As the world changes and becomes more digital, schools in Macomb County are doing the same. The digital platforms that the school districts use are a bonus to the school’s curriculum and are being used to help enhance learning in their schools.
We spoke with Kate Grunow, Interactive Learning Consultant for Instructional Technology for the Macomb Intermediate School District, about how schools are implementing this technology with online learning in Macomb County.
What is blended learning in Macomb County
“Macomb ISD’s instructional technology department advocates for blended learning,” says Grunow. “Blended learning combines traditional in-person classroom methods with online learning activities.”
She explains that all of the schools in Macomb County use some sort of component of blended learning – some more than others.
“This method leverages the strengths of both face-to-face and online instruction to create a more flexible and effective learning experience,” she explains. “With this type of instruction, learners often have some control over the time, place, pace and path of their learning. Blended learning incorporates interactive activities and allows for a more personalized learning experience.”
Examples of blended learning that are being used in Macomb County schools
Different platforms are being used at the school districts in Macomb County. A few of the platforms include:
How do these platforms enable blended learning?
Schoology
- “Schoology provides an easy and secure way for teachers and students to engage in the process of blended learning,” says Grunow. “It serves as a hub where teachers can organize their lessons, assignments, and resources in one place.”
- She explains how the Macomb ISD provides enterprise licensing to the whole county, which is unique. Teachers are able to create personalized plans for students and parents and students are able to communicate with teachers on the platform.
Discovery Education Experience
- This platform allows students to learn about different topics through forms of media such as video, audio, simulations, interactives, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) and more.
- “Students can take online quizzes and get immediate feedback,” says Grunow. “The platform also has a new feature called Career Connect. With this feature, educators can select guest speakers from across industries to share their career journey virtually with their classrooms.”
TumbleBooks and TumbleMath
- “TumbleBooks is an e-book database for K-6 students with over 1100 titles that students can access from school or home,” she says. “Students can read animated picture books, read-along chapter books, non-fiction, watch videos, access curated playlists and books that are in other languages.”
- TumbleMath is similar to TumbleBooks, but it is all about math.
- “Many Macomb districts have the links to these two resources on their district website,” says Grunow. “They can check with their media contact if they aren’t sure where to find the link.”
Read&Write Toolbar
- A premium license for the Read&Write toolbar is provided to special education students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in participating districts across the county.
- This robust tool is operable on different laptops, browsers, and mobile devices with one license. It supports online learning with numerous tools like text-to-speech, speech-to-text, word prediction, translation, dictionary, picture dictionary, one-click safe web search, highlighters, and more!
- The Read&Write toolbar can support increased access, participation, and learning for all learners in the online space by removing barriers and giving options.
Unique online programs are being used in Macomb County classrooms
“Distance learning connects classrooms in the county to a variety of engaging experiences that can complement the work teachers are already doing,” says Grunow. “This includes virtual field trips from zoos and/or museums, science experts, government officials, authors, illustrators and more.”
Macomb County provides distance learning to its schools at no cost.
“The MISD also houses a library of assistive technology tools that can be borrowed by all educators in the county,” she says.
The tools are for students who are not progressing as expected and/or receive special education services or are on a federal section 504 plan. Educators also borrow these tools to support inclusive access and universal design for learning for their learning space. Example tools include:
- Low-technology tools (slant board for reading/writing, adapted books, head pointer, eye gaze board, sensory seating, etc.)
- Mid-technology tools (recordable communication devices, adapted keyboards and mice, adapted electronic toys, various switches for computer/tablet access, etc.)
- High-technology tools (tablets with apps and accessories to support communication and education, eye gaze devices, laptops with educational software, etc.)
Educators may borrow the tools from the MISD Library for a loan period of 90 days and collect data to inform decision-making relative to the student’s support needs.
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.
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