Dimension 1.1

Note: Utilizing a particular resource or strategy does not indicate a dimension is being addressed. The teacher or administrator must examine the level of rigor at which the technology is incorporated.

•Assessment

Using formative and summative assessment to adjust instruction and monitor student success.

•Blogs and Discussion Boards

Blogs and discussion boards allow students to post their thoughts online. Best of all, learners can read the posts of their classmates and offer feedback. Discussion boards are great for whole-class discussions. Blogs are typically created by one or a small group of authors to showcase thoughts and reflections on a wide variety of topics.

•BreakoutEdu

Spice up instruction in BreakoutEdu, an immersive game platform for learners of all ages. BreakoutEdu offers student teams a series of critical thinking puzzles. The object? Decipher clues collaboratively, and open a locked box of treats, instructional materials, or whatever you choose.

•Gamification

Gamification incorporates game-design elements into lessons and academic concepts. Gamified instruction typically allow students to select a challenge and then cycle through an attempt-fail-succeed cycle until the challenge is overcome. In each attempt-fail-succeed cycle, well-designed gamification provides students valuable experience needed to triumph over an obstacle to advance. Participants are typically rewarded for selecting more rigorous tests. Rewards can be something as simple as an online badge.

•Learning Centers/Stations

Also known as learning stations, learning centers offer numerous benefits - from giving students voice and choice in the ways assignments are completed to maximizing classroom productivity. A teaching technique that hits all 16 dimensions of T-TESS, centers are perfect for interest-based, skill-level-centered, learning-style-focused, and collaborative-group assignments. In addition, they can be incorporated into elementary, middle-school, and high school classrooms.

•Student Reflection

Giving students the opportunity to reflect on new materials and processes can help deepen their understanding and critical thinking skills.