CONDENSED End-User Training

What’s our purpose? Get to know ALEX, ALEX Insights, and Thinkfinity Integrate 21 st Century skills into the learning environment effectively Module Overview This module provides participants an opportunity for exploration and analysis of the ALEX and Thinkfinity websites. The participants will learn how to effectively integrate 21 st Century resources in the classroom by learning about a variety of resources available on the ALEX and Thinkfinity websites.

Module Objectives The participant will: infuse 21 st Century skills throughout session. identify the importance of project-based learning. examine resources found within the ALEX website. explore various websites from Thinkfinity. know how to create a Learning Asset using an ALEX or Thinkfinity resource and submit it to ALEX.

Alabama Quality Teaching Standards (AQTS) Standard 1—Content Knowledge: AQTS_1.A.2 A. Academic Discipline(s) 2.Knowledge of ways to organize and present content so that it is meaningful and engaging to all learners whom they teach (pedagogical content knowledge). Standard 2—Teaching and Learning: AQTS_2.D.5, 7 D. Instructional Strategies 5.Ability to select and support the use of instructional and assistive technologies and to integrate these into a coherent instructional design. 7.Ability to evaluate, select, and integrate a variety of strategies such as cooperative learning, discussion, discovery, problem ‑ based learning, and direct instruction into a coherent lesson design. Standard 3—Literacy: AQTS_3.D.1, 3 D. Technology 1.Knowledge of available and emerging technologies that support the learning of all students. 3.Ability to integrate technology into the teaching of all content areas.

21 st Century Skills

Modules/Add-ons Module 1: ALEX Navigator Training Module 2: Podcast Camp Module 3: Exploring ALEX and the Web via Group Projection Tools Module 4: Professional Social Networking Tools for Educators Module 5: Web-Based Tools for Teaching & Learning Module 6: Incorporating Video into the Classroom

The Alabama Learning Exchange, or ALEX, is the state’s official education Web portal. ALEX provides a one-stop shop for education resources for Alabama teachers. And it directly links with Thinkfinity resources! What Is ALEX ? Quality for every facet of learning…..

Best of ALEX

Worksheets Interactives E-Sheets Podcasts Printable Maps Course of Study Rubrics Web Resources Virtual Museums Graphic Organizers Photographs Lesson Plans Online Manipulatives Quizzes Audio Clips ALEX/Thinkfinity Resources at Your Fingertips

What is Project-Based Learning?

Highlights of Project-Based Learning? Project-based learning (PBL) asks students to investigate issues and topics addressing real-world problems. By creating bridges between subjects, students view knowledge holistically, rather than looking at isolated facts. PBL promotes understanding, which is true knowledge. Students explore, make judgments, interpret, and synthesize information in meaningful ways. Appendix C

Project-Based Learning & ALEX Lesson Plans

Courses of Study Through Courses of Study, teachers can access digitized, printable Alabama Courses of Study with over 38,000 aligned Thinkfinity and Alabama Teacher-developed lesson plans, podcasts, and Web resources for all K- 12 subject areas.

After clicking the Courses of Study button on the home page, click on the subject area. As an example, let’s choose Math. On the next screen, select the grade level or course name. Let’s continue our example by clicking grade 6. Locating Resources Using the Courses of Study

Stem Examining the Course of Study

Graphics Depict the Tagging of Critical COS Standards 1. ARMT, AHSGE, Direct Assessment of Writing 2. Hard to Teach/Learn 3. Typical Achievement Gaps 4. New- Alabama Science Assessment 1. ARMT, AHSGE, Direct Assessment of Writing 2. Hard to Teach/Learn 3. Typical Achievement Gaps 4. New- Alabama Science Assessment

Lesson Plans Visit the Lesson Plan section to find panel- reviewed, “best practices” technology-infused lesson plans!

Web Resources Web Links quickly connect students, teachers, parents, and administrators to exemplary, high- quality resources that ignite learning at all levels.

Nouns Mix-up One Way ALEX Supports Project-Based Learning…

gallery360 o Visit gallery360 o to access a treasury of Alabama’s engaging, educational podcasts through a special partnership with Apple’s iTunes U.

Search Teachers, Search all of ALEX to find Courses of Study Standards that are Frequently Tested, Hard to Teach/ Learn, and typical Achievement Gap Areas. Find a variety of innovative, learning resources selected by a panel of National Board Certified Teachers.

Search through ALEX and be able to BOOKMARK your resources! Use the ALEX Search Engine How do you find additional Resources?

Personal Workspace Teachers can create, find and save lesson plans, and bookmark favorite resources in their Personal Workspace.

Login To Your ALEX Personal Workspace

ALEX Personal Workspace Any resources you bookmark or create and save on ALEX can be found here. Simply click the section you want to view, and it will expand to show you your resources!

Introducing Your ALEX Personal Workspace

Create a Learning Asset

ALEX Learning Asset Submission Process Once you have created and saved a Learning Asset, you will be able to delete, edit, view, or submit it in the Current Learning Assets section. Remember, once you save your Learning Asset, you must find it under the Current Learning Assets section and click Submit before it will be submitted to ALEX for review!

ALEX Learning Asset Submission Process Once you have submitted a Learning Asset, you will be able to view it in the Learning Asset Entries Submitted for Approval section. You will receive an from ALEX letting you know whether your Learning Asset was approved or returned for edits. If it is approved, you will then be able to view it from the Approved Learning Assets section.

Professional Learning In Professional Learning, educators can find many resources, rich instructional. tools, and “grab-it-and- go” professional development ideas.

ALEXville Visit ALEXville, ALEX’s social network, to communicate with your colleagues, keep up with the latest ALEX news, and follow the ALEX Professional Learning Communities!

The website ( contains thousands of free lesson plans and student materials for every core subject, designed by the leading educational organizations in the United States. Tens of thousands of FREE educational resources Accessible from school or home! A partnership between the Verizon Foundation and the nation’s leading educational organizations FREE professional development What is Verizon Thinkfinity?

Thinkfinity.org Homepage

ALEX|Thinkfinity Content Partners

What Does Thinkfinity Provide? Interactives Lesson plans Podcasts Video Clips Multimedia Explorations Primary source documents 1,200 print friendly maps Student e-sheets Virtual museum activities Data links

READING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM – SOCIAL STUDIES ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS READING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM – SCIENCE ARMT – MATHEXPOSITORY TEXT READING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM – HISTORICAL FIGURES READINGCAREER TECH READING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM – ECONOMICS Engaging the 21 st Century Learner WOW Resources

AGRISCIENCEENGLISH/LITERACYARMT – MATH Activity READING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM – SCIENCE READING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM – HISTORY CAREER TECH Tool ARMT – MATHCURRENT EVENTS – ELECTIONS EXPOSITORY TEXT Engaging the 21 st Century Learner WOW Resources

Thinkfinity Search Engine How do you find additional Resources?

Explore Partner Sites How Do You Find Additional Resources?

learning new concepts reinforcing school lessons helping with homework exploring the world! Use ALEX/Thinkfinity for… *No subscription/membership fees!

Monthly Newsletter Facebook Twitter Stay up to date!

Tour Thinkfinity’s Content Partner Websites

ALEX Insights – CCRS Unpacked

ALEX Insights – Another Way

ALEX Insights – Searching for Standards

ALEX Insights – A curriculum guide electronically!

Questions and Comments Complete the End-of-Module Survey