptop, Tablet: Keyboards - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

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Hotspots act like a modem: they provide an internet connection to devices. The person with the device just needs to enter the hotspot code to connect. Here are a few sources for discounted hotspots:

PCs for People

Tech Soup

Also many cellphones have settings to make them hotspots. (This can drain the battery, so plugging in is best.)

Also, some students are going to their programs and libraries and connecting to their hotspots. While the buildings are closed, they do this from their cars.

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Leslie's program prefers Chromebooks. They teach students about saving info in the cloud, i.e., Google Drive.

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Shows your phone screen on your computer! Great for showing how to use apps/sites. One app to do this is called, surprisingly Mobile to PC/TV. I like it because to download it, it asks for access to a minimum of personal info.

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Screencasting - record your screen for reusable teaching/instructional videos

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Screencasting - record your screen for reusable teaching/instructional videos

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Uses: video meetings that students can review/those who can't attend can view, instructions for how to access/use a website or complete an activity
Screencast-O-Matic - free w/15 min limit per upload to their site or $48/yr for unlimited time & full editing tools
Screencastify - free w/30-min limit

Post the videos on a program YouTube account. Check out NSCC ALC's great page. (Thank you Stacy Randell-Shaheen,  Diane Amelia Read, and Kim Hemme!) Have separate channels for each teacher/advisor.

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Lessons and materials on using Chromebooks, Gmail, Zoom, and Google Classroom for both online and in-person teaching formats. Thanks to English for New Bostonians!

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Google App Videos | Englishfornewbostonians.org | Boston

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It's easy to lose track! See p. 2 for one example that can be put in a student handbook and used at orientation. From English Now!

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Copy of Carlos Rosario English Now! Welcome Packet

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Zoom on smartphones: the student perspective plus how to use lots of features

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Zoom on smartphones: the student perspective plus how to use lots of features

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Mini videos and activities. Thanks to Jayme Adelson-Goldstein and the ESOL C & I Center!

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How-to resources from the Math C & I Center

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How-to resources from the Math C & I Center

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Thank you, Math C & I folks!

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How-to videos from the ESOL C & I Center

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How-to videos from the ESOL C & I Center

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How to download WhatsApp on various devices - great for students! -  how to use Google Forms and Zoom for ESOL instruction. Thanks to the Center!

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Please view our library of recorded sessions below. You will not find all of our courses here as some do not lend themselves to recording due to the nature of the content and others are designed to be delivered as part of a classroom/virtual classroom experience.

Additionally, there are several "how-to" video clips which include adding WhatsApp to your iPhone or Android Smartphone, as well as adding Zoom to your smartphone. Good things to know!

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SABES ESOL PD Center - Session Recording Library

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Please view our library of recorded sessions below. You will not find all of our courses here as some do not lend themselves to recording due to the nature of the content and others are designed to be delivered as part of a classroom/virtual classroom experience.

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How-to videos for students on Google Classroom, learning platforms, phone storage, and more!

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How-to videos for students on Google Classroom, learning platforms, phone storage, and more!

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Scroll down to 'Watch Tech Help Videos.'

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404 - Page Not Found - Saint Paul Public Schools

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404 - Page Not Found - Saint Paul Public Schools

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Digital literacy lessons for beginner language learners

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Digital literacy lessons for beginner language learners

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Gmail and Drive. Includes captioned video, slides, and assignments. Thanks to Julie Hastings of Portland Community College!

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This website contains extensive vocabulary lists along with videos and interactive lessons on computer basics, Microsoft Word, email and internet at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.

This site is a collection of self-directed tutorials for users to increase their digital literacy. Modules are video-based with narration, 6 to 22 minutes long, written at the fourth grade reading level.

Through videos, basic readings, and step-by-step instructions, users can learn about using web browsers, email, navigating Windows 10 and OS X, and staying safe online.

Immigrant Stories is a digital storytelling and archiving project. This curriculum will allow students to create a 3-5 minute digital story about a personal experience using the Immigrant Stories website (https://immigrantstories.umn.edu/). The curriculum includes everything you need to assign the project: a 4-week schedule, lesson plans, a grading rubric, and student handouts.

This course presents foundational information about blended learning, including definitions, strategies, examples, and reflective activities presented in multimedia format. The goal of the course is for participants to have a basic understanding of the different forms of blended learning and how they might integrate them into coursework.

Participants in this course learn about integrating mobile devices into their classroom, distance, or blended instruction. It includes definitions, suggested strategies, examples, and reflective activities. The goal of the course is for teachers to have an understanding of the different ways adult learners and their teachers can use flip-phones, smartphones and tablets for learning both in and out of the classroom.

JobScout is a free online learning platform designed to help users learn basic internet skills that they need to find a job. The website is designed for native English speakers, but with support, is appropriate for high intermediate and advanced English language learners.

This learner-based website contains lists of technology-based vocabulary words that learners can listen to, then check their understanding with matching, fill-in-the-blank, and dictation games.

This self-paced professional development module from LINCS is designed for teachers and administrators interested in integrating digital literacy in their classes and programs for adult English Language Learners.

The Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment is a self-guided, online set of assessments that show an individual's ability to perform basic computer skills in seven skill area areas: Basic Computer Use, Internet, Windows OS/Mac OS, Email, Word Processing (using Microsoft Word), Social Media, Excel, and PowerPoint.

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This website contains extensive vocabulary lists along with videos and interactive lessons on computer basics, Microsoft Word, email and internet at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. This site is a collection of self-directed tutorials for users to increase their digital literacy. Modules are video-based with narration, 6 to 22 minutes long, written at the fourth grade reading level.

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- Test everything on yourself to see from the student perspective. If possible, have a few students try them and give feedback to give a more accurate sense of how well students will manage it.
- Have a staff technologist, other staff such as the advisor and director, volunteers, and program graduates as tech assistants, especially when onboarding students to a new technology.

- Student bring their own device to the program to make sure it will work with applications used in class

- Socially distant assessments depending on space/resources: drive-thru/parking lot, distanced inside if space allows, by 1-3 students at a time appointment
- To onboard students to tech platforms they'll be using, break the process into steps and send them/cover during a webinar or recorded screencast spaced out over time: 1. Download, log in, and check in with each student; 2: navigate app; 3. how to log in to video meetings; 4: how to navigate video meetings.
- Provide simple instructions with images for accessing materials: text list of step-by-step; create screencast and post to class home base (Google Classroom, Google Doc)
- Be proactive about checking whether students have accessed materials/logged into course. Reach out to check in to see how they're doing/help they need.

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Multilingual vocabulary for technologies, Google applications, Zoom, plus typical actions

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Multilingual vocabulary for technologies, Google applications, Zoom, plus typical actions

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Many thanks to Wadyla and her colleagues at Framingham Adult ESL Plus! Click to download.

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Wisdom from programs:

1. How to show Zoom windows during screen share so students can see the control menus - how great is that?

2. Start slowly with just the tools needed for essential communication, such as muting/unmuting, video on/off, and chatting. Ideally, meet individually with each student and a family member they designate as their personal tech support. Practice those tools together. This way, the family member knows exactly what the student needs. Also, model how the family member can teach the student, instead of just doing it for them.

3. The teacher has students practice each tool at the beginning of each class session.

4. Have a volunteer or two attend each session to help students who get lost so that the rest of the class can continue with the teacher. Have the volunteer and student(s) be put in a breakout room.

Scroll down this column for materials to use.

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Zoom instructions in English and Spanish

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Zoom instructions in English and Spanish

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Copy of Online English Classes_ Zoom Set Up [English-Spanish]

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Zoom print and video tutorials in multiple languages

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Zoom print and video tutorials in multiple languages

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Platform and tool instructional videos for students

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Platform and tool instructional videos for students

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Google Classroom student tutorials in many languages.

Google Classroom, Meet, USA Learns, and more! (Thank you, Hubbs Center @ St. Paul Public Schools!)

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Video tutorial: How to use Zoom on a phone

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Video tutorial: How to use Zoom on a phone

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Via Amanda!

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ZOOM! Instructions | The Literacy Center

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Thank you, Sharon from Community Action, Inc.! Comes with all levels of paid plans: Zoom Video Communications Plans & Pricing | Zoom - Zoom Click Full Plan Comparison to see all features included.

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Zoom has a variety of options for creating virtual closed captioning in your Zoom meetings and webinars that provide subtitles for video conferencing. This may be used by participants to easily follow the conversations or to meet accessibility requirements.

In meetings, the host or another meeting attendee assigned by the host can provide manual captioning, an integrated third-party closed captioning service can provide the captioning, or Zoom's automated captions (also known as live transcription) feature can provide automatic captioning through closed caption settings. These same options are available with webinars, although manual captioning can only be provided by the host or a panelist. Any of these captioning options are also viewable in Zoom Rooms.

For more information about viewing closed captioning or live transcription as a participant or attendee, please refer to the user guide.

This article covers:

Prerequisites for manual captioning

Limitations of manual captioning

For webinars, hosts using desktop client versions lower than 5.11.9 can inadvertently cause both manual captioning and automated captioning to be shown at the same time. It is recommended hosts update to version 5.11.9 or higher to avoid this issue.
As a workaround during a live webinar, the host can disable automated captioning to avoid competing captions.

For webinars, hosts using desktop client versions lower than 5.11.9 can inadvertently cause panelists assigned to be a manual captioner to not see the caption window, where they would be inputting captions. It is recommended hosts update to version 5.11.9 or higher to avoid this issue.

Manual captioners can access the caption window if they click on the tooltip that appears when the host has assigned them to caption.

If they missed the tooltip, the host can re-assign captioning to them, which will make the tooltip again.

How to start manual captioning

Start manual captioning in a Zoom meeting or webinar

1. Start the Zoom meeting or webinar that you are hosting.

2. In the meeting controls toolbar, next to the Show Captions icon , click the up arrow icon .

3. Under Host controls, click Set up manual captioner.

4. Under Enable manual captioner, choose On.

5. Select one of the following options:

Assign a participant to type: Assigns a participant to type closed captions during the meeting.

I will type: Opens the closed captioning window for you to manually type closed captions.

Copy the API token: Copy the URL that you can provide to a third-party closed captioning service to integrate the service with your meeting.
Note: These options are greyed out if Enable manual captioner is disabled above.

Assign a participant to type closed captions

As the host, assign a participant to type closed captions:

1. Start a Zoom meeting or webinar.

2. Start manual captioning.

3. Click Assign a participant to type.
The Participants panel will appear.

4. Find the participant who you want to type closed captions and hover your mouse over their name.

5. Click More .

6. Select Assign to type Closed Caption.
Note: This option will not appear unless Enable manual captioner is enabled.

Once the host assigns you the ability to type closed captions, a notification will appear in the assigned participant's meeting controls. To enter closed captions as a participant:

1. In the meeting controls, next to the Show Captions icon , click the up arrow icon and select the Show caption window option.
The closed caption text box will open.

2. Enter the closed captions in the text box.

3. Press Enter to submit your closed captions.

How to use manual captions in breakout rooms

After you start breakout room sessions, participants can click Show Captions in the meeting controls toolbar to view closed captions. If you're the meeting host, we recommend using a third-party closed captioning service if you want closed captions in breakout rooms.

If you want a participant to type closed captions, make sure you assign them permission to type closed caption before starting the breakout room sessions.

Note: Only one participant can be assigned to type closed captions in a meeting; thus, it is only possible to have one breakout session with closed captioning.

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Zoom has a variety of options for creating virtual closed captioning in your Zoom meetings and webinars that provide subtitles for video conferencing. This may be used by participants to easily follow the conversations or to meet accessibility requirements.

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From Sharon from Community Action, Inc. (Thank you, Sharon!): I also found a great voice translator for free called SayHi Translate.  It's a voice translator. It will record what you say and translate it into any language you designate.  I had the student put it on her phone so she and I could easily communicate and the masks were not an issue.

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-Shannon, Community Action Inc.: I decided to use a chat app called KIK.  EASY to use and you don't have to use personal cell phones.

Click for her full review and how she uses it with great success!

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This form can be sent via a communication app, email, shared via Google Docs, converted to a Google Form, or done as an interview.

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Assessments are free!

In response to COVID 19, they have made lessons available -  these are normally only available for testing centers.

Programs with paid accounts, called testing centers, have access to a learning management system, lessons for teacher-led classes and for independent study, reporting, and more!

For 1 program: $500/year for testing, curriculum, certificates, up to 3500 students; large organization with 3-6 locations: $1,200/year.

Want more info? Visit their home page.

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Want to test what you know? Complete any of the following online assessments.

If you want to save your results to a Northstar location,

If you are not part of a Northstar location yet, but would like to earn a certificate for passing the assessments, find a Northstar location near you.

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Improve your computer skills and prep for your future!

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On-demand webinars on all these topics (and more)! 

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On-demand webinars on all these topics (and more)! 

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Busy? Do them when you have time!
https://sites.google.com/view/pspdcondemand/home

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Keep up with ACLS: Be sure to review Adult Education Policies, Curriculum, and Assessment. Check Mailings for helpful information.

EdTech Center's Strategy Sessions - webinars every 2nd Friday with resources and practices from colleagues. Be sure to see the repository of recorded sessions.

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- Google Forms for graded quizzes, reading, writing, and listening (embed a video :-)
- Phone/video meeting and messaging via Zoom, etc. for speaking, listening, reading, and writing
- Have a program YouTube account.  Have each teacher/advisor have a channel. Post screencasts of instructions on how to use tools. Post webinar recordings. Check out NECC ALP's! (Thank you Kim, Stacy, and Diane Amelia!)

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Tech Tools for Coaches and Navigators (and others as well)

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Tech Tools for Coaches and Navigators (and others as well)

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NCTN's terrific tips and tools for various types of work with students.

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Digital Literacy Standards recommended by ACLS

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Digital Literacy Standards recommended by ACLS

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Look for workshops this fall from the SABES Program Support PD Center!

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An essential component of a high-quality adult education program is the integration of digital literacy into curriculum and instruction. ACLS requires all programs to support the digital literacy development of students at every class level.

Digital literacy can be defined as the skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information. The integration of digital literacy into curriculum and instruction is required in order to provide opportunities for students to explore, experiment, and develop expertise using real world applications for digital literacy while building their academic skills. Programs are expected to incorporate a variety of tools and technologies into the classroom to support learning.

Resources for Digital Literacy

Questions? Contact Paula Jurigian, ACLS Distance Education and Digital Literacy Specialist.
Last Updated: October 12, 2021

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massachusetts department of elementary and secondary education

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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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The goal of the Massachusetts public K-12 education system is to prepare all students for success after high school. Massachusetts public school students are leading the nation in reading and math and are at the top internationally in reading, science, and math according to the national NAEP and international PISA assessments.

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"

A collection of digital tools you and students can use. Search by the five areas in the above image. Check it out! From the EdTech Center @ World Education.

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Workforce EdTech Tools - Workforce EdTech

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Explore tech tools to accelerate career advancement & lifelong learning and to enhance your capacity to improve career-related skills.

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Searchable repository of over 1,500 activities to support digital skills development. Compiled by educators for educators. Quickly put your finger on what your students and you need! From the EdTech Center @ World Education.

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Digital Skills Library - EdTech Center @ World Education

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The Digital Skills Library is an open repository of free learning resources designed to help all adult learners develop the digital skills needed to achieve their personal, civic, educational, and career goals. The library is managed by the EdTech Center @ World Education. All resources within this library have been curated by educators to align...

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Now available for free Zoom accounts too! Click above for video instructions, below for written instructions. Zoom Live Transcription – Emerson IT Help Desk

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Build in routines for students to strengthen their digital literacy

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Build in routines for students to strengthen their digital literacy

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Example: A couple of teachers developed a plan to regularly use a particular Google application for each skill in their curriculum. (Thanks to Jeff Goumas for highlighting this in the EdTech Strategy Toolkit video!)

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Digital Skill-building by Design: The EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit

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Digital Skill-building by Design: The EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit

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This is "a resource to help educators explore sustainable edtech routines — general, repeatable edtech activities  that can be leveraged regularly regardless of context or content..." VERY useful for building digital literacy. Check it out!

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Since March 2020, we have seen widespread adoption of technology by adult educators. Throughout this process, we have seen a gradual shift from "emergency response teaching" - throwing whatever tech tool or platform we could at learners in an effort to keep learning going - to the realization that in order for edtech to be effective and sustainable, there must be strategic rationale behind edtech use.

To support this more strategic approach to edtech integration, as well as recognition of the need to be developing the digital skills of both learners and instructors, the EdTech Center (ETC) is excited to "soft launch" the EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit. The Toolkit - currently in mobile-app format only - draws inspiration, content, and expertise from a variety of recent and ongoing ETC projects; these include the mLearning initiative (which has been supported in part through finding from the Barbara Bush Foundation's Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition ), the CrowdED Learning Initiative (funded by the WES Mariam Assefa Fund ), the monthly Distance Education Strategy Sessions , and the Spring 2021 EdTech Maker Space Digital Skills Library project .

The EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit is a resource to help educators explore sustainable edtech - general, repeatable edtech activities that can be leveraged regularly regardless of context or content and provide predictable experiences for learners- and understand the underlying evidence-based strategies behind their use. It also provides guidance on how to develop learners' digital literacy when implementing these routines by providing sample questions teachers can ask that support direct instruction of digital skills. These questions are designed to help make connections between the tasks learners perform by way of the routine to the underlying digital skills being developed.

To do this, the Toolkit is organized so educators can explore by three points of entry:

BY ROUTINE: This tab allows educators to explore different edtech routines, organized into 5 categories based on what learners are doing within the routine:

Engage & Question (e.g. exploring, connecting prior knowledge, forming inquiries)

Build knowledge (e.g., researching, gathering and analyzing data)

Process & Practice (e.g. mapping, visualizing, trying, questioning, wondering)

Respond & Create (e.g. reporting, demonstrating, presenting)

Assess & Reflect (e.g., defining criteria, monitoring, self-assessing, evaluating progress, reflecting)

BY EDTECH TOOL: This tab allows you to explore various edtech tools, categorized into how they are used, and see if there are currently routines within the toolkit that leverage that tool. (Note: This is the least "complete" of the sections and is something for which we will be actively working to crowdsource content from practitioners in the coming year.)

BY SKILL: This tab allows you to explore based on skills as defined by the Seattle Digital Equity Initiative's Digital Skills Framework . Each skill includes learning resources you can use with your learners to help develop that skill, as well as "I can" statements that help establish relevance with learners.

The routines are based on work the EdTech Center's CrowdED Learning initiative completed in November 2020 developing a curriculum-specific Technology Integration Toolkit as part of an update to Women Employed's Career Foundation curriculum. They also draw from submissions included in EdTech Center's mLearning Resource Hub as well as strategies shared during ETCs monthly Distance Education Strategy Sessions. There will be ongoing additions to the toolkit developed by instructors who complete the IDEAL 103 Building an EdTech Strategy Toolkit (BEST) course .

Each routine includes activity details - the , the , and the of implementing the routine with your learners. Included in the are relevant evidence-based strategies described in the linked Digital Promise's Adult Learner Variability Navigator site. ( See this March 2021 lightning talk from Digital Promise's Medha Tare and Sarah Caciccio to learn more about the Navigator.)

Some routines also include "View" and/or "Copy" links that allow you to see and make a copy of a template you can use to implement the routine with learners, such as this progress monitoring tool built in Google Sheets , which is used for the routine shown in the image.

At the bottom of each routine are details regarding the connected digital skills. This section provides context for explaining the digital skills learners develop as they engage in the routine, including direct questioning prompts you can use to invite discussion around the underlying digital skills.

The "Skills" section/library is currently the most robust of the three sections, and it builds off of the work of our Spring 2021 EdTech Maker Space project, in which nearly 60 educators aligned over 1,200 activities to the 75 skills of the Seattle Digital Equity Initiative's (SDEI) Digital Skill Framework .

The activities within the library draw from GCFLearnFree.org (Goodwill Community Foundation), DigitalLearn.org (Public Library Association), Learn My Way (Good Things Foundation), and Basic Computer Skills MOOC (WISC-Online). Between now and our "official" launch November 12, we will also be adding in projects from Google Applied Digital Skills .

Within the skills library, you can navigate to a specific skill and see which activities align. For each activity, details are provided such as learning modality, source, and mobile-friendliness. You can launch each resource from the app, or copy the URL of a resource so you can share with learners by text, email, or other mode of communication.

Over time, we intend to have a student-facing version of the Digital Skills Library. It will also be integrated into our Spring 2022 update of SkillBlox .

At the moment, you will notice some inconsistencies within the app. That's because this app is a work in progress....and we need your input to make sure we build off of this starting point in ways that make it as useful as possible to adult educators.

Because of this, you will notice that all screens within the app have a "provide feedback" button. This button will launch a form that you can use to provide feedback on anything: ideas for improvement, missing/erroneous links, suggestions for skill alignment updates, etc. Over the course of the next month, you will see lots of changes in real-time...including new activities, updated navigation, and updated images and icons.

Once we've incorporated your feedback, there will be plenty of opportunities to help us add to the toolkit. These include future EdTech Maker Space projects starting in early 2022 as part of our Digital Resilience for the American Workforce (DRAW) initiative , co-creation events, open calls for activity submissions, and more!

The Toolkit app was developed using Glide Apps, the same free, no-code app building tool we have used to develop our Marshall Leveled Reading Program and the Video Math Prep for the GED apps. Because it is a browser-based app, you first will open it within a browser and then need to add the site to your homescreen. Note: You can use the app both on your computer and your phone.

Follow these steps to add the app to your mobile device:

1. Go to https://etctechtoolkit.glideapp.io/ on your mobile device.

2. Once loaded on your device's browser, you will be prompted to add the app to your homescreen. This process is different whether you are on an iOS or Android divide, so Glide offers this nifty video to walk you through the process .

3. Once you've added it to your homescreen, it will appear as an icon just like any other app. All you have to do is tap to launch!

Watch an overview of what's in the toolkit and how to use it, as well as a summary of practitioner feedback we've gathered in the lightning talk below.

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Digital Skill-building by Design: The EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit - EdTech Center @ World Education

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Since March 2020, we have seen widespread adoption of technology by adult educators. Throughout this process, we have seen a gradual shift from "emergency response teaching" - throwing whatever tech tool or platform we could at learners in an effort to keep learning going - to the realization that in order for edtech to be...

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Ideas for teaching with online documents

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Ideas for teaching with online documents

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Ruth O'Brien-Denly -thank you!

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Civics for All of US Civics for All of US is the new education initiative from the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement. DocsTeach Teach with documents using our online tool. Explore primary sources. Discover fun and engaging teaching activities. Create your own online or print activities for your students!

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The Accessibility Toolkit has guidance on ways to create or modify materials according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to make them perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

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This collection of resources consists of recommendations and tools for ensuring that various forms of content are accessible for students according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines and resources are distilled into a set of simpler principles, as captured by the acronym POUR, that define four qualities of an accessible user experience: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

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This collection of resources consists of recommendations and tools for ensuring that various forms of content are accessible for students according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines and resources are distilled into a set of simpler principles, as captured by the acronym POUR, that define four qualities of an accessible user experience: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

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Detailed description of how Donna Taylor organized her lesson. Very helpful model! Scroll down to see her post.

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- Evaluate tech tools to make sure they're a good match for your students. (Thank you to Workforce EdTech at Digital US!)

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Microsoft Digital Literacy Course with multilingual captions. Earn certificates.

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SAMR Model: Translating in-person lessons into ones students use digital skills for - SAMR model

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SAMR Model: Translating in-person lessons into ones students use digital skills for - SAMR model

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Dr. Puentedura graciously Creative Commons-licenses some of his papers to allow for reproduction on other sites with attribution.

I have taken one of the PDF files and turned it into a slideshow below. I have included links to the original PDF files in case you want to download it from Dr. Puentedura's site.

Bloom's and SAMR:
​My thoughts based on the work of R. Puentedura, A. Churches and L. Nelson

I feel teachers need to both create tasks that target the higher-order cognitive skills (Bloom's) as well as design tasks that have a significant impact on student outcomes (SAMR). A visual to illustrate that follows.

Educators will argue they have seen redefinition tasks that only target the remembering level or have a creative assessment that is only at the augmentation level. Of course that is true, but I believe we should be planning for technology tasks, activities, and assessments that include both the higher levels of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy and the transformation area of the SAMR model.

My vision of how the Bloom's and SAMR models work together and intersect follows below.

Bloom's and TECH: My thoughts

Work by others

Videos by others

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SAMR is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. Popularized by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the model supports and enables teachers to design, develop, and ...

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Part 1 instructions and part 2 instructions.  Blog with tips. Video showing how to make links for the objects. BIG thank you to Jayme!

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Student-created assessments for their classmates

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Student-created assessments for their classmates

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Many thanks to Sarah Gilleman at the Adult Learning Center/Holyoke Community College!

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This practice I made is a bit dated because it's for the old BEST test, but it gives an idea of how it might look. Diana ESL - Writing Test Preparation

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Future Learn Digital Skills Assessment and lessons

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Future Learn Digital Skills Assessment and lessons

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Covers how to handle work situations.

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What's next?

Through Future Edge, Capital One will address the digital skills gap through partnerships, community grants, and support for digital skills training.

Later this year, Grovo's innovative training technology and Future Edge curriculum will be made available to Capital One's nonprofit partners across the country, helping over 5,000 underserved Americans access the skills they need to succeed.

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In partnership with Grovo, Capital One has developed a free and open digital literacy program. This course gives everyone access to the digital skills needed for today's middle-skill roles - jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree, but pay above the national living wage. Start building your skills today!

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See 'Digital Skills Assessment' under 'Screening'.

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See 'Digital Skills Assessment' under 'Screening'.

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-Quizziz keeps records of results!
- Google Form set up as quiz including automatic grades and responses. Example: Greetings video
- EdPuzzle video with questions. Example: intonation. Help center for tutorials
- Google Voice to keep your work # separate from your personal #. Examples: speaking, reading fluency, etc.). Help page for instructions
- Web meeting (Zoom/Google Meet, etc.) - explaining how a math problem was worked out, pronunciation, etc.
- Padlet. Example formative assessment for math. Support page for instructions