Next-Level Digital Tools and Teaching: Solving Six Major Instructional Challenges, K–12

What we have learned from the many challenges of online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic is the focus of this authoritative resource. Featuring teachers' experiences and classroom examples, the authors examine what's needed and what works in order to help educators improve current models of technology-integrated instruction in their schools and districts. With a focus on digital tools and planning for any setting, the text provides ready-to-use help for designing technology-integrated lessons, building and managing community, selecting the best digital tools for particular tasks, increasing student engagement, and differentiating instruction. The text also includes a final chapter that looks at how leaders can support schoolwide coordination and infrastructure. Action items at the end of each chapter address the specific needs of individuals, teams, and schools to help them shift from reflection to actual implementation, encouraging collaboration and accountability. Next-Level Digital Tools and Teaching is applicable to teaching and learning in face-to-face, online, or hybrid K–12 classroom settings. Book Features: Focuses on problems related to online teaching, specifically critical issues identified during the 2020–2021 school year. Models how to design instruction that leverages technology tools designed to engage students with content in multiple ways. Includes examples of lesson plans, digital tool applications, and ideas for assessing student knowledge in K–12 digital environments. Provides ready-to-download checklists and templates. Offers guidance that will continue to be valuable long after the world recovers from COVID-19 and students return to physical classrooms.

Table of Contents:
Contents Foreword Douglas K. Hartman xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 Why This Book? 2 Synergistic Planning 3 Guiding Principles 4 Book Organization and Features 7 Conclusion 9 1.  How Do I Teach the Attributes of Digital Text? 11 Literacy and Technology 12 Understanding Digital Text 13 Lessons to Teach the Attributes of Digital Texts 16 Assessing Your Understanding of Digital Text 23 Summary 26 Action Items 27 2.  How Do I Design More Effective Technology-Integrated Instruction? 29 TPACK 29 Reflexive Pedagogy 30 Combining TPACK and Reflexive Pedagogy 31 Continuum of Technology Integration 32 The Role of Digital Text in Instructional Design 33 Steps to Designing More Effective Technology-Integrated Instruction 34 Examples of Technology-Integrated Lessons 37 Assessing Your Design of Technology-Integrated Instruction 37 Summary 42 Action Items 42 3.  How Do I Select the Best Digital Tools for a Task? 45 Types of Digital Tools 46 Digital Tools in Action 50 Selecting the Best Digital Tools 52 Summary 56 Action Items 57 4.  How Do I Increase Student Engagement When Using Technology? 59 Student Engagement 59 Build Community 61 Scaffold Self-Regulation 64 Summary 70 Action Items 71 5.  How Do I Differentiate Technology-Integrated Instruction? 73 What Is Differentiated Instruction? 73 Differentiated Instruction and Digital Formative Assessment Tools 73 How Do I Use Digital Tools to Accommodate Different Learning Needs? 78 How Do I Use Digital Tools to Offer Choice to My Students? 80 Summary 81 Action Items 82 6.  How Can My District/School Support Technology-Integrated Instruction? 83 Instructional Coherence 84 Develop a Vision for Technology-Integrated Instruction 85 Establish a Common Language 85 Set Directives to Advance Instructional Coherence 86 Five Areas of Directives 88 Steps to Developing Directives 93 Example of Directives in Action 94 Summary 96 Action Items 97 Appendix A: Description of Digital Tools Referenced in This Text 99 Appendix B: African Elephant Example 103 Appendix C: Semantic Feature Analysis Example 105 References 107 Index 115 About the Authors 121

About the Author :
Rachel Karchmer-Klein is an associate professor at the University of Delaware and the author of Improving Online Teacher Education. Dr. Karchmer-Klein provides professional development to institutes of higher education, public school districts, and private schools. Lauren Boulden is a digital learning resource teacher and former middle school teacher in the Caesar Rodney School District in Delaware. Maureen McDonald is an instructional coach and former first-grade teacher in the Appoquinimink School District in Delaware.

Review :
"Whether utilized as a foundation for theoretical reference or an actionable guide for teaching in practice, educators, teacher students, and policymakers should find this work a helpful introductory guide to getting started on technology-integrated instruction." -- "Teachers College Record"