Expert Spotlight Meg Ormiston What inspired you to write the NOW Classrooms books? I was inspired to write the NOW Classrooms books after a site visit to Berwyn South School District 100 in Illinois, where visitors from across the country are invited to see technology in the hands of students. After the visit, I created a team of teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders to write the series. Our team agreed that educators need classrooms to visit where they can see good teaching and learning with technology. We realize, however, that a physical visit is not always possible; therefore, our books will help transport educators through detailed lessons. Through our series and collaborative professional development, we plan to create a movement around teaching and learning with technology. We also created a blog and interactive website found at NowClassrooms.com.
What challenges will these books help educators solve? The series offers solutions for the major challenge all school systems face when adopting technology for the classroom: the much-needed missing curriculum in grades K–12. Devices are now in the hands
Devices are now in the hands of many students, but teachers need the NOW Classrooms series to connect curriculum with the technology.”
of many students, but teachers need the NOW Classrooms series to connect curriculum with the technology. The lesson sequence in each book is aligned to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) student standards, and multiple curriculum connections are part of every lesson. What makes NOW Classrooms unique? From kindergarten through high school, the lessons spiral and
align to make a comprehensive curriculum that districts adopting technology desperately need. Each of the grade-band books is structured with a series of classroom-tested lessons written by practicing educators for educators. Each lesson has multiple curriculum connections, teaching tips, and technology options. All the books connect to core curriculum as well as elective courses, and in the high school book, Career and Technical Education (CTE) connections are embedded into each lesson. What professional development do you offer to support these books? Our team provides customized, hands-on professional development to educators who want to improve teaching and learning with technology. From small groups to large keynote sessions, our team creates professional development experiences that are engaging and practical. Participants will leave each session with instructional strategies they can implement in the classroom immediately.
Don’t miss out on the NOW Classrooms series.
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