Digital Kids Learn Differently

Today’s students are different than students were just a few years ago. They are digital kids who learn differently by taking in and responding to rapidly transmitted sights and sounds delivered simultaneously by more than one digital media tool, such as computers, video games, MP3 players, smart phones, and television. Digital kids need a fast-paced, multi sensory digital environment in which to learn...and they also need digital teachers. That’s why it is so important for today’s teachers to participate in a training solution to acquire the skills necessary for teaching in a digital classroom and addressing the needs of today’s digital kids.

Due to economic realities and economic impact on PreK-12 schools, teachers need to learn how to generate and post teacher-created content (blended learning) during The Changing Face of Education. In addition and more importantly, administrators need to understand blended learning, learn how to manage the changing face of education, and learn how to maintain or increase student achievement after federal stimulus runs out on September 30, 2011 (known as the funding cliff)

The Solution

Teachers Discovering Computers (TDC-PD) – Integrating Technology in the 21st Century, a six week online professional development course developed by 21st Century Learning Solutions (21CLS™).

TDC-PD Product Features

• The most important thing that TDC-PD does is get educators excited about the power of technology to change teaching and learning and confident about trying new things with their students
  • Our qualitative research documents this excitement and confidence
• TDC-PD provides teachers with (a) extensive in-class curriculum and technology-specific integration strategies; and (b) knowledge and confidence to create out-of-class supplemental kid-specific content for their students (blended learning)
  • Increase achievement levels for all students in same class including teaching gifted and advance placement (AP)
• TDC-PD provides administrators with low to zero cost sustainability and increased capacity to improve student achievement after EETT/ARRA funds run out
  • Knowledge how to implement a blended school year, blended summer school, blended credit recovery, blended gifted programs/classes, and blended AP
  • Minimize impact of loss of gifted programs and gifted/AP classes due to budget issues
• Each participant’s final project is the creation of extensive out-of-class online supplemental content (including videos) to foster increased student achievement and communication among students, parents, and teachers about curricula, assignments, and much more
  • Videos are created using a free trial of Camtasia and posted to Camtasia’s free and password protected hosting service, Screencast.com
• Participants learn how to integrate technology into their specific curricular area by completing integration projects that incorporate current and emerging 21st century tools
  • Curriculum-specific
  • Kid–specific projects and learning
  • Technology-specific learning tailored to available school technology
• Cost: $249 per student
  • TDC-PD is 100% guaranteed (simply put – no like, no pay)
  • TDC-PD course can be licensed to school districts under a fully supported train the trainer model as low $99 per student, ask for details
• Anytime, anywhere distance learning that’s 100% online
• Fully instructor–led 6-week course
  • Course is fully graded with weekly assignments and instructor feedback
• Participants that complete TDC-PD are eligible for 30 in-service points or continuing education units (CEUs)
• In case of unforeseen school closures, teachers that have taken TDC-PD have the experience and confidence to quickly provide their students with teacher-created instructional videos that can be created and posted on the Web quickly and from any location

TDC-PD Course Impact on Today’s Digital Kids

Teachers who complete the TDC-PD course will become Digital Teachers who will engage their students and help them learn in the multisensory mode they require to process information and build 21st century skills.

Meets Many ISTE Standards

Integrated throughout the TDC-PD course curriculum are the following standards developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE):

• National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T)
• National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S)
• Technology Standards for School Administrators (TSSA)