Discovery education Techbooks in Uniondale Mark Sippin Director of Social Studies Janice Friedman Director of Library Media Services and Instructional Integration

Why Techbooks? Aligned to C3 Framework Emphasizes strong literacy and writing skills Builds instruction around complex essential questions Includes thousands of primary source documents, a weekly current events video series, and more Differentiated Blends text and media for students of different abilities and learning styles Students can highlight text, add sticky notes, and have text read aloud Text can be modified for reading level Text can be viewed in Spanish

Content Video ebooks Extensive and varied digital information included and presented Composed of more than 40 elements including activities, animations, ebooks, images, interactive videos, quizzes, interactive modules, simulations, various tools, videos, and assessments Updated regularly Current events includes videos

About Digital Techbooks Cloud-based Platform-agnostic--work with nearly any digital tool, including iPads, tablets, mobile devices, laptops, or desktops Seamless integration with whiteboards for group or whole-class presentations Intuitive Supports digital shift Wean from the cost of print textbooks; much less expensive Initial higher cost but then reduced annual subscription fee Up-to-date, current information as opposed to pdf version Student comfort level with online information

Selection Process Pilot Adoption/Selection Committee Spring, 2015 Accompanying professional development from company Adoption/Selection Committee Social Studies teachers Building Administration Middle School Parents Director of Social Studies

Advantages to Teachers Maximize teachers’ time to plan, prepare and delivery instruction Up-to-date resources Each unit comes with model lessons, primary and secondary source documents, embedded videos, interactive tools and activities, document-based investigations Formative and summative assessments Professional development included Messaging Platform Teachers and students can communicate by class Students can submit work

Instructional Approach A variety of dynamic and interactive digital resources Builds instruction around complex Essential Questions that students use to guide their inquiry, analyze issues and propose solutions to better understand the present Aligned with the C3 Framework, it emphasizes key literacy and writing skills and provides a multitude of resources to prepare students for college, career, and a civic life 5E Model of Instruction Engage Explore Explain Extend Evaluate

Advantages to Students Access the program anywhere there is an Internet connection with any smart device Used as an individual tool, group sharing, or with whole class Students can save work Supports literacy in the classroom Font size English reading level Spanish conversion Vocabulary support Reading passages with questions Tools Highlight Speak text Take notes

Supports Literacy Uses Methods Other Than Reading Images Interactive investigations Primary source documents Videos Charts and graphic organizers Activities to explain and elaborate Assessments Interactive maps

Uniondale’s Challenges Not a one-to-one environment Teachers have to re-work curriculum Teachers have to totally change approach Migrating teachers from outdated textbooks and teacher-created print resources

Implementation Gradual adoption Purchases Student and teacher accounts Created buy-in through professional development sessions, including push-in Integrating techbook with current practices Goal 2016-17 all techbook Grades 6, 7, 8: two schools, 750 students per school Purchases Shared iPad carts for grade 6 Shared laptop carts for grades 7 and 8 Plans for additional purchases contingent on budget approval Student and teacher accounts

Uniondale’s Social Studies Techbook A Quick Look Uniondale’s Social Studies Techbook