Deeper Thinking and Learning
Students are consistently working on cognitively complex tasks and grappling with intellectually demanding problems.
As a result, students are developing deeper critical and creative thinking skills that will enable them to solve complex problems and become more future-ready. More opportunities for creative and critical thinking will unleash the natural love of learning for all!
Indicator 1
Students are engaging with learning tasks that require deep analytical and critical thinking.
Additional Resources
Useful Tech Programs
- Google Suite for Education
- Screencastify (screencast tool)
- PowToons (animated video creation)
- YouTube
- Audacity (podcast creation)
- ActivelyLearn (online literacy platform that helps students overcome the barriers to reading for depth)
- Spreaker (podcast, sharing with authentic audience)
- Canva (infographic, visual display creation)
- Google Sites (website creation)
- Zooniverse (students participate in real research projects, all subjects)
- Goalbook: UDL Strategies (links to various differentiation/support tools)
- Padlet (backchannel, exit ticket, survey tool)
- Today’sMeet (backchannel tool)
- Snopes (fact-checking)
- FactCheck.org (fact-checking)
Indicator 2
Students are working on tasks resembling those done by experts outside of school or collaborating with and learning from experts outside of school.
Additional Resources
Useful Tech Programs
- Zooniverse (students participate in real research projects, all subjects)
- YouTube (video sharing)
- Audacity (podcast creation)
- Spreaker (podcast, sharing with authentic audience)
- Canva (infographic, visual display creation)
- Google Sites (website creation)
- Edublogs (blog creation)
- Blogger (blog creation)
- Goalbook: UDL Strategies (links to various differentiation/support tools)
- Performance Assessment Resource Bank (library of projects)
- Goalbook: UDL Strategies (links to various differentiation/support tools)
- Padlet (backchannel, exit ticket, survey tool)
- Today’sMeet (backchannel tool)
- BaseCamp (project management/scheduling)
- Asana (project management/scheduling)
Indicator 3
Students are employing creative thinking to develop unique products, responses to problems, and/or processes.
Additional Resources
Useful Tech Programs
- Edublogs (blog creation)
- Blogger (blog creation)
- SpiderScribe (collaborative mind-mapping)
- Wise Mapping (mind-mapping)
- Storybird (creative story creation)
- Screencastify (screencast tool)
- Zooniverse (students participate in real research projects, all subjects)
- Goalbook: UDL Strategies (links to various differentiation/support tools)
- Glogster (poster creation and more)
- Canva (infographic, visual display creation)
- Google Sites (website creation)
- Prezi (interactive presentation creation)
- Slidely (video slideshow creation)
- StoryboardThat (storyboard and comic creation)
- Tiki-Toki (timeline creator)
- Pixton (comic strip creator)
- BigHugeLabs (poster creator and much more)
- ThingLink (image/link creator)
- JahShaka (virtual reality creator)
- Magisto (social video creator)
- WeVideo (video editor)
- iMovie
- Piktochart (visual display creation)
Student Agency and Individualization
Teachers are harnessing technology tools to create learning environments in which students have greater control over what and how they learn.
As a result, students develop the lifelong learning habits, deep interests and expertise, and the analytical research skills that will support them in interacting with the complex information systems of the real world.
Indicator 1
Teachers are organizing and facilitating tasks that allow students to take ownership of their learning.
Frameworks/Systems to Utilize
Useful Tech Programs
Indicator 2
Students are supported effectively so that they are able to work on tasks that are appropriately challenging and wrestle with topics that engage and excite them.
Frameworks/Systems to Utilize
Indicator 3
Technology is integrated meaningfully and effectively in student learning.
Frameworks/Systems to Utilize
Useful Tech Programs
Supportive and Collaborative School Culture
Schools are hubs of community collaboration and encouragement.
As a result, students and families feel safe in school and supported by the community. Students are empowered through culturally responsive learning experiences and targeted social-emotional instruction. Teachers are encouraged to collaborate and innovate with the aim of deepening student learning and promoting holistic growth and development.
Indicator 1
Schools encourage innovation from all members of the school community through collaboration and flexibility.
Frameworks/Systems to Utilize
Useful Tech Programs
Indicator 2
Schools are culturally responsive and inclusive in their curricula, structures, and community, creating a climate where students and families feel welcome and celebrated.
Indicator 3
Social-emotional awareness and skills are taught directly and developed consistently.
