Technology in the Classroom
Guides and Toolkits
This online toolkit provides resources for developing fun, innovative, and academically enriching activities for afterschool and expanded learning programs. The toolkit includes promising practices and sample lessons in the arts, literacy, math, science, technology, and homework help.
For use with the online Afterschool Training Toolkit, these free guides help instructors master research-based teaching techniques that engage students and improve academic achievement.
The seven promising practices in afterschool for math identified in the Afterschool Training Toolkit are as follows: Finding Math ;Math Centers; Math Games; Math Projects; Math Tools; Math Tutoring; and Family Connections. By “promising” practices, we mean recommended methods that have been observed to increase student achievement. Each practice is built on youth development principles and research on effective mathematics instruction. At their core, the Afterschool Training Toolkit materials are designed to illustrate techniques and activities that leverage student curiosity to make mathematics in afterschool both enjoyable and relevant. This guide provides professional development ideas for each practice.
For use with the online Afterschool Training Toolkit, these free guides give program directors and site coordinators resources for leading professional development courses on building engaging afterschool activities.
This guide focuses on using a practical staff development model for learning about the six technology practices featured in the Afterschool Training Toolkit and how they can support learning. Each technology practice is introduced with two to four activities ranging in length from 15 to 20 minutes. Activities include watching videos, planning lessons, and reading related resources.
The six promising practices in afterschool technology identified in the Afterschool Training Toolkit are as follows: Developing Self-Expression and Creativity; Gathering and Sharing Information; Finding and Solving Problems; Living and Working With Technology; Learning in Virtual Spaces; Building Skills and Understanding. When used with the Afterschool Training Toolkit, the lessons in this instructor’s guide will help you master these promising practices. Once you become proficient at these practices, you should be able to use them to develop other technology lessons.
Texas e-Plan is an online system for developing, submitting, reviewing, and approving technology plans. Every district, charter school, and education service center in Texas—more than 1,400 entities—are required to submit their technology plans to TEA as of January 2004.
This guide provides teachers with suggestions for using computers as instructional tools and discusses using technology in environments that support learning.







