Improving Achievement With Digital Age Best Practices

Connect Common Core, inquiry, and technology! While technology ushers in exciting and innovative educational opportunities, finding best practices for its complete integration remains a challenge. Christopher Moersch, founder of the internationally recognized and research-based LoTi Framework, provides a concrete tool for implementing digital age best practices. With discussions on how to promote networked collaboration, bolster purposeful inquiry, and anchor student decision-making and learning with technology tools and resources, Moersch uses research-based instructional strategies to deliver: A concrete road map for a smooth digital transition into new Common Core Standards Lesson plans, benchmarks, and instructional units to help bridge the link between 21st century skills, Common Core Standards, and student achievement Practical tips for classroom, building, and district implementation of digital age best practices Tools and guidance for successful PLCs Make the critical connection between effective implementation of 21st century skills/themes and student academic achievement part of your school's pedagogy! "When schools need to equip students with the skills to facilitate creativity, here is the blueprint. This carefully crafted advice has been road-tested and it works." -Neil MacNeill, Principal Ellenbrook Independent Primary School, Ellenbrook, WA

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Section I. Digital Age Best Practices Chapter 1. Bolstering Purposeful Inquiry Through Student Questions Chapter 2. Promoting Shared Expertise With Networked Collaboration Chapter 3. Personalizing and Globalizing Content by Making Authentic Connections Chapter 4. Accelerating Individual Growth Through Vertical and Horizontal Differentiation Chapter 5. Anchoring Student Learning With Digital Age Tools and Resources Chapter 6. Clarifying Student Understanding With Formative Assessments Chapter 7. Implementing Student-Centered Learning Environments Section II. A Converging Educational Landscape Chapter 8. A National Perspective Chapter 9. The Atlantic City Experience Section III. Implementation Plan Chapter 10. Differentiated Professional Development Chapter 11. Three-Stage Model Section IV. Instructional Leadership Chapter 12. 5Cs of Instructional Leadership References Index

About the Author :
Consulting Description  http://www.loticonnection.com/ For the past 15 years, Dr. Chris Moersch has been the principal investigator of the LoTi project and Executive Director of LoTi Connection Inc. In that capacity, he has worked with thousands of educators nationwide promoting the tenets of digital-age literacy and professional development in an effort to transform low performing schools into high performing schools. He has over 20 years experience in the areas of curriculum development, program evaluation, and technology integration practices. His specialization includes implementing school improvement initiatives, creating 21st Century learning environments, and facilitating organizational change. Chris is the author of the LoTi ® Digital Age Survey, an empirically-validated survey instrument that helps teachers and leaders identify and formatively assess their level of teaching innovation.

Review :
"If you are looking for a book that makes the links between standards, technology use, and readily implementable classroom lessons and makes a difference for students, then consider yourself to have one in your hand. In addition, the connections made to diversified professional development and administrative practices are laid out in a way that makes it easy to put them in to practice tomorrow." "This book provides cutting-edge professional learning in the teaching of higher level learning skills. When schools, systems, states and nations (e.g. Singapore) need to equip students with the skills that will facilitate creativity here is the blueprint. The carefully crafted advice has been road tested and it works. I am waiting impatiently for the book to become available because it can help to improve every student’s learning, and therefore it should be essential reading for every preservice teacher and educational paraprofessional during their training." "Rather than keeping the discussion at the theoretical level, Moersch provides concrete scenarios and the success and challenges.  The need for administrative support and leadership is detailed, as are walkthrough examples and implementation recommendations. This text is scholarly, but accessible, and includes a balance of real-life examples and strategies."