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 » McREL: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, delivering research and practical guidance to educators

Using Technology to Improve Student Achievement

Research suggests that technology in schools can increase student achievement. But it takes more than simply putting computers in the classroom: to realize the promise of educational technology, your school needs a comprehensive, integrated technology implementation plan. To help you get there, McREL offers a variety of educational technology products and services, including school and district technology audits, in-depth consulting, and online and in-person technology professional development for elementary, middle, and high school educators.

         Power WalkthroughTM seminar & software
With McREL's Power Walkthrough software and training, school leaders can turn their regular classroom observations into "power walkthroughs" by using palm-held devices loaded with McREL software that uses our popular manual, Classroom Instruction that Works as the basis for observing teachers.
         Technology Leadership Collaborative: McREL PD for California technology coordinators
In collaboration with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, McREL is offering the Technology Leadership Collaborative, an intensive professional development program for new and aspiring technology coordinators.
         Education Technology - Customized Training
         McREL Online Learning Communities
         McREL's Technology Solutions (MTS)
         Standards Development - Technical Services
         Technology Audit
         McREL Technology Solutions Site Coordinator's Training
         McREL Technology Solutions: Multimedia and Student Learning
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology and Learning Styles
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology and the Problem-Solving Process
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology in the Content Areas: Elementary Mathematics
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology in the Content Areas: Elementary Science
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology in the Content Areas: Secondary Mathematics
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology in the Content Areas: Secondary Science
         McREL Technology Solutions: Using Technology with Teaching Writing in the Content Areas
         Power Walkthrough™ Informal Observation Seminar & Software
         Technology Leadership Collaborative: McREL PD offered in California
         Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (workshop)
         Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works
         McREL Technology Solutions: Multimedia and Student Learning
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology and Learning Styles
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology and the Problem-Solving Process
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology in the Content Areas: Elementary Mathematics
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology in the Content Areas: Elementary Science
         McREL Technology Solutions: Technology in the Content Areas: Secondary Science
         McREL Technology Solutions: Using Technology with Teaching Writing in the Content Areas

         Meeting the needs of emergent readers: Bert and Ernie to the rescue!
         Technology Funding
         Building Better Instruction: How Technology Supports Nine Research-Proven Instructional Strategies
         Does Your District Need a Technology Audit? (Learning & Leading with Technology, April 2007)
         Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom (Learning & Leading with Technology, March 2007)
         Changing Schools, Spring 2004
         Changing Schools, Summer 2004
         Changing Schools, Summer 2005
         Changing Schools, Summer 2006—Preparing students for a technology-rich, global marketplace
         Changing Schools, Winter 2002
         Changing Schools, Winter 2005
         Policy Brief - Is a Laptop Initiative in Your Future?
         Policy Brief - The Impact of Technology on Learning: Making Sense of the Research
         The McREL Rural Technology Initiative: Research and Evaluation Study

         Collaborative for Technology Standards for School Administrators
Leading the initiative to develop and document a national consensus on what PK-12 administrators should know about and be able to do to optimize benefits of technology use in schools
         Creative Commons: A New Tool for Schools
Howard Pitler, McREL's Director of Educational Technology, discusses Creative Commons and how this new form of copyright might apply to the K-16 school setting.
         eSchool News Online
A source for school technology news and information
         International Society for Technology in Education
Dedicated to promoting appropriate uses of information technology to support and improve learning, teaching, and administration in K–12 education and teacher education
         T+L Conference
October 17–19, 2007 Opryland, Nashville, Tennessee

T+L is the educational technology event for district leadership teams. Presented by the National School Boards Association (NSBA), T+L provides a truly unique learning experience for teams of technology directors, superintendents, school board members, district administrators, principals, and lead teachers.

This year, McREL staff members will present two pre-conference sessions:
  • Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works
    Presented by Howard Pitler

    Designed for teachers familiar with the Classroom Instruction that Works methodology, this session demonstrates how technology enhances research-based instructional strategies. Walk away with Internet resources and ideas you can immediately fit into your classrooms.

  • Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, Part Two
    Presented by Howard Pitler

    This session is designed for teachers who are familiar with Classroom Instruction that Works and would like to see how technology enhances research-based instructional strategies. Participants will have hands-on experience in using technology to enhance those strategies, and will come away with many Internet resources and ideas they can incorporate into their classrooms immediately.