Recent articles
Apple tools: The head-fake method for student engagement
04/09/2015
Topics: Digital storytelling, ISTE Conference & Expo, Tools
They're officially called Apple Creativity Apps. Unofficially, they are a suite of five tools included with all Apple computers and tablets that educators can leverage to build engaging learning experiences.
The beauty of the…
Looking for impact? Try strategic storytelling
04/01/2015
Topics: Digital storytelling
Our lives are filled with stories and everybody has one to share. I've not met an individual who doesn't like to hear a good tale. Sure, we don't all like the same kinds of stories, but the reality is stories are a powerful way to communicate.
No matter what role you have as a…
8 easy steps to better student writing with digital storytelling
09/19/2019
Topics: Digital storytelling, Tools, Video
For two years, I taught in Cape Town, South Africa. My students, who were from townships right outside Cape Flats, had the opportunity to attend a boarding academy, which was a safer environment than other nearby schools. Most of them had not been exposed to much technology, and because their…
Documenting science with music videos
01/30/2015
Topics: Digital storytelling, Video
It’s generally a problem when students are dancing in a creek during science class. But not for middle school science teacher Brian Ravizza. He encouraged his students to sing and dance as part of a lesson where students created a music video to document their understanding of arthropods.…
Creating meaningful learning experiences through video
01/28/2015
Topics: Digital storytelling, Standards, Video
In today's digital world, one of the greatest powers we have is the ability to tell our stories — and share them with the world.
Teaching students how to tap into that power not only makes learning more meaningful, but it positions them to take their place in a digital society.
…
Slideshow outlining E-Rate policy changes
01/22/2015
Topics: Advocacy, Digital storytelling, Literacies
The E-Rate program has been helping U.S. schools and libraries connect to the internet since 1997. The largest federal education technology program, E-Rate was authorized under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and is overseen…
Sitka's Fab Lab gives students real-world skills
01/16/2015
Topics: Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Literacies, Makerspaces, professional learning, STEM & STEAM
To what extent and in what ways should digital technologies change career and technical education (CTE) programs in manufacturing? CTE teachers and administrators have been dealing with this question for decades, but recent changes in 3D design software and modern tooling, such as 3D…
Wegner's ed tech accomplishments get nod from Obama and peers
01/14/2015
Topics: Advocacy, Assistive and adaptive technologies, Augmented reality, Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Education leadership, Gamification, Gaming, Literacies, Makerspaces, Personalized Learning, professional learning, Project-based learning, Robotics, Standards, STEM & STEAM
There she was in the White House, along with 120 other school superintendents, and there was President Obama, at the podium. And then there was this:
" "And then you got Mary Wegner, superintendent of the Sitka, Alaska, School District. Where's Mary?" " Obama said. " "She came a long…
Should we teach computer science in elementary school? Yes
11/14/2014
Topics: Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Literacies, Makerspaces, professional learning, STEM & STEAM
We should definitely be teaching computer science (CS) in elementary school. Why?
The most common answer to this question is jobs — but not necessarily traditional computing or programming jobs. Our nation's current trajectory points to a lasting digital era, and we'll need people…
No one does literacy quite like LeVar Burton
06/30/2014
Topics: Digital storytelling, Literacies
You might call LeVar Burton one of the earliest ed tech adopters.
In 1983, just four years after the first ISTE conference (known as NECC in those days), he began using the prevalent technology of the day — television — to engage kids in reading. As host of the long-running show "…