Raising the Rigor by Eileen Depka

Raising the Rigor by Eileen Depka

Developed specifically for grades K-2, this resource presents classroom-ready lessons that support the ISTE Standards for Students (NET standards). Use the lessons, which focus on four essential skills (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity), to take instruction and learning to the next level through the use of technology. Each chapter includes strategies for developing authentic learning experiences and ends with discussion questions for personal reflection.

Integrate digital learning and support the ISTE Standards (formerly National Educational Technology Standards for Students or NETS): -

• Understand that real transformational change results from teaching and learning, not ever-changing digital devices.
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• Give students opportunities to exercise their voice, choice, and creativity using multimedia and digital tools.
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• Implement practical novice-, operational-, and wow-level lessons and tips for using digital tools in classroom lessons.
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• Foster digital citizenship, helping students keep themselves and their data safe online and make ethical decisions on the Internet.
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• Learn how to get students communicating, collaborating, innovating, and thinking critically in grade K-2 classroom lessons.

Contents:
Chapter 1: Learning Technology Operations and Concepts
Chapter 2: Embracing Creativity
Chapter 3: Communicating and Collaborating
Chapter 4: Conducting Research and Curating Information
Chapter 5: Thinking Critically to Solve Problems
Chapter 6: Being Responsible Digital Citizens
Chapter 7: Expanding Technology and Coding Concepts
Epilogue
Appendix
References and Resources

Dr. Depka is an educational consultant and author. Eileen has supervised and coordinated curriculum, instruction, assessment, special education, educational technology, and continuous improvement efforts. In addition, she provides professional development for K-12 administrators and teachers. Eileen has taught all subjects at the elementary and middle levels, and she has also taught graduate-level courses. As a consultant, she has worked with schools and districts across the country, focusing on topics including assessment, grading and reporting, portfolio development, rubrics, continuous improvement, and data collection. Since 1998, Eileen has presented at the local, state, and national levels.

Eileen has been featured in and consulted on educational videos, and she has written online courses. She is the author of Focus on Homework, Designing Rubrics for Mathematics, Designing Assessment for Mathematics, and The Data Guidebook for Teachers and Leaders: Tools for Continuous Improvement. She is the co-author of Formative Assessment in the RTI Framework and a contributing author to Data Enhanced Leadership. Her newest book concentrating on questioning strategies will be available later this year through Solution-Tree press.

Eileen earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin. Her Master's and Doctoral degrees were earned from Cardinal Stritch University.

Eileen is passionate about student achievement and is driven by the belief that all children can achieve academic success. Her goal is to work with teachers and administrators to collectively increase expertise and add to strategy banks used in educational settings in an effort to impact student achievement.