Innovator Spotlight
The Innovators Spotlight series examines the work that our Verizon Innovative Learning Schools (VILSs) and Learning Tech Coaches are doing in partnership with the teachers we serve. By partnering with innovative educators across PPS, members of the Learning Technologies team are helping create engaging, applicable and, most importantly, authentic learning opportunities for all PPS students.
PPS Innovator Spotlight: From Avatars to A-Ha Moments
From Avatars to A-Ha Moments
Check out the work students at George Middle School in Portland Public Schools are doing! "From Avatars to A-Ha Moments" highlights the collaboration between Digital Promise VILS coach Robin Mauldin and Spanish Teacher Kathryn Gibson packed full of student engagement & student voice (literally) using Adobe Animate from Audio.
Student Created Websites
In his fifth grade classroom at Bridlemile Elementary, Patrick Stenger has taken a unique approach to informational writing and research by introducing his students to the engaging world of web page design and development.Â
AVID at Roosevelt
AVID is a college readiness program that helps students learn organizational and study skills, and explore college options. As teachers and schools have moved towards digital lessons, AVID has also adapted to new ways of teaching and learning. This month's Innovators Spotlight highlights how Roosevelt High School AVID teachers and VILS Coach Chris Bach are collaborating to innovate instruction and increase student engagement.
Sphero Robots & Math
Emelia O'Shanecy is a Learning Acceleration Instructional Specialist in Elementary Math and works regularly at Woodlawn Elementary School. The Learning Acceleration Instructional Specialist (LAIS) Team targets core instruction. Through collaboration with classroom teachers, the LAIS Team creates scaffolds and experiments with different co-teaching models in order to increase student participation and conceptual understanding of grade level standards.
Stop-Motion Animation
When Harrison Park Visual Arts Teacher Dani Mitchell contacted Verizon Innovative Learning Schools (VILS) Technology Integration Coach Dr. Brenda Carpenter, she knew she wanted to do a stop-motion project with her middle school students. As a first year teacher, Dani did not know what resources were available, but she was inspired by the strata-cut method developed by local artist David Daniels.