The Educational Technology Department works to equip every teacher and student with technology and information literacy skills. Our focus is on teacher professional learning, school technical support, and student achievement. We strive to research and develop best practices with regards to educational technology and look to replicate those practices in all classrooms.
Department News
Educational Technology Department Informational Slideshow
- Granite’s Sora Is Open for the Holidays / Have a Holiday Reading Adventure
- Registration Open: Minecraft for Education Teacher Academy
The infographic details a few of the services and tools we provide students and teachers in five areas: technology coaching, professional development, libraries, digital tools, and hardware. Click the link above to download a copy of the infographic, or read on for descriptions and links to these services and tools.
Presentation Slides / Sharable Images
We also have simplified slide images which we are sharing on social media and embedding on our in-office slide presentation. You can access those above or download as a PDF file.
Our Mission: Equip Every Student and Teacher with Technology and 21st Century Skills
Our focus is on teacher professional learning, school technical support, and student achievement. We strive to research and develop best practices with regards to educational technology and look to replicate those practices in all classrooms.
Technology Coaching
Every school in Granite School District has an assigned technology coach or library technology coach.
Technology Coaches
In elementary schools, technology coaches provide technology integration coaching, co-teaching, training, and support to all teachers.
Technology coaches work with the staff and students at their schools to effectively use technology with students to engage them in learning, enhance learning with options that aren’t possible without the use of technology, and extend learning in ways that relate to the student’s real world.
Library Technology Coaches
In secondary schools, library technology coaches manage the school library media center and provide technology integration coaching, co-teaching, training, and support to all teachers.
Library technology coaches oversee the school’s day to day operation of the library, as well as coaching in the effective educational integration of technology and information literacy. They work with the staff and students at their schools to effectively use technology with students to engage them in learning, enhance learning with options that aren’t possible without the use of technology, and extend learning in ways that relate to the student’s real world.
Professional Development
Weekly Lesson Resources
Granite’s Educational Technology Department and Curriculum and Instruction Department have centrally created tech-integrated lesson resources for all weeks of the school year—these engaging lessons and resources are available for all teachers to use with their students.
Edtech.fun / TIP Course
Our department creates and hosts Technology Integration Progress (TIP) tutorials and on-demand PD focused on effective uses of technology for learning and instruction. Find all of these resources at edtech.fun (https://www.graniteschools.org/edtech/tip/).
Educational Technology Endorsement Program
The Educational Technology Endorsement Program (ETEP) is a comprehensive professional development program centered on integrating technology and 21st Century learning skills into classroom practice.
Educational Technology Newsletter for Teachers
Each month our department sends out a digital newsletter to all Granite teachers filled with lesson ideas, digital tools, and other news and updates from our department. You can find current and past issues of the newsletter at https://sites.google.com/granitesd.org/gsd-ed-tech-newsletter/home.
Libraries
School Library Media Centers
Each school has dedicated library staff who promote reading with students and maintain relevant, diverse collections of print materials and resources for students and teachers.
Granite Media
On Granite Media, our sister website for the library media program, you will find curated book lists, reviews, and recommendations from Granite librarians, teachers, and students, as well as digital resource collections for teaching and learning, support resources for library staff, and more. Find it all at granitemedia.org.
Digital Tools
Google for Education
Students and teachers in Granite have access to Google for Education tools, including Google Drive with unlimited cloud storage, Google Classroom, and many other creation, communication, and collaboration tools.
Canvas LMS
Canvas is the learning management system available for all secondary classrooms, and is also used for staff professional development.
Office 365
Granite students and staff have access to the Microsoft Microsoft Office 365 cloud- and desktop-based suite of productivity and communication tools, including home installation of Microsoft Office products for students and staff.
More Resources
Granite and the state of Utah provide many more digital resources for students and teachers, including:
- Sora ebook and audiobook library
- Nearpod lesson libraries
- Adobe CC
- Screencastify
- Zoom
- digital textbooks
- research databases
Look for new resources and updates about these and other digital tools here on this website this school year, and browse our TIP Course, our Ed. Tech Newsletter for Teachers, or the past posts on our department website to discover more digital tools for teaching and learning.
Hardware
Enhanced Classrooms
We provide a computer-connected projector with microphone sound system in every classroom.
Wi-Fi
The Information Systems Department provides pervasive wireless connectivity throughout all our schools.
Chromebooks
We have a 1-to-1 student-to-Chromebook ratio across the district. Students have been provided with take-home devices for distance learning.
Connect With Us
There are many ways to connect with us to take advantage of the services and tools listed above:
- Talk with your technology coach or library technology coach
- Follow our GSD Ed. Tech. Newsletter for Teachers
- Follow our Educational Technology Department Blog
- Follow and share with us on social media:
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