CONDENSED End-User Training
What’s our purpose?
• Get to know ALEX, ALEX Insights, and Thinkfinity
• Integrate 21st Century skills into the learning
environment effectively
Module Overview
This module provides participants an opportunity for
exploration and analysis of the ALEX and Thinkfinity
websites. The participants will learn how to effectively
integrate 21st Century resources in the classroom by
learning about a variety of resources available on the
ALEX and Thinkfinity websites.
Module Objectives
The participant will:
• infuse 21st Century skills throughout session.
• identify the importance of project-based learning.
• examine resources found within the ALEX website.
• explore various websites from Thinkfinity.
• know how to create a Learning Asset using an ALEX or
Thinkfinity resource and submit it to ALEX.
Alabama Quality Teaching
Standards (AQTS)
Standard 1—Content Knowledge: AQTS_1.A.2
A. Academic Discipline(s)
2. Knowledge of ways to organize and present content so that it is meaningful and
engaging to all learners whom they teach (pedagogical content knowledge).
Standard 2—Teaching and Learning: AQTS_2.D.5, 7
D. Instructional Strategies
5. Ability to select and support the use of instructional and assistive technologies
and to integrate these into a coherent instructional design.
7. Ability to evaluate, select, and integrate a variety of strategies such as cooperative
learning, discussion, discovery, problem-based learning, and direct instruction into
a coherent lesson design.
Standard 3—Literacy: AQTS_3.D.1, 3
D. Technology
1. Knowledge of available and emerging technologies that support the learning of all
students.
3. Ability to integrate technology into the teaching of all content areas.
st
21
Century Skills
http://www.p21.org/
Modules/Add-ons
• Module 1: ALEX Navigator Training
• Module 2: Podcast Camp
• Module 3: Exploring ALEX and the Web via Group
Projection Tools
• Module 4: Professional Social Networking Tools for
Educators
• Module 5: Web-Based Tools for Teaching &
Learning
• Module 6: Incorporating Video into the Classroom
What Is ALEX ?
• The Alabama Learning Exchange, or ALEX, is the
state’s official education Web portal.
• ALEX provides a one-stop shop for education
resources for Alabama teachers. And it directly
links with Thinkfinity resources!
Quality for every facet of learning…..
Best of ALEX
ALEX/Thinkfinity Resources
at Your Fingertips
Interactives
Web Resources
Lesson Plans
E-Sheets
Graphic Organizers
Rubrics
Course of Study
Online Manipulatives
Quizzes
Printable Maps
Photographs
Podcasts
Virtual Museums
Audio Clips
Worksheets
What is Project-Based Learning?
http://www.commoncraft.com/project-based-learning-explained-custom-video-project-bie
http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-introduction-video
Highlights of Project-Based
Learning?
• Project-based learning (PBL) asks students to investigate
issues and topics addressing real-world problems.
• By creating bridges between subjects, students view
knowledge holistically, rather than looking at isolated facts.
• PBL promotes understanding, which is true knowledge.
• Students explore, make judgments, interpret, and synthesize
information in meaningful ways.
Appendix C
Project-Based Learning &
ALEX Lesson Plans
http://alex.state.al.us/lesson_view.php?id=31048
Courses of Study
Through Courses of Study, teachers can
access digitized, printable Alabama
Courses of Study with over 38,000
aligned Thinkfinity and Alabama
Teacher-developed
lesson
plans,
podcasts, and Web resources for all K12 subject areas.
Locating Resources Using the
Courses of Study
After clicking the Courses of Study button on the home page, click on the
subject area. As an example, let’s choose Math.
On the next screen,
select the grade level
or course name. Let’s
continue our example
by clicking grade 6.
Examining the Course of Study
Stem
Graphics Depict the Tagging of
Critical COS Standards
1.
ARMT, AHSGE, Direct
Assessment of Writing
2.
Hard to Teach/Learn
3.
Typical Achievement Gaps
4.
New- Alabama Science
Assessment
Lesson Plans
Visit the Lesson Plan
section to
find panelreviewed, “best practices”
technology-infused lesson
plans!
Web Resources
Web Links quickly
connect students,
teachers, parents,
and administrators
to exemplary, highquality resources
that ignite learning
at all levels.
One Way ALEX Supports
Project-Based Learning…
Nouns Mix-up
http://alex.state.al.us/podcast_view.php?podcast_id=308
o
gallery360
Visit gallery360o to access a
treasury of Alabama’s engaging,
educational podcasts through a
special partnership with Apple’s
iTunes U.
Search
Teachers, Search all of
ALEX to find Courses of
Study Standards that
are Frequently Tested,
Hard to Teach/ Learn,
and typical
Achievement Gap Areas. Find a variety
of innovative, learning resources
selected by a panel of National Board
Certified Teachers.
How do you find additional
Resources?
Use the ALEX Search Engine
Search through ALEX and be able to
BOOKMARK your resources!
Personal Workspace
Teachers can create, find and
save lesson plans, and bookmark
favorite resources in their
Personal Workspace.
Login To Your ALEX
Personal Workspace
ALEX Personal Workspace
• Any resources you bookmark or create
and save on ALEX can be found here.
• Simply click the section you want to view,
and it will expand to show you your
resources!
Introducing Your
ALEX Personal Workspace
Create a Learning Asset
ALEX Learning Asset
Submission Process
• Once you have created and saved a
Learning Asset, you will be able to delete,
edit, view, or submit it in the Current
Learning Assets section.
• Remember, once you save your Learning
Asset, you must find it under the Current
Learning Assets section and click Submit
before it will be submitted to ALEX for
review!
ALEX Learning Asset
Submission Process
• Once you have submitted a Learning
Asset, you will be able to view it in the
Learning Asset Entries Submitted for
Approval section.
• You will receive an email from ALEX
letting you know whether your Learning
Asset was approved or returned for edits.
• If it is approved, you will then be able to
view it from the Approved Learning
Assets section.
Professional Learning
In Professional Learning, educators
can find many resources, rich
instructional. tools, and “grab-it-andgo” professional development ideas.
ALEXville
Visit ALEXville, ALEX’s social network, to
communicate with your
colleagues, keep up with
the latest ALEX news,
and follow the ALEX
Professional
Learning
Communities!
What is Verizon Thinkfinity?
The website (www.thinkfinity.org) contains thousands of free lesson
plans and student materials for every core subject, designed by the
leading educational organizations in the United States.

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Tens of thousands of FREE
educational resources
Accessible from school or home!
A partnership between the Verizon
Foundation and the nation’s
leading educational organizations
FREE professional development
Thinkfinity.org Homepage
ALEX|Thinkfinity
Content Partners
What Does Thinkfinity Provide?
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Interactives
Lesson plans
Podcasts
Video Clips
Multimedia Explorations
Primary source documents
1,200 print friendly maps
Student e-sheets
Virtual museum activities
Data links
Engaging the
Learner
st
21
Century
WOW Resources
READING ACROSS
THE CURRICULUM –
SOCIAL STUDIES
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
LEARNERS
READING ACROSS THE
CURRICULUM –
SCIENCE
ARMT – MATH
EXPOSITORY
TEXT
READING ACROSS
THE CURRICULUM –
HISTORICAL
FIGURES
READING
CAREER
TECH
READING ACROSS THE
CURRICULUM –
ECONOMICS
Engaging the
st
21
Century
Learner
WOW Resources
AGRISCIENCE
ENGLISH/LITERACY
ARMT – MATH
Activity
READING ACROSS
THE CURRICULUM –
SCIENCE
READING ACROSS
THE CURRICULUM –
HISTORY
CAREER TECH
Tool
ARMT – MATH
CURRENT EVENTS –
ELECTIONS
EXPOSITORY
TEXT
How do you find additional
Resources?
Thinkfinity Search Engine
How Do You Find
Additional Resources?
Explore Partner Sites
Use ALEX/Thinkfinity for…
• learning new concepts
• reinforcing school lessons
• helping with homework
• exploring the world!
*No subscription/membership fees!
Stay up to date!
Facebook
Twitter
Monthly Newsletter
Tour Thinkfinity’s Content
Partner Websites
ALEX Insights – CCRS Unpacked
ALEX Insights – Another Way
ALEX Insights –
Searching for Standards
ALEX Insights – A curriculum
guide electronically!
http://alex.state.al.us
• Questions and Comments
• Complete the End-of-Module Survey